Avian Radiography Whole Bird Ventrodorsal
---Sternum centered over vertebrae
---Head gently extended - taped or held with gloved hand
---Wings and feet abducted from body and taped
Whole Bird Lateral
---Right Lateral Recumbency
---Dependent (right) wing and leg positioned cranially to left
Caudocranial Wing
---Cranial surface of wing placed on film
---Requires manual restraint, head hanging over side of film
Gastrointestinal Contrast Study
---Important study in avian medicine- Use ONLY 4 hour fast!!
---Use 20-30% barium unless perforation suspected
---Warm barium to 80 degrees and administer with feeding tube, 25 mL/kg. Palpate to make sure tube NOT in trachea!
---Lateral and VD exposure immediately, then at 10 min., and at 30 min. intervals until medium enters cloaca
---Average transit time: 30-240 minutes, depending on size of bird