Common Problems of Pet Bird OwnershipIntroductionHypothesisMethodsResultsOwner-associated deathsCommon pet health problemsClinic resultsTOP 5DiscussionThank you…SourcesQuestions?Common Common Problems of Problems of Pet Bird Pet Bird OwnershipOwnershipShannon C. KircherShannon C. KircherIntroductionIntroductionVeterinarian’s duty to educate ownersVeterinarian’s duty to educate ownersabout potential problems:about potential problems:- Health problems- Health problems- Proper care- Proper care- Exotic Pet Trade- Exotic Pet Trade- Release of birds- Release of birdsHypothesisHypothesisFeather plucking Feather plucking in caged birdsin caged birdsAbnormal Abnormal behavior due to behavior due to lack of lack of enrichmentenrichmentBeak Beak abnormalitiesabnormalitiesMethodsMethods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 birdsSources: Wissman 2006, McKechnie 2008, Veterinary Record 2008Common pet health Common pet health problemsproblemsFeather cystsFeather cystsBaldnessBaldnessFeather pluckingFeather pluckingMitesMitesPododermatitisPododermatitisPsittacosisPsittacosisAvian polyoma virusAvian polyoma virusSalmonellosisSalmonellosisPox virusPox virusSources: Smeagal 2008, Faye 2008, Veterinary Record 2008Clinic resultsClinic resultsROUTINE NAIL TRIM, BEAK TRIM OR WING TRIMROUTINE NAIL TRIM, BEAK TRIM OR WING TRIM183, 1 death183, 1 deathFEATHER PLUCKINGFEATHER PLUCKING3131BLOOD TEST, SEXINGBLOOD TEST, SEXING1616ANNUAL EXAMANNUAL EXAM1515UPPER RESPIRATORY SIGNSUPPER RESPIRATORY SIGNS12, 2 deaths12, 2 deathsABNORMAL BEAK SHAPEABNORMAL BEAK SHAPE66INJURED FOOT/LEGINJURED FOOT/LEG66SKIN LESIONSSKIN LESIONS55LETHARGYLETHARGY44OWNER REQUESTING PSITTACOSIS TESTOWNER REQUESTING PSITTACOSIS TEST33ABNORMAL STOOLABNORMAL STOOL33NECK ABNORMALITIES (SQ EMPHYSEMA)NECK ABNORMALITIES (SQ EMPHYSEMA)33MASS ON BEAKMASS ON BEAK22FOOT LESIONSFOOT LESIONS22MASS ON TAILMASS ON TAIL11MASS ON FEETMASS ON FEET11TOP 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 5DiscussionDiscussion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 LeeSourcesSourcesFaye, 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):