IACUC Learning Module - Poultry

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INJECTIONS AND VENIPUNCTURE SITES:

Location of the alar vein.

1. Intravenous (IV) - mainly performed on the alar vein located at the "elbow," (the humeral-radial-ulnar junction), on the underneath, or ventral aspect of the wing
    
2. Intramuscular (IM) - mainly performed on the breast muscle that is on either side of the prominent ridge of the sternum or keel bone. If performed on the thigh muscle, be certain to remember the possible toxic effects due to the renal portal system. If multiple injections need to be administered, vary the injection sites as much as possible.

   Breast muscles alongside ridge of sternum

3. Subcutaneous (SQ) - mainly performed in the loose skin covering the keel bone.

Blood can be collected by using a small 21- to 25-gauge needle, and collecting the blood into a heparinized syringe or micro hematocrit tube held to the hub of the needle. Do not try to hook a syringe onto the needle and aspirate - this usually will collapse the vein. Normal, healthy birds can lose 1% (1 ml blood/100 gm body weight) of their body weight in blood without any harm.

1. Jugular Vein - The right jugular vein is used because it is fairly prominent (many bird species lack a left jugular vein). A featherless track of skin overlying the right jugular vein can often be seen. Collection at this site often leads to the formation of a large hematoma because the vein is very movable and there is a large amount of subcutaneous space in the area. Indwelling catheterization is possible if multiple sampling is needed.
2. Alar Vein - This vein is found running across the ventral surface of the humeral-radial-ulnar joint (elbow) directly beneath the skin. Hematoma formation can be minimized by collecting the blood directly into micro hematocrit tubes or into a Microtainer type instrument.
3. Medial Metatarsal Vein - This vein is found on the medial side of the lower leg. When it is available, this vein is the site of choice for blood sampling in birds. The vein is surrounded by muscles thereby minimizing the chances of hematoma formation.
4. Heart Puncture - This method is extremely stressful to the bird and can only be used as a, terminal procedure. THE BIRD MUST BE ANESTHETIZED and the HUMANELY KILLED AT THE END OF THE PROCEDURE WITHOUT REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS. The heart may be approached anteriorly by inserting a needle along the ventral floor of the thoracic inlet, avoiding the crop.

Small, young birds should not be fasted preoperatively due to poor glycogen storage in the liver. Adults should be fasted for only 2-4 hours.

Avoid hypothermia (cold) which depresses the respiratory system. Use a circulating warm water blanket.

It is very important that an accurate weight be taken to calculate dosage.

Important Link: IACUC Approved Analgesics, Anesthetics & Sedatives

Anatomic Considerations:

In general, the safest inhalant anesthetics are Isoflurane (3-5% induction concentration with 2-3 L/min oxygen flow and then 1% maintenance concentration with 0.5-2 L/min oxygen flow) and Halothane (3-4% induction and 1.5-2% maintenance).

Injectable combinations include Telazol (5-10 mg/kg IM) or Ketamine (10 mg/kg) mixed with Xylazine ( 25-30 mg/kg IV or IM). Use a minimal dose (1/4 of calculated dose) and repeat after 5-10 minutes the minimal dose until the desired plane of anesthesia is reached.

One person should devote full attention to monitoring the anesthetic depth and have no other assigned duties. Respiratory rate and depth, heart rate, cloacal temperature and plane of anesthesia should be charted on the surgical record.

Levels of Narcosis in Birds

• Heart rate <120 beats/minute

• Respiration <10 breaths/minute

• Loss of all breaths

  What to do?

  • Turn off anesthetic (if using gas) and flush system with Oxygen

  • Administer 100% Oxygen

  • Administer Doxapram (5-10 mg/kg IV or IM)

  • Begin CPR with digital pressure on the ventral body wall, over the heart at 60 times/minute

  • Start IV fluids

  • Administer epinephrine for cardiac arrest (5-10 µg/kg).

The bird MUST BE monitored continuously until it is able to swallow and to right itself.

• Provide a warm environment (85-90^o F)

• Wrap bird in warm towel, or keep on recirculating warm water blanket

• Water and feed bowls should be removed from cage, until bird is fully recovered.