Diarrhea in the Avian Patient

Key Points

  • The avian dropping consists of 3 components: feces, urates and urine.
  • “Diarrhea” is a common presenting complaint, but the clinician must differentiate true diarrhea from polyuria.
  • Diarrhea may be defined as any change in the consistency or formation of the fecal portion of the dropping.
  • When evaluating an avian patient with diarrhea, always determine the diet consumed and know the appearance of normal droppings for the species in question.
  • Fecal testing is an essential diagnostic tool. Complete blood counts, serum biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, and whole body radiogaphs are also important diagnostic tools.
  • Therapy should revolve around confirmation of the underlying cause. Symptomatic therapy is not as useful in avian cases as it is in small animal medicine.

Diarrhea is a common clinical presentation in avian medicine. Diarrhea may be caused by a variety of conditions, however it is particularly important for the practitioner to understand the anatomy and diseases of the avian gastrointestinal tract and associated organs . . .


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References

Bauck L. Abnormal droppings and their workup. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet 1995. Pp. 455-458.

Ceelen L, Decostere A, Martel A, et al. First report of Helicobacter pullorum in the faeces of a diarrhoeic psittacine bird (Psephotus haematogaster). Vet Rec 159(12):389-390, 2006.

Ferrell ST, Tell L. Clostridium tertium infection in a rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus haematodus) with enteritis. J Avian Med Surg 15(3): 204-208, 2001.

Fudge AF, Tell L. Gastroenterology. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine 8(2):41-82, 1999.

Hoefer HL. Diseases of the Gastrointestinal tract. In: Altman RB, Clubb SL, Dorrestein GM, Queensberry K (eds). Avian Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1997. Pp. 419-453.

Oglesbee BL. Differential diagnosis. In: Altman RB, Clubb SL, Dorrestein GM, Queensberry K (eds). Avian Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1997. Pp. 225-226.

Rich G. Avian diarrheas. Western Veterinary Conference 2007.

Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ and Harrison LR. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application. Lake Worth, Fl, Wingers, 1994.

Rupley AE. Manual of Avian Practice. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1997.

To cite this page:

Rich G. Diarrhea in the avian patient. April 29, 2008. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/diarrhea/