Jeannine Miesle

Pododermatitis is a disease of the integument of the plantar (bottom) surface of a bird’s foot. It can also spread to the dorsal (top) surface of the foot. It is caused by irritation, trauma, poor perching, or overweight. It will become progressively worse unless it is treated aggressively. There are seven stages of progression of the disease; the last is so severe that the bird’s foot might need to be amputated. Treatments consist of medical intervention in the early stages and surgical intervention in the later stages. The sooner the affliction is addressed, the more likely are the chances of full recovery.

Even though you may have a bird now, or have had a bird before, there is so much new in the field of avian medicine and behavior that you will want to update yourself on the many aspects of bird-keeping. There are many excellent websites for you to explore. Remember, nothing can take the place of your avian veterinarian's guidance. And you will need to use your own common sense, as there are areas in which even the veterinarians disagree, such as in feeding and reproduction. Educate yourself completely so you know what to look for as far as signs of illness, behavioral issues, and the nutritional needs of your bird.

Tobacco products are severely detrimental to birds. They are proven to cause not only respiratory distress and disease, but they are also responsible for illnesses in every other body system. Second-and third-hand smoke are the most common causes of tobacco-related diseases; however, other forms of tobacco and nicotine products cause damage as well--damage that includes injury to the cardio-vascular system, respiratory system, feathers, integument, and gastrointestinal system. Unless the disease is too advanced, removal of the bird from the toxic environment, along with medical management, will usually result in a resolution of the clinical signs and healing of damaged tissue.

Birds, like any other animal, thrive as adults when the parents have raised them to abundance weaning and fledging. The trend of hand-rearing began in the 1980’s when thousands of birds were taken from their habitats and placed around the world. In most countries, hand-raising because the acceptable method of breeding since the parents weren’t tame, and breeders feared they would not know how to raise the chicks in captivity. It has done irreparable damage to both the parents and chicks over the decades. Breeders need to allow the parents to once again take charge of the rearing of their chicks, which is much easier on the humans as well.

Abstract: Removal of leg bands on pet birds is critically important in order to avoid the tragedy of having the bird suffer or even die from damage to the leg and foot. Bands can catch on toys or cage parts, cut into the bird’s leg and foot, cause the bird to self-mutilate or even chew off his own leg to be rid of the band. Today, there are alternatives to keeping the band on after purchase or adoption; one of them is microchipping. It is done by an avian veterinarian. Others are discussed in the paper.

The term "geriatric" refers to old age. Determining if a bird is geriatric is based on the species’ average life expectancy. Up until more recently, there have not been enough geriatric birds of most commonly kept species available, either wild-caught or raised in captivity, to be able to study them; therefore, it had not been known at what age changes in their physical and mental health begin to occur. Although tables with lifespans have been published, other factors influence lifespans, such as nutrition, genetics, and exercise. These can either accelerate or delay changes related to aging. Consequently, geriatric, as it relates to birds, is the age at which medical conditions associated with aging are being documented and reported. As they age, birds will suffer from many of the same ailments that humans and other mammals do. Avian veterinarians are seeing more and more geriatric birds in their practices, as the larger birds which were purchased in the 1980’s and 1990’s reach the end of their lifespans, and the smaller birds, living longer than they had in the past, reach the end of their lifespans also. The illnesses they develop affect their behavior and mental states.

Avian nutrition has not been studied sufficiently to know the requirements for each psittacine species. Most studies are based on chicken requirements because their physiology is closely related to psittacines' physiology. Since there are hundreds of psittacine species, it is impossible to develop specific requirements for them. Vitamins, minerals, and guidelines for daily food choices are included in this paper.

Abstract
Bacterial pathogens affecting birds are numerous. This paper covers many of the species that affect companion birds and the antibiotics most commonly used to deal with them. Beneficial and harmful bacteria are discussed as well as the harmful effects of bacterial infections. Diagnostic testing with staining, cultures, histopathology, and cytology and explained.

Abstract
Bacterial pathogens affecting birds are numerous. This paper covers many of the species that affect companion birds and the antibiotics most commonly used to deal with them. Beneficial and harmful bacteria are discussed as well as the harmful effects of bacterial infections. Diagnostic testing with staining, cultures, histopathology, and cytology are explained.

Both companion birds and wild birds are subject to a wide variety of neoplasms. The quality of life for these birds depends on the timeliness of presentation to an avian veterinarian and the correct diagnosis and treatment of these tumors and growths. Neoplasms vary in both the type of tumor and the species in which they are found.  Some neoplasms are easily removed surgically, while others present challenges to the practitioner and the owner. While chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been attempted, most practitioners agree that surgical debulking and removal, if possible, are the preferred means of treatment.

The glossary contains essential medical terminology used in avian medicine, including prefixes and suffixes, body positioning, terms for each of the body systems, abbreviations, and definitions of anatomical and physiological terms. There is an Appendix with images and explanations.

Although meloxicam is prescribed by veterinarians who deal with multiple species, birds do not respond to it as well as they to celecoxib for pain and inflammation. This is particularly true of birds who suffer from Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis.

Anyone wishing to adopt or purchase a bird should have a set of guidelines to follow when choosing the birds. This paper covers how to look at the bird's health, determine the conditions of the present environment, talk with the breeder or previous owners, and understand the financial responsibilities of bird ownership.

This guide to caring for a bird with avian bornaviral ganglioneuritis or avian gangioneuritis is based on the five years the author spent caring for her own cockatoo after it was diagnoses with the virus. The bird was clinical with the disease, and the author describes how she cared for the bird during this time. The paper covers foods, environmental triggers, and the importance of exercise in the day-to-day life of these birds so that they might live as healthy a life as possible. This paper is an addendum to the paper, Understanding Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis and Avian Ganglioneuritis, already in the Academia files.

Psittacine Beak and Feather disease is a fatal disease caused by the circovirus. It is extant in Australia and many Asian countries and can be found around the world. It is highly infections and environmentally stable. PCR testing offers conclusive proof of the virus in birds. It robs the birds of all their feathers. There is no treatment and no cure. It is eventually always fatal.

Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis is an immune-mediated disease which is always fatal if left untreated. ABG and Avian Ganglioneuritis may have the same symptoms are both treated in the same manner and with the same medications. The virus is passed vertically and is not easily transmitted to other birds. Testing must be done by PCR molecular diagnostics to avoid false positives and negatives. Given proper treatment, an ABG bird can live a normal life for several years.

Xanthomas are growths on birds' bodies, particularly the wings, that are composed of fat and cholesterol. Over time they will grow, and eventually the bird will die from internal and subcutaneous bleeding. Diet and medication will diminish them if they are not allowed to become too large. I have developed a message technique to shrink and eliminate these growths. This will take a long time, but if caught early, the growths will eventually be resolved without surgical intervention. The technique is explained in the paper.