And which taxa have complete tracheal rings — and what does that mean for our intubation choices? Came up while I intubated a 480 g Congo African grey with an uncuffed 3.5 last night; preventing tracheal injury matters when you’re caring for species already facing conservation pressure.
For psittacines like your 480 g CAG, those “complete tracheal rings” mean I stick to uncuffed or Cole tubes; a Cole 3.0 often seals better than a standard “uncuffed 3.5,” and I premeasure from beak tip to the thoracic inlet so the shoulder sits at the glottis, plus a damp gauze over the choana to curb leak. Small caveat: chelonians and crocs also have complete rings, so same rule, but I keep peak pressures under about 12 cm H2O to avoid barotrauma. Did your 3.5 leak much last night?
I pre‑mark beak‑to‑thoracic inlet and stop just cranial to the syrinx. > complete tracheal rings — so I warm a Cole 3.0 with a smear of sterile lube for a gentle seal, and if there’s still a hiss I’ll add a tiny moistened throat pack with the glottis in view; do you have Coles in 2.5–3.0 on your cart?