Avian Profile
Birds are complicated creatures and an incomplete understanding of their physical, nutritional, physiologic and psychologic needs often leads to long-term, inadequate care. These factors must be understood and corrected in order to restore and maintain good health. Owners should evaluate their bird's movement, body posture, head position, behavior, appetite, attitude, ocular clarity and excrement output on a daily basis. These observations will help the doctor identify abnormalities before a disease has a chance to progress to an irreversible point. During advanced stages of disease, symptoms may include drowsiness, increase or decrease in food and water intake, changes in the color or consistency of feces, urine or urates, coarse, ruffled or moist feathers, inability to perch, picking or scratching, changes in body posture, wing position or talking and singing abilities.

In order to help identify management and disease-related problems early, it is advisable to perform a complete physical examination on a new patient twice in the first year and annually thereafter. The initial evaluation periods are an opportunity to identify and correct problems before they advance. Owners can contribute to the well-being of their companions by providing a thorough history of the bird, which frequently provides obscure clues that may identify risk factors important in diagnosing and resolving a patient's problems. Here are some questions to think about.

Have any new birds recently been added to the household?
This is important because new birds are a source for previously unencountered pathogens. It is necessary to quarantine new addition until a visit to the vet can confirm the bird is free of infectious disease.
A complete physical exam including a choanal/choacal swab, full blood count, and a psittacosis test is recommended. Has there been any change in food or water consumption?

Symptoms of disease can include slight increase or decrease in food or water consumption. However, it is important to distinguish between the food offered to a bird and food consumed by the bird. An adequate diet may be offered, but an inadequate diet may be consumed. Birds that consume mainly seed-based diets may develop malnutrition even with vitamin supplements. Examination of the color, texture, consistency and volume of the feces provide information about appetite, behavior, and certain body functions. The feces should be visually evaluated on a daily basis.

Is the bird restricted to an indoor environment?
Frequent exposure to fresh air and sunlight is important for a bird's overall health. Birds that are restricted to an indoor environment commonly have more medical problems.

Is the bird exposed to toxic compounds?
Inspect the indoor environment to determine if it is contaminated with toxins. Birds have an efficient respiratory system, and brief exposures to toxins can be life-threatening. Some commonly encountered toxins that could have a dramatic effect on the health of your bird include cigarette smoke, fumes from burned foods, leaking gas, fumes from disinfectants (Clorox, ammonia, Lysol), furniture polish, floor wax, paint, hair spray, dry cleaning fluid and carpet and furniture cleaners.

Have there been any changes in a bird's behavior?
Changes in behavior that should be noted include excessive sleeping, resting in a fluffed condition and a decrease in talking, singing, and playing. Scratching and excessive preening may indicate a local or systemic abnormality and personality changes such as increased aggression and screaming may also indicate problems.

What is the bird's reproductive status?
Seeking seclusion (such as hiding under furniture, behind drawers, under papers), tearing up paper, a crouched copulatory stance and masturbatory actions with objects or people are suggestive of breeding behavior.