Effect of handling-induced stress on the results of spectral Doppler echocardiography in falcons.
In order to evaluate the effects of habituation to handling on the Doppler-derived velocity of diastolic ventricular inflow and systolic aortic outflow, falcons that were accustomed to regular handling were compared with falcons that had been handled very little. The mean heart rate of the frequently handled birds was 111 beats per minute less than the non-habituated birds. All the mean blood flow velocities recorded were much higher in the non-habituated birds than those accustomed to handling. Taking into account the difficulty of objectively quantifying the level of stress suffered by any individual bird, the question is, if meaningful clinical or reference values for Doppler-derived blood flow velocities may be obtained in unsedated or non-anaesthetized birds?
Straub
J
J
Department of Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Avian Diseases, Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, Germany. justraub@gmx.de
Forbes
N
N
Pees
M
M
Krautwald-Junghanns
M-E
ME
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020304:Raptors / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000662:veterinary*