RCVS Statutory Membership Examination Exotic, Pocket Pet, Pet Bird & Reptile Medicine: practice questions

1 · Husbandry-related disease · easy

A corn snake has severe ventral burns. The vivarium has an unguarded heat lamp and a heated rock with no thermostat. What is the main lesson for the owner?

1. Ventral burns in snakes are a form of dysecdysis and need humidity, not heat control
2. Burns in snakes are caused by UVB lamps, so the heat sources are irrelevant
3. Reptiles need direct contact with a hot rock above 60 °C for proper digestion
4. Heat sources need thermostats and guards, as reptiles do not avoid burns

2 · Handling of exotic pets · medium

Which anticoagulant is generally preferred for haematology in chelonians, and why?

1. Lithium heparin, because EDTA haemolyses the blood of many chelonians
2. EDTA, because heparin causes clumping of reptile white cells always
3. Sodium citrate, because heparin alters chelonian red cell shape badly
4. No anticoagulant, because chelonian blood does not clot within a day

3 · Anaesthesia of exotic pets · medium

Why are injections in reptiles often given in the cranial half of the body, especially for nephrotoxic drugs?

1. The hind limbs of reptiles drain directly into the lungs, causing toxicity
2. Reptiles have no muscle in the hind limbs, so the drug cannot be absorbed
3. A renal portal system routes hind-limb blood through the kidneys first
4. Cranial injections are absorbed by the thyroid, which activates most drugs

4 · Rabbits · medium

In warm weather an obese rabbit is presented with maggots in the soiled fur around its perineum. What is the correct description?

1. Myxomatosis, a viral disease spread by mosquitoes and fleas
2. Flystrike, an emergency linked to faecal soiling of the fur
3. Pododermatitis, an infection of the plantar skin of the hocks
4. Cheyletiellosis (walking dandruff), a mild mite infestation

5 · Pet rodents · medium

Several recently weaned Syrian hamsters have profuse watery diarrhoea, a wet perineum and some have died. What is the most likely cause?

1. Tyzzer's disease (adult form) from Streptobacillus moniliformis
2. Scurvy from vitamin C deficiency, the commonest hamster disease
3. Coccidiosis from Eimeria stiedae, causing hepatic lesions
4. Proliferative ileitis (wet tail) from Lawsonia intracellularis

6 · Psittacine birds · easy

A budgerigar has honeycomb-like crusts on its cere and beak. What is the most likely cause?

1. Hypovitaminosis A
2. Knemidocoptes mites
3. Avian pox virus
4. Candida albicans

7 · Reptiles · medium

A boa constrictor regurgitates repeatedly and shows head tremors and stargazing. Which disease is most likely?

1. Chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
2. Yellow fungus disease caused by Nannizziopsis species
3. Inclusion body disease caused by reptarenavirus
4. Cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium varanii

8 · Zoonoses: psittacosis and Salmonella · medium

Which antimicrobial class is used to treat avian chlamydiosis, and what is notable about the course?

1. Lincosamides, usually clindamycin, given for a course of 7 days
2. Penicillins, usually amoxicillin, given for a short course of 3 days
3. Tetracyclines, usually doxycycline, given for a long course of 45 days
4. Aminoglycosides, usually gentamicin, given as a single injection

9 · Zoonoses: psittacosis and Salmonella · medium

An owner wants her pet snake treated with antibiotics so it becomes free of Salmonella. What is the correct advice?

1. One dose of an injectable antibiotic clears carriage for the snake's life
2. Treatment is not recommended; it rarely clears carriage and promotes resistance
3. Treatment is required by law before any reptile is sold or kept as a household pet
4. Treatment is needed only if a single faecal culture is negative for it

10 · Handling of exotic pets · medium

A healthy 30 g budgerigar is to be sampled. Its blood volume is taken as 10% of body weight, and no more than 10% of blood volume is to be removed. What is the largest volume to take?

1. 0.03 mL
2. 1 mL
3. 0.3 mL
4. 3 mL