Focus on Exotics 2024 -Critical Care Nutrition for the Avian and Exotic Patient

Nutritional support for critically ill patients has traditionally been considered a supportive measure of low priority. Hospitalized exotic patients are often malnourished from an initial imbalance of nutrients followed by decreased food intake. Nutritional support is an important therapeutic modality and can aid in the management of diseases. Malnutrition in critically ill patients can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, nutritional requirements of critically ill avian and exotic patients must be evaluated and addressed. This presentation will review nutritional assessments in critically ill avian and exotic patients, determining the route of nutritional support, and nutrients essential to combating malnutrition in critically ill patients.