Nail Clipping:

Sometimes birds toenails get long & sharp.  There are perches that can help to keep this under control but if your bird continues to suffer with this problem bring it along to one of our clinics & have them cut on a regular basis.

Beak Clipping:

As with toenails beaks can get overgrown. Right you can see a lovebird with a beak that has got out of hand.  Normally if your birds beak  appears to be growing uneven or getting long a simple clipping will sort it out.  Don't neglect your birds beak, at the first sign of a problem bring it to us.

Scaly Face:

'Scaly face' is a common parasitic infestation in caged birds, caused by the burrowing mite Cnemidocoptes pilae. It is equivalent to mange in a dog or fox, and the mite causes skin irritation, and crust formation around the face and feet, hence the other common name of the disease of 'tassle foot'. Top Left shows the face of the budgerigar, the mite infestation has caused deformity in the growth of the beak, and the crusty areas around the beak show tunnel entrances in which the mites live. Bottom Left  Shows a budgerigars foot with mite investation.

Fortunately these days treatment is simple and very effective, using the parasiticidal drug Ivermectin.

Right Top shows a Red-Fronted Kakariki with severe scaly face prior to treatment, while picture Lower Right shows the same bird just two weeks after just one application of the drug. You can see regression of the crusts, and regrowth of Feathers."

Blocked Nose:

The picture on the left shows a 18 week  old African Grey which had the right nostril constantly clogged with mucus from birth. This was due to a blockage at the back of the throat.  A tube was inserted & left in place for two weeks.  This enlarged the opening at the back of the throat & when removed allowed the mucus to drain normally.  The picture on the left shows the bird at one year old with a the now open airway.

Self Mutilation:

This is a bad case of self mutilation.  The African Grey started to feather pluck at about 5 years of age.  It progressed to the stage shown on the left.  Right shows the wing bandaged & although the feather plucking continued the self mutilation decreased to a level allowing the original deep wound to heal.  

This bird will never get fully feathered but remains a wonderful character, a very tame companion & prolific talker.  Much can be done for other birds if the problem is caught early enough.  At the first signs of plucking there is normally a good response to drug treatment and although little is known as to why some birds pluck & others don't, regular check-ups & spraying with tepid water to keep the feathers in good condition will help greatly.

 

Blood Samples:

Samples of blood are often required to aid diagnosis, and laboratory examination of quite small volumes can give us information on red and white cell counts, liver and kidney function, glucose or calcium levels, the presence of toxins such as lead or zinc, and many more besides. We also take samples for DNA analysis to determine sex, or to identify diseases such as psittacosis. Small birds may be sampled from the jugular vein (pictured below); parrots are usually sampled from the ulnar vein under the wing (left); while waterfowl have a very accessible median metatarsal vein on the leg  (right).

Foam & Perspex Collars:

Collars: may be required in the short term to break the cycle of plucking problems. It is still, however, necessary to diagnose the underlying cause of the plucking, and deal with that, but the collar may prevent the bird doing further damage while such treatment takes place. The picture on the left shows one made from foam pipe lagging, while that on the right is a purpose-made perspex collar.

Bumblefoot:

 

This is a common chronic infection in the feet of birds, most commonly found in waterfowl and birds of prey. It usually follows persistent injury from unsuitable perching or flooring, coupled with secondary infection. The severity of infection and damage is graded: mild cases may be treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and improvements to hygiene and housing; while advanced cases may need extensive and repeated surgery, or even euthanasia.

Sinus Abscess:

Sinus abscesses: are common in birds, and may be the result of straightforward bacterial or viral infection in species such as canaries (left) or poultry. A commonly implicated organism is Mycoplasma. In African grey parrots (right), the underlying cause is almost always a deficiency of vitamin A, complicated by secondary bacterial or fungal infection. In these cases, treatment involves cleaning and flushing of the nasal cavity, plus appropriate antibiotic or antifungal therapy, followed by attention to DIET to correct the deficiency.

‘Billie’was a 25 year old tortoise presenting with a cloacal prolapse (Prolapse 03), and referred to us by a neighbouring practice.  She was accompanied by a radiograph from the referring practice showing a large radio-dense mass inside her, some 8 – 10 cm in diameter (Billie Matton Xray). The prolapsed tissue appeared to be oviduct, but the abdominal mass clearly had to be removed. 

After anaesthetising her, the underside of the shell was marked out with a Dremel rotating cutting wheel (shell 02), and a ‘window’ was cut in the shell (shell 04). The exposed shell membrane was then cut (shell 05), to reveal the abdominal contents. A very thickened urinary bladder, containing a large urate calculus "urolith" was the most prominent feature.  The stone was removed from the bladder by cutting it in half, then once the bladder had been sutured and replaced, large numbers of retained egg follicles were also removed. (ova 01), & (ova 02) also shows the calculus. 

The internal membrane was then sutured (shell 06) and the shell flap was replaced, and the edges sealed with Technovit acrylic hoof repairing compound (shell 08), (shell 09).  The prolapsed oviduct tissue was then also removed and the torn tissue repaired.  Billie recovered quickly but sadly died two days later – the whole affair had proved just too much for her. 

Before the operation, Billie weighed 3.46 Kg, and afterwards she was 2.59 Kg! (weight). The urolith weighed nearly 500 gm on its own! (urolith 04). The calculus consisted of layer upon layer of urate waste built up over many months or years (urolith 05), as a result of inadequate fluid intake and perhaps a high-protein diet. 

A dramatic case and surgical procedure, with a sad outcome, but illustrating the importance of identifying such problems early enough for successful treatment to be given. 

July 2008

The Eagle Heights cheetah was injured by his older partner & needed stitches.  The pictures show in sequence, the sedated patient, the wound being sutured, waking up & recovery then back home to his compound.