Chapter 5 Parrots and related species
Members of the parrot family are the commonest avian pet and, therefore, the most likely to be presented to the veterinarian. Table 5.1 shows the most commonly encountered species.
Consultation and handling
Important non-specific clinical signs in parrots
From Malley (1996).
Nursing care
Fluid therapy
Fluid administration
Table 5.2 Parrots and related species: Cloacal administration
Species | Suggested volumes for cloacal administration (mL) |
---|---|
Budgerigar | 0.5 |
Cockatiel | 1 |
Amazon | 4 |
Macaw | 6–7 |
Table 5.3 Parrots and related species: Suggested individual bolus volumes
Species | Bolus volume (mL) |
---|---|
Budgerigar | 1–2 |
Cockatiel | 2–3 |
Conure | 4–6 |
Amazon | 8–10 |
Macaw | 15–25 |
Wing clipping of pet parrots
A badly clipped bird is not only at increased risk of damage to itself, but such clipping may predispose to feather picking and self-mutilation. Wing clipping can be controversial but the major justification for wing clipping is that by doing so it facilitates the necessary interaction between a pet parrot and the other family members, allowing the bird to become involved with, and behave as, part of the family (or ‘flock’) rather than it be confined to its cage. However, the ideal would be that the bird is left fully flighted and controlled verbally using commands such as ‘step up’, ‘step down’, ‘leave’ and ‘no’.
Analgesia
Table 5.4 Parrots and related species: Analgesic doses
Analgesic | Dose |
---|---|
Butorphanol | 0.5–4.0 mg/kg i.m. every 2–4 h |
Carprofen | 1.0–4.0 mg/kg s.c. p.o. b.i.d. |
Ketoprofen | 1.0–5.0 mg/kg i.m. b.i.d. or t.i.d. |
Meloxicam | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg s.c., p.o. s.i.d. |
Morphine | 0.1–3.0 mg/kg i.v. |
Anaesthesia
Air sac perfusion anaesthesia
Air sac perfusion anaesthesia technique
Skin disorders
Avian skin is very thin with the epidermis only up to 10 cells thick in feathered areas. There are few cutaneous glands:
Feather types
Signs of skin disease
Pruritus
Feather damage, pathology and loss
Diet
Scaling and crusting
Nodules and non-healing wounds
Chronic ulcerative dermatitis (CUD)
Neoplasia
Findings on clinical examination
Investigations
Management
Treatment/specific therapy
The self-mutilating parrot
Background
Environmental
Lighting
Diet
Environmental toxins
Findings on clinical examination
Investigations
Pathological causes of self-mutilation
Refer to Skin Disorders, above.
Otherwise significant conditions include: