Abstract

As with humans and all other animals, birds can also develop cancerous and non-cancerous growths. Many benign lesions are common, such as lipomas and fibromas; many malignant tumors are also frequently seen in companion birds.  These include squamous-cell carcinomas, renal tumors, and tumors of the reproductive organs. But there are many that are infrequently found, and these require careful testing to be discovered. Both old and new technologies are used in the testing of tissues to locate and diagnose avian tumors. Furthermore, treatments vary depending on the placement and degree of advancement of the tumor. The practitioner must be aware of all the possible treatment protocols available to him, and he must also discern whether or not to continue the treatments if they seem to be working and when it is time to discontinue treatments and allow the patient to enjoy whatever time he has left.