Common Common Problems of Problems of

Pet Bird Pet Bird OwnershipOwnership

Shannon C. KircherShannon C. Kircher

IntroductionIntroduction

Veterinarian’s duty to educate ownersVeterinarian’s duty to educate owners

about potential problems:about potential problems:

- Health problems- Health problems

- Proper care- Proper care

- Exotic Pet Trade- Exotic Pet Trade

- Release of birds- Release of birds

HypothesisHypothesis

Feather plucking Feather plucking in caged birdsin caged birds

Abnormal Abnormal behavior due to behavior due to lack of lack of enrichmentenrichment

Beak Beak abnormalitiesabnormalities

MethodsMethods

Primary research at exotic animal Primary research at exotic animal hospital (case reviews)hospital (case reviews)

……and literature review (reviews, and literature review (reviews, primary research, surveys, primary research, surveys,

discussions)discussions)

ResultsResults

Most common owner-associated Most common owner-associated reasons for pet deathsreasons for pet deaths

Most common health issues affecting Most common health issues affecting pet birds.pet birds.

Most common problems with patients Most common problems with patients seen at my hospital.seen at my hospital.

Owner-associated deathsOwner-associated deaths Water deprivationWater deprivation Unclipped wingsUnclipped wings Toxic fumesToxic fumes TraumaTrauma Other animalsOther animals Toxic food/plantsToxic food/plants Hand-feeding mishapsHand-feeding mishaps Diseases caused by ownersDiseases caused by owners Heat exposureHeat exposure Sleeping with birdsSleeping with birds

Sources: Wissman 2006, McKechnie 2008, Veterinary Record 2008

Common pet health Common pet health problemsproblems

Feather cystsFeather cysts BaldnessBaldness Feather pluckingFeather plucking MitesMites PododermatitisPododermatitis PsittacosisPsittacosis Avian polyoma virusAvian polyoma virus SalmonellosisSalmonellosis Pox virusPox virus

Sources: Smeagal 2008, Faye 2008, Veterinary Record 2008

Clinic resultsClinic resultsROUTINE NAIL TRIM, BEAK TRIM OR WING TRIMROUTINE NAIL TRIM, BEAK TRIM OR WING TRIM 183, 1 death183, 1 death

FEATHER PLUCKINGFEATHER PLUCKING 3131

BLOOD TEST, SEXINGBLOOD TEST, SEXING 1616

ANNUAL EXAMANNUAL EXAM 1515

UPPER RESPIRATORY SIGNSUPPER RESPIRATORY SIGNS 12, 2 deaths12, 2 deaths

ABNORMAL BEAK SHAPEABNORMAL BEAK SHAPE 66

INJURED FOOT/LEGINJURED FOOT/LEG 66

SKIN LESIONSSKIN LESIONS 55

LETHARGYLETHARGY 44

OWNER REQUESTING PSITTACOSIS TESTOWNER REQUESTING PSITTACOSIS TEST 33

ABNORMAL STOOLABNORMAL STOOL 33

NECK ABNORMALITIES (SQ EMPHYSEMA)NECK ABNORMALITIES (SQ EMPHYSEMA) 33

MASS ON BEAKMASS ON BEAK 22

FOOT LESIONSFOOT LESIONS 22

MASS ON TAILMASS ON TAIL 11

MASS ON FEETMASS ON FEET 11

TOP 5TOP 5

22 of feather plucking patients = behavioral 22 of feather plucking patients = behavioral Giardia found in 10 birds (9 feather pluckers, Giardia found in 10 birds (9 feather pluckers,

1 abnormal stool patient)1 abnormal stool patient) URI in 10 birdsURI in 10 birds Beak malformations in 6Beak malformations in 6 Mites in 5Mites in 5

DiscussionDiscussion

Hypothesis partially correct, but Hypothesis partially correct, but information was difficult to information was difficult to synthesizesynthesize

Clinic results skewed, but showed Clinic results skewed, but showed owner-associated problems were owner-associated problems were uncommon (vitamin deficiency)uncommon (vitamin deficiency)

Owner-education important!!!Owner-education important!!!

Thank you…Thank you…

Dr. Michael SamuelsDr. Michael Samuels Jody LeeJody Lee

SourcesSourcesFaye, S. 2008. Foods and plants toxic to birds. Faye, S. 2008. Foods and plants toxic to birds.

AvianWeb.com. http://www.avianweb.com. Accessed 30 AvianWeb.com. http://www.avianweb.com. Accessed 30 March 2008.March 2008.

McKechnie, A.E. 2008. Phenotypic flexinility in basal McKechnie, A.E. 2008. Phenotypic flexinility in basal metabolic rate and the changing view of avian physiological metabolic rate and the changing view of avian physiological diversity: a review. Journal of Comparative Physiology. diversity: a review. Journal of Comparative Physiology. 178(3): 235-247.178(3): 235-247.

Smeagal, L. 2008. Pet bird care: Common diseases and Smeagal, L. 2008. Pet bird care: Common diseases and illnesses affecting pet birds. Helium.com. illnesses affecting pet birds. Helium.com. http://www.helium.com. Accessed 25 March 2008.http://www.helium.com. Accessed 25 March 2008.

Wissman, M.A. 2006 Top ten bird killers. ExoticPetVet.net. Wissman, M.A. 2006 Top ten bird killers. ExoticPetVet.net. http://www.exoticpetvet.net. Accessed 25 March 2008.http://www.exoticpetvet.net. Accessed 25 March 2008.

Veterinary Record. 2008. Birds. Journal of the British Veterinary Record. 2008. Birds. Journal of the British Veterinary Association 162(10): 297.Veterinary Association 162(10): 297.

Questions?Questions?