Traditional veterinary and human medicine started by trying to repair what had gone wrong – treating diseases with a variety of drugs, repairing physical damage, and cutting out bits that had failed or were causing harm. Over the years, as our understanding of disease processes has improved, the shift has been towards ways of avoiding such problems in the first place. The dentist’s six-monthly check-up, or the doctor’s ‘well-person’ checks, insurance medicals, cancer-screening and the like are all geared to the prevention or early detection of illness. 

The emphasis on a healthier lifestyle for humans, by increasing exercise, improving diet, and avoiding harmful toxins is currently well promoted, and this includes the advertising of probiotics and vitamin/mineral supplements, plus the use of vaccines to prevent a whole variety of problems.

It is sensible to embrace this form of preventative healthcare with our birds, and increasingly the veterinary profession has moved in this direction. We vaccinate our dogs, cats, rabbits and farm animals against a variety of infectious diseases, and many vets run weight clinics, puppy checks, dental checks, or old animal checks, either on their own, or combined with the annual booster vaccination. 

Vaccines exist for poultry and pigeons, but otherwise there is nothing in this line for most of our avian charges. Nevertheless there are common, avoidable problems that are best dealt with by routine prophylactic medication. These include parasitic intestinal worms in birds such as parakeets and other aviary birds; air sac mites in canaries; external parasites (mites and lice) primarily in poultry, pigeons, raptors and canaries; protozoal diseases in finches, canaries, poultry, pigeons and gamebirds; all of which are easily avoided by regular dosing with an appropriate medicine. Yet as avian clinicians we still see birds afflicted with these avoidable complaints. 

It is sound practice to prevent rather than try to cure, especially since birds have a tremendous ability to mask signs of disease until they are very sick, by which time it may be too late to save them. Thus a little money spent on prevention could save more funds later in vain treatment, and will certainly save grief and suffering for the owner and patient. It is important that the bird keeper knows his or her charges – each bird is an individual, and will have its own way of feeding, perching, vocalising, preening, and reacting towards its avian companions and human contacts. Any subtle changes in this regular behaviour could be the first sign that something is wrong, allowing action to be taken before it is too late. 

In avian veterinary practice, the initial consultation with a new client and bird should be used to discuss the management and welfare of that particular species, going through housing, diet, grooming, and general environmental factors. A blood sample may be taken, not only to screen for various diseases, but to establish baseline values for that individual, so that future changes may be spotted by comparing with the original. The routine wing/beak/nail clip should also be used to discuss the bird’s general health and management, and because these clips take place regularly, they provide excellent opportunities for ongoing supervision of the bird’s progress. Even if the bird is not clipped, it is still good practice with a pet bird to have an annual or even six-monthly check up. 

Collections of birds are handled differently. Diagnosis of a problem would rely often on sampling of droppings, random blood samples, or a post-mortem examination if disease occurs, but the first two tests may also be used as preventative screening to detect or avoid trouble. Pet shops and dealers, as well as aviculturists with groups of birds, should be made aware of the great importance of quarantining new arrivals. We are always anxious to pair up the new hen with the lone cock, or to sell new stock in the shop, but new arrivals may be carrying infections to which your existing birds have no immunity (or your established birds may be stable carriers of germs that could affect the new arrival!), and the stress of a journey and a change of environment will lower the new birds’ resistance. 

The quarantine period of time is debatable, and has to be tempered with practicalities and the species involved. Many viruses and bacteria will manifest within 7 – 10 days, but others can take 9 – 10 months to incubate. Thus veterinary advice should be sought as to the types of problem possible in different species and from various suppliers. 

Many of the better dealers, breeders, collectors, and pet stores will actively liaise with a veterinarian to carry out a regular inspection of their birds, with a view to spotting potential problems, rather than trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, and half the birds are dead. Unfortunately, the less enlightened or scrupulous dealers will not take these steps, yet it is these very groups that need such attention. 

Dropping samples or cloacal swabs may be taken from random birds to check for such conditions as salmonellosis, worms, coccidiosis, chlamydiosis. Blood samples may be taken to identify potential PBFD or chlamydiosis, or for DNA sexing and profiling. Valuable or endangered species may be microchipped for identification on these visits – obviously when deal with a group of birds it is far more practical for the vet to come to the premises, rather than trying to transport several birds to the surgery. It also gives an opportunity for the vet to examine the environment, housing, feeding regime, pest control, stock records, and other management systems on site, thus possibly spotting potential problems before they arise. 

It is a good idea for bird keepers to hold a small stock of medicines for routine or first aid use. These would include parasiticides for intestinal worms, mites and lice. With these pests it is necessary to treat not only the birds but also their cages or aviaries on a regular basis – mites will hide in cracks and crevices of the housing, and worm eggs will survive in droppings and on the ground. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be required, following the advice of your vet, and probiotics are useful for boosting a bird recovering from illness or stress. Fluid replacement aids like glucose and electrolyte mixes are great pre- or post-travelling to shows and sales, or again if a bird is in shock or stress. An antiseptic wound powder, and a clotting agent such as ferric chloride, potassium permanganate, or a styptic pencil are useful for minor wounds and injured claws or beaks. A heat lamp or hospital cage is a must, so that any sick bird may be given extra heat and isolation as soon as it appears unwell. 

The one thing that should not be held in the store cupboard as a routine is a collection of antibiotics. Only about one quarter of disease problems in captive birds are caused by bacteria that will respond to antibiotic, the rest will be due to viruses, fungi, parasites, diet, toxins, environmental or metabolic effects. The common practice of importing antibiotics from Europe or Ireland, or sharing drugs around the club that have been prescribed for a specific condition, is not only illegal, but rarely either effective or safe. Specific diagnosis of a disease problem as a bacterial infection should be made before antibiotics are used, and ideally a drug sensitivity test should be carried out – time permitting – to check which drug is effective against the organism. Trial and error usage of antibiotics against any disease, often at the wrong dosage or for an ineffective period – just leads to increased drug resistance amongst bacteria, and a delay in obtaining effective treatment. 

The sensible pet owner will research their subject before purchase, and will be prepared to have the bird checked by an avian veterinary surgeon early on. The responsible retail supplier will actively encourage such action, with a defined period for return of the bird if there is a problem. He or she will also have regular checks on the stock in the shop. A little effort in this way will prevent much heartache and suffering later, and will ensure that arguments put forward by the anti-birdkeeping brigade about cruelty and poor conditions in bird selling  cannot be substantiated. 

Alan K Jones Feb 2005.