The Geriatric Bird’s Physical Exam

A complete work-up and physical exam should be done annually, particularly if the older bird has ailments. He may even need to go in more frequently. He should not be anesthetized if at all possible, since older birds have a greater risk of complications. The practitioner should conduct a thorough physical exam at each visit and handle the bird very gently.⁶⁴

The annual office visit gives the owner and practitioner the opportunity to prevent disease by correcting husbandry issues. They are able to discuss any symptoms that might be early warning signs of disease.²³ The practitioner should include in his discussion:

• Changes in behavior that could a sign of pain, nervousness, fear or disorientation
• The extent of vocalization, play, and movement within the bird’s environment
• Interaction with objects, other birds, and people
• Quality-of-life concerns; these should be compared to previous years
• Changes in water consumption or urinary/fecal/urate output
• Changes in food preferences or eating habits
• Changes in preening habits, perching locations, and sleep cycles ^10,23,37,64

19.1 The Thorough Physical Exam Should Include:

• Taking and recording the weight of the bird
• Oral and fecal Gram’s stains
• Inspecting under the wings and around the vent
• Auscultating the air sacs, heart, and lungs
• Testing for muscle mass, exercise tolerance, and grip strength
• Range-of-motion testing for joints and limbs, walking gait, and flight, if possible
• Scrutinizing the feathers and skin for evidence of depigmentation (which may indicate a delayed molt), lack of preening (as evidenced by dirty, ratty, unzipped feathers), feather picking or chewing, or other abnormalities
• Examination of the eyes, ears, nares, oropharynx, choana, tongue and glottis
• Palpation of the crop and abdomen
• Visual examination of the uropygial gland (when present), and gentle massaging to express the sebum
• Examination of the cloacal mucosa
• Checking the feet for lesions and palpation of the feet, toes, and nails ^{10,23,37,60,64}

19.2 The need for additional testing

If the practitioner determines additional tests are necessary, they should include:

• Radiographs, to evaluate bone density and joint disease, arthritic changes, lesions, cardiovascular abnormalities, organ enlargement, and to screen for any internal masses
• Complete blood count (CBC) and plasma chemistries, including bile acids, cholesterol and HDL and LDL levels if indicated
• Ophthalmic examination
• Echocardiogram and ECG if warranted
• Skin tests, such as impression tests, skin scraping, or fine-needle aspirate of any growths
• Bacterial cultures and sensitivities ^10,26,37,64