Species hub
Birds
Avian medicine is its own field. Here's what we have.
PetCaseFinder's avian library: plain-English guides on the conditions and symptoms our case index covers in birds, plus real peer-reviewed case reports rewritten for the owner.
Conditions in birds
Named diagnoses — what your vet would write on a chart. Each guide explains what the condition is, what vets check for, and links to real peer-reviewed cases.
Recently translated birds cases
Real peer-reviewed case reports, rewritten into plain English. Each one is a single pet's story — what the owner noticed, what the vet tried, and what worked.
2006
Squamous cell skin cancer in African grey parrot
A 22-year-old male African grey parrot was brought in with chronic feather picking and two large wounds, one on its side and another on its wing. Despite initial treatment with an…
The Veterinary record
2007
Immune-mediated anemia causing weakness in a 2-year-old eclectus
A 2-year-old female eclectus parrot was taken to the vet after showing signs of extreme tiredness, weakness, not eating, and being inactive for four days. Tests revealed she had s…
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
2008
African grey parrot with MRSA skin infection and tail feather loss
A 2-year-old female Congo African grey parrot was brought in for severe feather loss and skin damage at the base of her tail, which had been ongoing for over a year. The parrot ha…
Journal of avian medicine and surgery
2010
Proventricular dilatation disease in scarlet macaw linked to Avian
A scarlet macaw was brought in showing signs of depression and head pressing over several days. Tests revealed some abnormalities in blood work, but lead and zinc levels were norm…
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
2013
Surgical removal of ectopic egg in Timneh African grey parrot
A 13-year-old female Timneh African grey parrot was brought in because she had developed a bald patch on her chest and was showing unusual nesting behavior for two weeks. X-rays s…
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
2013
Long-term medical treatment of ovarian tumors in cockatiels
Two cockatiels were brought in showing signs of reproductive issues, including chronic egg laying, fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), lethargy, and breathing problems. After…
Journal of avian medicine and surgery
2014
Air sac cancer causing breathing trouble in a Quaker parrot
A 17-year-old Quaker parrot was brought to the vet after showing signs of not eating, being lethargic, and having trouble breathing for two weeks. The vet found a large, firm mass…
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
2018
Pigeon with nail stuck through stomach wall and weight loss
A 2-year-old female pigeon was brought in after showing signs of being less active, losing weight, and urinating more than usual for five days. X-rays revealed a metal nail stuck…
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
2018
Duck with eye cyst after eyelid injury treated with chemical ablation
A 2-year-old male Rouen duck was brought in with severe swelling around his left eye after injuries to his eyelids and two surgeries that removed the eyelid margins. The vet found…
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
2019
Vegetative endocarditis causing weakness and leg paralysis
A 15-year-old female umbrella cockatoo was brought to the vet because she had been experiencing intermittent cloacal prolapse (a condition where the cloaca, or vent, protrudes) fo…
Journal of avian medicine and surgery
2019
Percloacal ovocentesis to treat egg binding in birds
A 9-year-old parrot was brought in for egg binding, a condition where a bird is unable to lay its eggs. The veterinarian performed a procedure called percloacal ovocentesis, which…
Journal of avian medicine and surgery
2020
Cockatiel with head mass causing loss of appetite and weight loss
An adult female cockatiel was brought to the vet with a soft tissue mass on her head, which was affecting her left eye, along with a lack of appetite, tiredness, and weight loss…
Journal of avian medicine and surgery