Library
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Egg yolk peritonitis or coelomitis occurs when yolk from a developing egg, an incompletely shelled egg, or a ruptured egg is deposited within the body cavity, referred to as the abdominal coelom. The yolk material that is released into the coelomic cavity causes inflammation and fluid within the coelom. Affected birds often stop laying, become less active, have distended abdomens, and have difficulty breathing.
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A feather cyst is a malformation of a feather follicle whereby the feather(s) do not exit the skin, and instead become buried in a cyst under the skin. They can become quite large and be painful to the pet. These cysts require veterinary attention and if injured, may bleed extensively.
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Feather loss occurs either because the bird is truly losing feathers or because the bird, or its cage-mate, is picking out its feathers. Feather Destructive Behavior (FDB) is a general classification that describes the many types of damage a bird can do to its own feathers, including feather picking. Feather loss and feather-picking can also be caused by diseases that result in irritation or pain for the bird, or damage to, or inappropriate growth of feathers. Feather loss and feather-picking are complicated problems. For specific advice, your bird should have a thorough work-up by a veterinarian familiar with birds.
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Kidney disease is relatively common in birds, especially budgies, and may present as an acute or chronic problem. Some of the clinical signs are very characteristic of kidney disease but many others are non-specific. This handout explains these signs, as well as how kidney disorders in birds can be diagnosed and treated.
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Liver disease can occur in any avian species but is most common in cockatiels, budgies, Amazon parrots, lories, and mynah birds. Because the typical clinical signs are non-specific and descriptive of many different diseases, diagnostic tests are highly recommended. Treatment options depend on the diagnosis and can range from diet modification to hospitalization.
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A list of local referral veterinary hospitals with surgeons and internal medicine specialists near Wayland Animal Clinic.
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Obesity is a major problem in older birds on seed-based diets and can contribute to diseases such as arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis (fat deposits in major arteries), and fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). Unlike their wild counterparts, pet birds are not given as much opportunity for daily exercise. Pet birds often burn off very few calories in their daily lives. Switching a bird from an all-seed diet to a more suitable diet consisting mainly of pellets, with smaller amounts of fresh vegetables and fruit, will decrease its overall daily intake of calories.
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Is Pet Insurance Right for You and Your Pet? The short answer is, “It depends.” The reason to buy pet health insurance is to make sure you can pay for the unexpected emergencies and illnesses that you would otherwise be unable to pay. The insurance can broaden treatment options that may not otherwise be within your financial reach.
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Polyfolliculosis is a condition in which several feathers grow out of one feather follicle. These feathers may be irritating, causing the bird to pick at them or pluck them out. There is no specific treatment for this condition.
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Avian polyomavirus infection (APV) can cause benign feather lesions in budgies, slow crop emptying in newly weaned parrots, hemorrhages on the skin, or acute death. Clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and preventive measures are explained in this handout.