HBD Blog

Feathers Feathers show the critical first signs of impending disease, especially if due to malnutrition. Birds in very early stages of illness include the following characteristics: Feathers fail to zip (i.e., they have saw-toothed edges). Feathers are constantly in...

A Quick Reference Guide for Emergency Care Before an emergency occurs, it is important to establish a relationship with an avian veterinarian so you will have medical attention available to you when needed. Many veterinarians do not see emergencies without a prior...

Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for the Diploma of Fellowship by Michael David Stanford. August 2005 Abstract Hypocalcaemia is a commonly presented pathological condition in the grey parrot (Psittacus e....

A Clinical Reference for Veterinary Practitioners Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) The Composite Nature of Body Condition Body condition in the companion parrot is not a single number. It is a composite clinical assessment that integrates body weight, muscle...

A Clinical Reference for Avian Veterinary Practitioners | Harrison's Bird Foods Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) Overview of Avian Respiratory Architecture The avian respiratory system is structurally and functionally distinct from that of mammals, and an...

A Clinical Reference for Avian Practitioners | Harrison's Bird Foods Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) Introduction Atherosclerosis is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed conditions in companion psittacines. It progresses silently over years, and...

©Spix Publishing Inc, Adapted from Harrison GJ, Lightfoot T, et al (eds): Clinical Avian Medicine, 2005. MAP OF FINDINGS (Diagram of bird body/wings for mapping findings) Harcourt Brown R | L | L | R BODY CONDITION Body weight: _________ g Hydration: [ ] Normal [ ]...

Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) Confirm the Diagnosis: Not All Hyperuricemia Is Renal in Origin Just as elevated BUN and creatinine in dogs and cats must be interpreted in the context of pre-renal, renal, and post-renal causes, uric acid (UA) in birds...

A Clinical Reference for Veterinary Practitioners The Problem with Seed-Based and High-Calorie Diets Hepatic lipidosis, commonly referred to as fatty liver disease, is among the most frequently encountered hepatopathies in companion psittacines and is, in the vast...

Decades of Avian Innovation: The Harrison Journey A Legacy Rooted in Science, Care, and Education Past: Where the Journey Began The foundation of Harrison's Bird Foods began with a simple but powerful belief: birds deserve nutrition rooted in science, not guesswork....

Michael Stanford BVSc MRCVS Normal Faecal Microflora Mixed population of gram positive aerobes and anaerobes (Ref: Richie, Harrison and Harrison). Normal psittacine faeces would not be expected to have a gram negative population (Ref: Cheville). Confirmed on recent...

In psittacines, the fecal Gram's stain is a significant part of a complete patient evaluation. Although not definitive in making a diagnosis, it provides a visual screen of the percentages of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract at the time the sample was...

Why it Matters Proper husbandry of any species is crucial for ensuring healthy, well-adjusted pets. The closer we come to recreating the conditions of the species in the wild combined with the benefits of modern science, the more likely the animals are to not merely...

A Clinical Reference for Veterinary Practitioners Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) The Composite Nature of Body Condition Body condition in the companion parrot is not a single number. It is a composite clinical assessment that integrates body weight, muscle...

A Reference for Bird Owners and Avian Practitioners | Harrison's Bird Foods Bianca Murphy, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) Introduction Reproductive activity contributes meaningfully to the chronic disease burden in companion psittacines. Captive parrots can experience...

ERIC A.W. VAN KOOTEN, BSc Since 1985, parakeets and parrots have been successfully bred at our breeding facility. Although various kinds have been bred, the first breeding of Poicephalus rueppellii can be indicated as a highlight. This success has been realized by a...

For more than a decade, ExoticDVM Magazine served as one of the veterinary profession's premier educational resources dedicated exclusively to exotic animal medicine. Published by the Zoological Education Network, the award-winning publication brought together leading...