Avian Care

Those who have pet birds know they can make great companions. Not only are many birds replete with beautiful colors, but their songs can really make a house come alive or their “human-like voices” can amuse us for hours. Like other kinds of pets, birds have unique needs. Birds are well known for being slow to exhibit signs of disease, and for this reason it is recommended that birds be taken to see an avian veterinarian at least twice each year. At our veterinary hospital, veterinary care is provided to determine if birds have potentially dangerous parasites or diseases and, if so, how they can best be treated. If you are a bird owner and are seeking an experienced group of avian veterinarians for a regular checkup or to address a specific issue, contact the Dog Cat & Bird Clinic of Nutley today. 

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Avian Veterinary Services 

​The services our avian veterinarians provide are designed to provide for the full range of a bird's needs. . Our veterinary services for birds include:

• Regular physical examinations, typically every 12 months
  
• Fecal examination for parasites, abnormal bacteria, or yeast
  
• Blood tests
• Grooming, including beak, nail, and wing trimming
  
• Band removal
  
• Dietary assistance
• Treatment of feather picking and other behavioral difficulties
• Egg binding treatment

IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ABNORMAL SIGNS ARE SEEN IN YOUR EXOTIC PET THEY SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO A QUALIFIED VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of Appetite
• Lethargy
• Weight Loss
• Puffed Up Appearance
• Stops Talking/Singing
• Change in Activity Levels
• Sneezing/Coughing
• Nasal Discharge

Enrichment Techniques For Birds
By Dr. Christopher Stancel

 - Birds are highly intelligent and active animals. In the wild they are constantly moving around, looking for food, interacting with each other as well as objects in their environment. Recreating this behavior in captivity is essential to a happy life for your avian pet.

- Provide a TV or Radio especially if you will not be home for some time. The calming sound of the radio or TV provides audible sounds as well as visual cues for entertainment. This is a great way to provide entertainment as well as the potential to increase your bird's vocabulary.

- Provide a variety of safe toys that are specifically made for birds. These can be made from ropes, rawhide, wood, and plastic. Some may include bells, beads or mirrors. Choose the most appropriate toys for the specific type(s) of bird(s) you own. Safety is the most important thing to remember and be sure there are no small parts that your pet may ingest or lose string that your pet can get a toenail caught on. It is also important to remember to rotate through different toys every two to three weeks so your bird doesn't become bored with a particular toy. Some of the original toys can be placed back into the rotation as long they are alternated from time to time.
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- Some household items can be used as some basic forms of toys for your pet birds. Things such as paper, empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes can be used to provide things for your birds to chew on. Again, safety is the key and monitor your birds closely to ensure they are not ingesting anything given for t hem to chew on.

 FORAGING TECHNIQUES

- In the wild birds have to look for or even in some cases hunt for their food. In captivity, we provide their food and water in convenient bowls that makes it easy for them to find their food. Again, this lack of activity can lead to boredom in your pet bird. By mimicking this foraging behavior that naturally occurs in the normal life style of our pet birds, you will be providing such activity that will stimulate their natural behavior.

-This can essentially be done by hiding your birds food in easy to discover locations in their at home environment. This can be achieved by putting food inside covered bowls, empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes, inside specifically designed treat holders made for birds where they have to figure out how to get the food out of the holder. This "Hide ‘n Seek" technique for feeding your birds will provide both foraging behavior as well as environmental enrichment with a tasty surprise in the end. Keeping these intelligent beautiful animals busy, entertained and active is a crucial part to providing them with long healthy and more importantly happy lives!

Avian Frequently Asked Questions

Q: WHY SHOULD I BRING MY BIRD TO A VETERINARIAN?

A: Birds in the wild survive because they hide illness from their predators. This behavior still exists in caged birds and it is often too late by the time symptoms of illness are visible. Your veterinarian will teach you how to prevent illness, and how to take care of your bird so that you can maintain a long, happy and healthy relationship with your bird.

Q: WHAT CAN A VETERINARIAN DO FOR MY BIRD IF HE/ SHE IS HEALTHY?
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A: An experienced exotic animal veterinarian should examine your bird for any abnormalities, monitor its weight and growth, check for intestinal or external parasites, and be sure that you are aware of the proper diet and care for your individual bird.

Q: WHY DOES MY VETERINARIAN WANT A FECAL SAMPLE FROM MY BIRD, EVEN IF MY BIRD DOESN'T GO OUTSIDE?

A: Birds can get intestinal parasites, and often carry many types of bacteria, some of which aid healthy digestion, but many are harmful and can make your bird sick. If abnormal bacteria are found, your veterinarian will want to culture it as a routine screening or to diagnose illness. The fecal will also screen for abnormal yeast that can also make your bird sick.

Q: WHY SHOULD MY VETERINARIAN TRIM MY BIRDS NAILS OR BEAK?

A: Overgrown nails will disable a bird from holding onto its perch, and could cause injury. Overgrown or malformed beaks can prevent a bird from eating and cause injury when preening.
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Q: CAN I PREVENT MY BIRD FROM GETTING DISEASE?

A: Many diseases can be prevented with a good diet and proper environment, but most disease can benefit by early detection. This early detection can be provided by regular exams by a qualified exotics veterinarian.

Q: SHOULD I ASK MY VETERINARIAN TO CLIP MY BIRD'S WINGS?

​A: Bird's wings are clipped to create less wind resistance so your bird can't fly away and to aid with training. If done correctly, the bird should be able to maintain balance without flying away. Your veterinarian will evaluate blood feathers present to determine if they need removal.