VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

CLINICAL EXAMINATION OF BIRDS

• Just observe the bird and its movements
• Patiently hear about the history about the problem in the bird species.
• Rule out any abnormal activity like circling, star-gazing etc.
• Trace for evidence of any trauma like limping, reduced speed of gait etc.
• Find out any loss of proprioception with head tilt or nystagmus which may indicate the central vestibular lesions.
• Observe for any evidence of blood in mouth, ears, eyes etc.
• Look for any evidence of feather loss or mutilated area of skin/feathers
• Rule out erythema, discoloration of areas or discharge from outer ear etc.
• Look for any ventral odema (ventral edema may be due to thiamine or selenium or vitamin E deficiency in case of birds in addition to the protein deficiency or trauma, in general)
• Look for haematuria (This is considered as one of the indications in case of lead toxicosis in case of Amazon parrots).