Anesthesia for Birds and Reptiles

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (anesthesia/analgesia) University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Avian Patients Anatomy: Avian patients have several anatomical differences that separate them from their mammalian counterparts. The gastrointestinal tract includes an outcropping of the esophagus known as the crop, two chambers in the stomach known as the proventriculus (a powerful chamber that secretes acid to break down food) and the ventriculus (aka the gizzard, essentially crushes food), and a standard outlet for intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts called the cloaca. The respiratory system in birds is very complicated and can be extremely sensitive. Birds have a very long trachea, slower respiratory rate, and larger tidal volume. They have tiny, dense lungs that cannot manage apnea. Depending on the species, they may have up to nine air sacs that function as a type of bellows and increase respiratory efficiency. Birds have no diaphragm, and their entire body cavity is a ventilatory force.