Birds.com: Online Birds Guide with Facts, Articles, Videos, and Photos » treatment

Understanding Bird Cancer

Editor — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:19:10 +0000

Most new bird owners probably would not even imagine their feathered friends getting bird cancer. It seems like a somewhat outlandish concept. Yet, if you’ve been involved with these beautiful creatures for long enough, you’ll know that the incidence of cancer in birds is quite a bit more common than most people would like to acknowledge.

When you look at the stats, bird cancer is definitely not a rare occurrence in the bird world. Fortunately it does seem to respond well to treatment, so bird owners need not despair if their pet is diagnosed with a tumor. Unfortunately one cannot identify a specific group of birds as being more prone to this disturbing disease than others. There are also many different types of cancer in birds, so the prognosis can be very different from one bird to the next. It seems that squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common bird cancers and it can present in different ways in different birds.

Cockatiels who are getting on in years might develop tumors in their preening glands or on their skin. This is why it is important to keep an eye on your cockatiel from 20 years of age onwards. Budgies, on the other hand, seem to develop tumors in their kidneys, testicles and pituitary glands when they are young – usually under five years of age. This is a sharp contrast from other birds where the cancers are usually found in much older specimens of the species. However, it is suspected that there is a virus which causes these problems in the budgies.

It would appear that size does have an impact on where the cancer might present in the bird. Larger birds and cockatiels seem to be more susceptible to liver cancer, kidney cancer and ovarian cancer. Smaller birds, such as budgies and finches, tend to be more prone to skin tumors and bone cancers. Birds can even develop a melanoma on their beaks! Often the birds are brought in to the vet because they are displaying lameness on one side of their bodies. On examination it is found that the lameness is not physical but rather is caused by a tumor that is pushing on the nerves from the organs.

So what options do you have if your bird is found to have cancer? Treatment options vary and will depend on the type of cancer and where it has presented itself. Bird cancer treatment options range from chemotherapy to amputation. In some instances the tumor can be frozen or treated with radiation therapy. The sexual organs can be removed if the bird is big enough and the cancer as presented itself in these. Or a tumor might be injected. Ultimately the vet will be in the best position to advise the pet owner as to the best course of treatment.

Emergency Bird Care: Burns and Scalds

Editor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:59:42 +0000

It’s not every day that one hears about birds getting burn injuries and we may be at a loss to imagine how it might happen. The fact is that when things such as this happen, they usually happen pretty fast and immediate action is necessary to prevent serious injuries or death. With that in mind, it is definitely worthwhile learning a bit about the treatment of burns on birds.

The first thing to think about is what caused the burn in the first place since the treatment may differ somewhat as a result. If the burn is more of a scald from a hot liquid, a fire or even a chemical burn, it will usually help to flush the burnt area with cool (but not cold) running water for between ten to fifteen minutes. This will help to stop the burning, reduce the inflammation and will also help to lower the bird’s skin temperature. The burn may then be covered with cool, sterile dressings or gauze squares that have been moistened with sterile saline while the unfortunate creature is rushed to the vet. A visit to the vet is especially urgent if the pet bird has suffered third-degree burns.

An electrical burn requires a different approach and is harder to see. Usually a curious bird will bite through a wire, resulting in the burn. Unfortunately while that sort of burn may not show on the beak or skin initially, it can travel deep down into the tissues of the bird’s body. If the bird is thrown back or falls from the jolt he receives when he makes contact with the wires, he may also suffer from broken bones or other injuries. If you see this happen to your bird, the first thing you need to do is make sure that he is safe to touch. If he is still in contact with the live wire, you will have to either remove him from it with something non-conductive (cardboard, wood, plastic) or you may choose to switch off the electricity at the source. The next thing you’ll need to do is check if the bird is breathing and if there is a heartbeat. You may even need to perform CPR on your bird if his body isn’t functioning on its own. It may help to start rushing him to the vet as you start the treatment. If he revives, you would do well to place him in a warm, dark and secure carrier to minimize the stress of transportation. The warmth can be provided by a hot water bottle or some other creative item you may have on hand at the time. Treatment by the vet at this point would be essential and it would probably be a good idea to phone the vet in advance and prepare them for the emergency at hand.

With that in mind, there are a few other things you should never attempt when treating a burn. For starters, once you have done the basic first aid, make sure that you leave the rest of the treatment up to the vet. Don’t pull out feathers or remove debris from the burnt skin, don’t put any greasy products on the burn such as butter or ointment, don’t apply ice to the burn and don’t pop any blisters. It would also be a good idea to stay clear of blankets or towels as they may stick to the burn and, of course, do not try to give an unconscious bird any kind of oral medication. Your poor companion may be in need of some extended treatment and only the vet is qualified to be able to determine exactly what sort of treatment he will require. So make sure that you get your bird to the vet as quickly as possible to ensure that he gets the best medical treatment possible.

Bird Owner’s Guide to Avian Tumors

Editor — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:59:20 +0000

Most bird lovers do not know much about avian tumors so the presence of a lump or bump beneath your bird’s skin might get you into a panic. However, just because there is an abnormality, the problem is not necessary a tumor. There are a range of things which can cause bumps beneath your bird’s skin.

The first thing you will need to do is to determine what the bump is. This, of course, is best done by a veterinarian who can determine what it is. But there are a number of causes for those unsightly lumps and there is no reason to automatically conclude that your bird has a tumor. The bird could have an abscess, a fat deposit or a cyst. If the bird is female, a bulge in the abdominal region could indicate the presence of an egg. A swelling could also indicate than a particular organ is diseased and needs treatment. The most important thing to note is that while lumps and bumps caused by abscesses or cysts may be firm, they are usually not very hard since they are filled with fluid. An avian tumor, however, is a solid mass of tissue. The tumor can occur anywhere on the body and it can grow rapidly and spread. It may grow inside the body or under the skin. While the other medical conditions mentioned above should be treated, very prompt treatment/removal of a tumor is of the utmost urgency to avoid your beloved friend from suffering an untimely and uncomfortable end.

Of course, just as with humans, tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). However, since most pet birds are so small, even benign tumors can be life-threatening so it is imperative that they are treated as quickly as possible. Benign tumors tend not to spread and they grow very slowly. They can normally be removed fairly easily and will usually, but not always, never come back. Unfortunately the same is not true of malignant tumors, which often invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. They’ll spread to different parts of the bird’s body more easily, as the cancer cells break off and travel to other tissues in the body via the bloodstream. The prognosis for this sort of tumor is bad, since even if you remove the main growth, small portions of the tumor may have already migrated elsewhere so the tumor will still be present in the bird. Malignant tumors also tend to grow faster than benign tumors.

Unfortunately, the occurrence of tumors are not all that uncommon in our avian friends and there are actually a surprising number of tumor types that are commonly found in birds. Therefore if you find a suspicious lump on your bird and you are unsure of what it is, make sure that you get your feathered friend to a vet as soon as possible – especially if the lump is hard and is growing fast. Prompt action could ensure your friend’s survival!

Does Your Bird Have Bad Breath?

Editor — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:30:57 +0000

Halitosis in your feathered companion can spoil an otherwise enjoyable relationship. Although bad breath in birds is uncommon, it could indicate underlying health issues and should not be ignored. The most likely cause of bad breath is a bacterial infection and an avian veterinarian would, through a series of tests, be able to determine the cause and prescribe treatment.

A lack of vitamin A in a bird’s diet could increase its chances of developing certain infections, including infections that are caused by yeast or bacteria, which in turn could cause halitosis. If the diet is well-balanced and other possible dietary causes, such as feeding rancid seed, have been ruled out as a possible cause of bad breath, more serious causes should be investigated, as birds with bad breath could suffer from some sort of abnormality in the respiratory tract, oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract.

Birds may become infected with bacteria that are normally found in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, known as coliform bacteria. This bacterium is recognized by its distinctive smell of human feces. If the bacterium has colonized in the mouth, crop or proventriculus of the bird, its breath will smell of feces. If the bacterium has invaded the lower gastrointestinal tract of the bird, then its droppings will have this offensive smell. One may wonder how a bird could become infected with bacteria found in a mammal’s gastrointestinal tract. Manure is often used as a fertilizer when growing fruits and vegetables, and this can be a very potent source of bacteria. If fruit and vegetables are not washed thoroughly before offering them to the bird, these bacteria may still be present and will be ingested. It goes without saying that everyone should wash their hands after using the bathroom, but it is also a good idea to wash hands before handling your pet bird.

Another organism which could be responsible for causing bad breath in a bird is Avian Gastric Yeast (AGY) which is found in the junction of the bird’s proventriculus and ventriculus, but may also be found in the gastrointentinal tract of a bird that has been affected. Other gastrointestinal problems that could affect birds include Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) and an organism called spirochete, which is still a subject of research with regard to disease processes in birds. Benign or malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, which can be detected by means of a combination of blood tests, x-rays and ultrasound, may also cause bad breath.

The bottom line is that if your pet bird has persistent bad breath, it needs to be checked out by an avian veterinarian. Once the cause of bad breath has been established and appropriate treatment given, your bird can enjoy a better quality of life and you will enjoy its company.