I often get asked what type of lab tests I recommend as part of a new bird exam. I begin by explaining that the most important part of a new bird veterinary visit is the physical exam itself and the bird-care information acquired from your avian veterinarian. The physical is the starting point in determining that your new acquisition is healthy. Eyes, ear canals, oral tissues, upper respiratory tract, skin, feathering, musculature, abdominal palpation, heart and lung auscultation and vent/cloacal exam are all part of the physical examination. Along with the exam, bird owners are educated on the importance of proper nutrition and tips and suggestions on avian behavior and environmental enrichment are discussed. As far as laboratory testing the answer really depends on the species of bird you are talking about and whether your bird is going to be in a single or multi-bird household, and if part of multiple bird household, are they part of a pet collection or are these birds in an aviary situation and set up for breeding. It must also be kept in mind that the physical exam and all the testing in the world is not a 100 % guarantee that your new bird is disease free. As a result, a minimal four-week quarantine period should be followed before introducing your new bird to birds already existing in the household. The quarantine period is recommended with the thought that if your new bird is sick or carrying a disease it will become obvious (through lab testing or clinical signs of illness) during the first month of ownership.

This Citron cockatoo obviously appears bright and alert during its physical exam, but looks can be deceiving. A choice of laboratory tests can help determine the true health status of this bird, ruling out various viral, bacterial, fungal and internal organ diseases.

Now back to laboratory testing. With any new bird a baseline laboratory evaluation should include a fecal parasite exam, a fecal and choanal gram stain to check for abnormal bacteria or yeasts, and a general health profile which checks red and white blood cells, protein, liver values, kidney values, calcium and cholesterol. If your budget allows, testing for Chamydophila (also known as Chlamydiosis or Psittacosis), a bacterial disease very prevalent in birds, is always a good idea. Testing for Polyoma, a virus that is highly fatal to young birds less than 16 weeks of age, is recommended in certain highly susceptible bird species such as Macaws, Conures, Eclectus, Lovebirds and Caiques if they are going to be pet birds and for any breeder bird that is headed for a mixed-species aviary. Testing for Beak and Feather Disease (BFD), a virus that suppresses the immune system and causes abnormal feather growth, is only recommended in Old World species such as Cockatoos, Eclectus, African Greys and Lovebirds. New World species such as Amazons and Macaws are not susceptible and therefore can forego testing for BFD. Pachecos, a herpes virus that can cause sudden death as a result of severe liver pathology, really is only seen in aviary set-ups, therefore testing for this disease is only recommended in those birds destined to be breeders. As you can see, being knowledgeable about the diseases in question goes a long way in determining which tests are appropriate for your bird.

Since all this testing can be expensive, the doctors at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital recommend that you consider splitting up your new bird exam into two or more visits. Not only can expenses be budgeted out, but your avian veterinarian can spend more time going over such importance topics as avian nutrition and behavior. Trying to squeeze too much into one visit can result in information overload and be a bit overwhelming.

One reason for spending a good amount of time on avian nutrition is that many bird owners are unaware they are feeding a poor diet and also unaware of the clinical signs associated with malnutrition. As well, these nutrient deficiencies may take years until they result in health problems. Traditionally, birds have been fed a mixture of seeds and nuts because they are inexpensive, convenient to feed and palatable. Unfortunately they are also very unbalanced when it comes to total nutrition. As a general rule, seeds are high in fat and play a decisive role in the development of avian obesity (yes, birds can be overweight!). As well, most seeds are deficient in a number of essential nutrients; vitamins (particularly Vitamin A and B Vitamins), amino acids (such as lysine, methionine and tryptophan), and minerals (like calcium, manganese, sodium and iodine).

For young birds, start off with a healthy diet from the beginning - before a seed addiction starts. For the mature bird established on seeds; use persistence and patience in converting your bird to a healthier diet. Just like we feed our dog and cat friends a pelleted diet - dry kibble, which contains 100% nutrition - we recommend the same for our avian friends. Some examples of good quality, well-balanced avian pelleted diets that provide 100% nutrition include: Harrisons, Lafeber, Roudybush, Mazuri and ZuPreem. We are currently recommending that approximately 80% of needed calories be in pelleted diets. Be patient and anticipate a conversion to pellets may take anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Monitoring your birds weight is important during this dietary conversion to ensure that excessive weight loss, in stubborn converters, does not occur.

When it comes to avian behavior we focus on teaching our clients how to integrate their new bird into the household so that they become "flock" members who develop appropriate social skills within their new families. Most people are familiar with the need for training a new puppy that has joined the household. Puppies that are taught to come on command, sit, stay, walk on a leash, etc. are less likely to show behavior problems and make for more desirable family "members". The same holds true for pet birds. As a general rule training is simple, logical, and easy to remember. The commands are Up, Down, Stay, and OK. Simply put, the point of all the commands is control... by the human, not the parrot. These commands should be taught during short, upbeat lessons that are conducted daily in neutral territory--some area of the house that the parrot does not consider to be its own. Reserve your seeds as treat rewards for well-performed training sessions. From then on, all household members that handle the bird must always use the same commands in the same manner. The parrot will understand the rules only if the behavior of the humans is consistent.

As you can see Pet Care Veterinary Hospital has a lot of information to share with the new bird owner. As a result, plan on at least two veterinary visits with you new companion so that this information can be shared in an unhurried, organized and more detailed manner. It is our goal that you and your bird share a lifetime of love, companionship and health and the best way to achieve this is by doing things right-- from the start. We look forward to working with you in achieving this goal!

Peter G. Fisher, DVM