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home . pet health . pet health articles . the importance of an annual bird check- up

The Importance of an Annual Bird Check-up

It has always seemed interesting to us that our dog and cat owning clients generally don't hesitate to bring their pets in for yearly exams, while the owners of pet birds generally only bring their birds to us for one of 3 reasons. One is for a new patient exam, which is usually recommended by most pet stores or responsible breeders after a sale. We also see birds for routine grooming, such as wing or nail trims. The predominant reason for a bird appointment is illness or injury, often when the bird is at or near critical condition.

The reasons for this are many. There are no universally recommended or required vaccinations for birds, as there are for dogs and cats. Owners are much more informed about diseases and problems of dogs and cats, and are much more attuned when their pets are not acting right. In many, but not all cases, owners have their hands on their mammalian pets more often than do bird owners, so they can more readily detect weight changes, odors, skin problems, abnormal breathing, changes in appetite or thirst, or unusual lumps or bumps.

Most importantly, birds are much better at hiding illness than are dogs and cats. As prey animals, their survival strategy consists of looking healthy even when not, since predators select sick-looking members of the flock to attack. Therefore, birds look healthy even when they are sick, until they are so sick that they cannot perch, at which point the owner notices them at the bottom of the cage.

Before a bird gets this sick, there are changes in lab work that give clues to a disease process before it gets too advanced. Dr. Dave Nichols, Dr. Kirk Andazola, and Shelly Barnhart attended the annual conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians to get continuing education on the latest treatments for medical and surgical problems of birds. One of the frequent topics of discussion was the need for annual exams, including baseline blood work and fecals, for our bird patients. Most birds should live longer than dogs or cats, and the larger parrots can live for several decades. This only happens with proper diet, husbandry, and regular vet care.

We urge pet owners to bring their pets in for yearly exams, including fecals and blood work. In this way, we can pinpoint problem areas early on, when intervention has a better chance of returning your bird to health.

In addition, bird owners will be interested to know that Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the largest pet health insurer in the U.S., now sells policies for birds. The policies are similar to dog and cat coverage, with major medical coverage available for as little as $84/year, depending on bird size. Well bird coverage is available for an additional $99, and covers up to $181 worth of preventative care yearly, including exams, fecals, blood work, and wing and nail trims! Ask for a brochure and check this insurance out!