Abstract

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.