{"id":75284,"date":"2025-01-22T18:53:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T00:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/?p=75284"},"modified":"2026-05-11T16:50:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:50:44","slug":"behavior-and-medical-issues-in-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/behavior-and-medical-issues-in-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"The Intersection of Behavior and Medical Issues in Avian Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span id=\"Introduction\">Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Yvonne R.A. van Zeeland presented this live distance-learning event exclusively for members of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Exotic Animal Medicine Club, which participates in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/lafeber-student-program-sponsorship-dr-m-scott-echols-uc-davis-wildlife-exotic-animal-medicine-symposium\/\">Lafeber Company Student Program<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archaeopteryx-online.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archaeopteryx<\/a>, a veterinary association in Utrecht, Netherlands and the Student Section of the <a href=\"https:\/\/eaav.org\/student-section-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Association of Avian Veterinarians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Abstract<\/h2>\n<p>Veterinary professionals often approach avian health problems through two primary perspectives:\u00a0 medical or behavioral. Clinical signs of medical illness in birds often include non-specific indicators, such as lethargy, anorexia, or a fluffed and ruffled appearance, as well as more specific signs, like respiratory distress or gastrointestinal issues. Other problems, such as aggression, anxiety, and destructive behaviors, are considered to be more typical behavior issues and are more commonly addressed by avian behaviorists rather than veterinarians.<\/p>\n<p>Both professions make use of a similar, problem-oriented approach, albeit with a different primary focus. While veterinarians focus on the internal pathology during the work-up of medical problems, behaviorists focus on external environmental factors that affect behavior, including current living environment (stimuli exposure, both positive stimuli that elicit species-typical behaviors, and aversive stimuli that act as stressors), and prior living conditions, including <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/breeder-checklist\/\">rearing history<\/a> and socialization.<\/p>\n<p>When dealing with a bird with behavior problem, it is important to realize that the behavior issue could have developed in response to underlying medical conditions. Alternatively, behavioral issues may initiate or compound medical problems (e.g . trauma-related conditions), potentially creating a vicious cycle of repeated physical injuries\/medical issues and ongoing behavior problems. As a result, it is crucial to consider both domains during the management of a patient.<\/p>\n<p>Some complex conditions, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/clinical-approach-to-fdb\/\">feather damaging behavior<\/a> (FDB), blur the lines between medical and behavioral issues. These behaviors can stem from evolutionary needs, neurotransmitter imbalances, early life stressors, and suboptimal living environments, including lack of appropriate stimulation or exposure to aversive stimuli. Additionally, medical \u2018triggers\u2019 such as pain, irritation, or discomfort can be involved. Understanding the complexity of these issues requires a comprehensive approach that integrates both medical and behavioral assessments. In cases like <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/feather-destructive-behavior-in-psittacine-birds-webinar\/\">FDB<\/a>, where discomfort or pruritus versus suboptimal living environments may have initiated the behavior, maintenance of the behavior may eventually result from a combination of socio-environmental, neurobiologic and medical factors. Determining whether and which factors are involved is essential for effectively addressing and treating these intertwined issues, and often requires a multi-faceted treatment plan that incorporates medical intervention, environmental changes, and behaviomodification therapy.<\/p>\n<p>Veterinary professionals must also remain vigilant to the potential role that hospital care can play in behavioral issues. <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/minimize-stress\/\">Minimizing stress during veterinary visits<\/a>, avoiding aversive stimuli, and using positive reinforcement strategies are key in both treatment and prevention of disease and behavior problems.<\/p>\n<p>This presentation highlights the importance of an integrated diagnostic and treatment approach to avian health, emphasizing the need for collaboration between veterinarians and behaviorists to achieve the best outcome for a bird. \u00a0Recognizing the connection between medical and behavioral problems in avian species can improve the quality of care and enhance the well-being of these often misunderstood pets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Outline<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Outline-van-Zeeland-Behavior-Jan-2025.pdf\">Download a PDF<\/a> of this detailed outline.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Veterinary health professionals are accustomed to looking at problems as either medical OR behavioral\n<ul>\n<li>Medical problems in birds\n<ul>\n<li>Non-specific signs of illness, such as lethargy, anorexia, and a fluffed and ruffled appearance<\/li>\n<li>More specific clinical signs\n<ul>\n<li>Oculonasal discharge or sneezing with upper respiratory problems<\/li>\n<li>Abnormal breathing with respiratory problems.<\/li>\n<li>Neurologic signs, like seizures, suggestive for CNS issues<\/li>\n<li>Vomiting or regurgitation and diarrhea, more typical of gastrointestinal disease<\/li>\n<li>Orthopedic problems, such as wing droop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral problems\n<ul>\n<li>Examples\n<ul>\n<li>Aggression or biting<\/li>\n<li>Fear or phobia, anxieties<\/li>\n<li>Destructive behaviors<\/li>\n<li>Excessive vocalization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Owners that seek help are much more likely to go to a behaviorist<\/li>\n<li>Soms expressions of natural behavior like chewing can be misrepresented as behavior \u201cproblems\u201d, eg in case of destroying furniture<\/li>\n<li>Stereotypic behaviors are uncommonly recognized as a problem by owners, who instead simply interpret these as fun, amusing behaviors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Some complex conditions, such as feather damaging behavior (FDB), are not as clearly distinguished as behavior versus medical problem.\n<ul>\n<li>Multiple factors can contribute\n<ul>\n<li>There can be underlying medical issues that manifests as a behavior problem\n<ul>\n<li>Pain, discomfort, irritation, pruritus can lead to FDB or auto mutilation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Evolutionary behaviors and needs<\/li>\n<li>Neurotransmitters: endorphins, serotonin, dopamine<\/li>\n<li>(Stress) hormones:\n<ul>\n<li>Nor\/epinephrine<\/li>\n<li>Corticosterone<\/li>\n<li>Sex hormones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Early living environment\n<ul>\n<li>Imprinting and socialization of hand reared baby birds<\/li>\n<li>If a bird is\u2026\n<ul>\n<li>Not well socialized<\/li>\n<li>Unaccustomed to changes in environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If the early living environment is very different from that of the adult age<\/li>\n<li>These can all lead to problems at a later age<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Suboptimal current living conditions that are not meeting the species-typical and\/or specific needs of the bird<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>FDB can result from an initial trigger\n<ul>\n<li>An underlying medical issue<\/li>\n<li>A suboptimal living environment &gt; can be called a maladaptive behavior<\/li>\n<li>Ongoing exposure to a suboptimal living environment can lead to (persistent, chronic) pathological or neuropathophysiological changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Different factors can also start to interact or lead to multiple active issues at the same time, especially whether there&#8217;s learning involved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>There are three main categories to explain occurrence of abnormal behaviors, like FDB:\n<ul>\n<li>(1) Medical causes\n<ul>\n<li>Primary feather conditions<\/li>\n<li>Primary skin conditions<\/li>\n<li>Systemic diseases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>(2) Suboptimal living environment \u00e0 maladaptive behavior\n<ul>\n<li>(a) Missing appropriate stimuli\n<ul>\n<li>Social interaction<\/li>\n<li>Foraging opportunities<\/li>\n<li>Space for exercise space<\/li>\n<li>Bathing<\/li>\n<li>Fresh air<\/li>\n<li>Sunlight (lack can also potentially lead to vitamin D deficiency)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>(b) Exposure to aversive stimuli\n<ul>\n<li>Potential predators<\/li>\n<li>Certain (loud) sounds<\/li>\n<li>Large or abnormal objects<\/li>\n<li>Novelty<\/li>\n<li>Changes in daily routine, household composition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>(3) Altered neurophysiology, brain dysfunction due to chronic or early exposure to suboptimal living conditions \u00e0 malfunctional behavior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>A behavior issue can also be an underlying or contributing factor to a medical issue\n<ul>\n<li>Behavior problems can contribute to the onset of medical issues eg<\/li>\n<li>A bird may develop aggression because of medical problem\n<ul>\n<li>Example #1:\u00a0 A bird with neurologic deficits &gt; cannot perch normally or may actually fall &gt; can become anxious &gt; bites your hand<\/li>\n<li>Example #2:\u00a0 Visual deficits &gt; unable to see someone approach &gt; anxious when you try to touch it or it may become aggressive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>FDB and self-mutilation can lead to (other) medical issues\n<ul>\n<li>Damage to feathers, with hemorrhage resulting if blood feathers are damaged<\/li>\n<li>Wounds<\/li>\n<li>Disruption of the skin barrier with (increased risk of) (secondary) infection or inflammation of the skin or feather follicles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Behavior problems can contribute to the onset of medical issues, especially trauma and injuries resulting from&#8230;\n<ul>\n<li>Bite<\/li>\n<li>Fall<\/li>\n<li>Collision<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Apparent medical conditions can represent normal behaviors\n<ul>\n<li>Reproductively-active birds\n<ul>\n<li>Chronic egg laying<\/li>\n<li>Regurgitation\n<ul>\n<li>Behavior-related\n<ul>\n<li>Often observed in a specific context\n<ul>\n<li>Sexually bonded bird in the presence of the owner<\/li>\n<li>In front of a mirror or another particular object<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The process is very controlled<\/li>\n<li>The bird is BAR<\/li>\n<li>Can be a ritualized behavior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Resulting from medical issues\n<ul>\n<li>Excess saliva<\/li>\n<li>Food may be thrown everywhere against the sides of the cage<\/li>\n<li>Additional signs of illness may be observed eg nausea, reduced appetite, abnormal droppings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Chronic stress due to suboptimal living environment\n<ul>\n<li>Effect of physiology: corticosterone release\n<ul>\n<li>Prolonged exposure to glucocorticoid steroids leads to medical issues\n<ul>\n<li>Immunosuppression, which can lead to secondary infections\n<ul>\n<li>Fungal infections (e.g. aspergillosis)<\/li>\n<li><em>Macrorhabdus<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Gastric ulcers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral conditions associated with stress\n<ul>\n<li>Abnormal repetitive or ritualized behaviors (i.e. FDB)<\/li>\n<li>Anxiety-related disorders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Medical and behavioral work-ups basically involve the same systematic and critical thought processes\n<ul>\n<li>Veterinary diagnostic process\n<ul>\n<li>Objective is to identify the underlying physical disease, lesion, or disorder that leads to clinical signs<\/li>\n<li>Focuses on internal pathologic processes that affect animal\u2019s health (internal factors)<\/li>\n<li>Obtain a <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/exotic-animal-history\/\">thorough history<\/a> &gt; perform a <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/physical-examination-of-the-avian-patient\/\">complete physical exam<\/a> &gt; DDX list determines additional testing &gt; diagnosis determines treatment and prognosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Behaviorist\u2019s diagnostic process\n<ul>\n<li>Similar workup but focuses on the behavior instead of clinical signs<\/li>\n<li>Focuses on the animal\u2019s environment and how this affects behavior (external influences)<\/li>\n<li>Objective is to identify environmental factors that influence behavior<\/li>\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>ntecedents &gt; <strong>B<\/strong>ehavior &gt; <strong>C<\/strong>onsequences (ABCs)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Determining which factor(s) play a role will often require both a medical and behavioral work-up<\/li>\n<li>Close observation of behavior can be helpful to identify the issue\n<ul>\n<li>Example: FDB due to pruritus or discomfort can manifest differently from stress-related FDB<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Close observation of the bird is also important from a medical perspective as it allows timely detection of subtle signs that indicate a medical problem<\/li>\n<li>Sudden changes in behavior should warrant suspicion of possible medical issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Veterinary visits can be a significant source of stress\n<ul>\n<li>Birds are exposed to a variety of stressors in this context\n<ul>\n<li>Novel sounds, smells, tactile and visual stimuli<\/li>\n<li>Traditional capture and restraint techniques resemble approach of a predator<\/li>\n<li>May be subjected to stressful or painful procedures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\u201cFlooding\u201d or \u201cResponse blocking\u201d: intense and rapid exposure to fear-invoking objects or situations<\/li>\n<li>Negative experiences increase the risk to learn aggression or fear\n<ul>\n<li>Associative learning (classical conditioning)<\/li>\n<li>Operant conditioning (negative reinforcement)<\/li>\n<li>Can be significant contributor to behavior problems, like fear biting or FDB<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Recognize early warning signs\n<ul>\n<li>Read and understand <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/reading-bird-body-language\/\">bird body language<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Prevent fear behavior from escalating (over threshold) in the first place (anticipate)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Minimize stress and anxiety\n<ul>\n<li>Limit exposure to stressful stimuli (aversive visual and\/or auditory cues)<\/li>\n<li>Approach the bird in a calm and quiet manner\n<ul>\n<li>Begin with a hands-off interaction whenever possible that allows the bird to acclimate<\/li>\n<li>Low stress handling, least intrusive method<\/li>\n<li>Allow the bird to recover in between procedures<\/li>\n<li>Consider the use of restraint devices, sedation, or anesthesia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Challenges associated with treatment\n<ul>\n<li>Difficulty with medicating fearful or aggressive birds\n<ul>\n<li>Stress of repeated handling and restraint<\/li>\n<li>Minimize stress by\n<ul>\n<li>Offering medication in favored food items<\/li>\n<li>Medication training to accept Rx via syringe through:\n<ul>\n<li>Shaping<\/li>\n<li>Desensitization and counterconditioning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Medical treatment of behavior problems may sometimes be indicated\n<ul>\n<li>Psychoactive drugs<\/li>\n<li>Medical intervention: chemical or surgical neutering when hormone involvement is suspected<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Focus first on modification of the environment\n<ul>\n<li>Least intrusive<\/li>\n<li>Most effective for long-term management<\/li>\n<li>Can also be useful when managing medical issues\n<ul>\n<li>Adjust placement of perches, bowls, and other cage furniture<\/li>\n<li>Encouraging or restricting exercise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Integrated treatment strategies use a combination of interventions to increase the odds of success<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Webinar_recording\">Webinar recording<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1049473699?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Post-test <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Take the brief post-test to earn 1 hour of continuing education credit. With a passing grade, you will receive a continuing education certificate in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/test-your-knowledge-medical-and-behavioral-issues-in-avian-health\/\"><strong>Test your knowledge<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>RACE approval<\/h2>\n<p>This program was reviewed and approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) program for 1 hour of continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>References and further reading<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Journal articles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. <em>Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine.<\/em> 2014; 23(2):152-157. doi:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.jepm.2014.02.009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1053\/j.jepm.2014.02.009<\/a><\/p>\n<p>van Zeeland YRA, Spruit BM, Rodenburg TB, <em>et al<\/em>. Feather damaging behaviour in parrots: A review with consideration of comparative aspects. <em>Applied Animal Behaviour Science.<\/em> 2009; 121(2):75-95. doi:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.applanim.2009.09.006\">10.1016\/j.applanim.2009.09.006<\/a>. Available at <a href=\"https:\/\/slunik.slu.se\/kursfiler\/DO0029\/40006.1213\/Papegojor_och_fjaderplockning.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/slunik.slu.se\/kursfiler\/DO0029\/40006.1213\/Papegojor_och_fjaderplockning.pdf<\/a>. Accessed January 22, 2025.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Websites\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@busybeaksacademy7746\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Busy Beaks Academy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theanimalbehaviorcenter.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Animal Behavior Center<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Veterinary professionals should ideally approach avian health by considering both medical and behavioral perspectives. An integrated approach is vital, as medical issues can contribute to behavioral problems and vice versa. The diagnostic approach and management of medical and behavioral problems are compared and contrasted in this presentation. View the RACE-approved recording of this distance-learning event presented by Yvonne R.A. van Zeeland, DVM, MVR, PhD, DECZM (Avian, Small Mammal). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":75797,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5497,227,5925,5924,1201,1194,220],"class_list":["post-75284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-aggression","tag-enrichment","tag-environment","tag-fear","tag-feather-destructive-behavior","tag-mutilation","tag-stress","content_types-article","content_types-video","content_types-webinar","topics-behavior","procedures-diagnostics","procedures-examination-evaluation","species-avian","species-parrot","channel-resources-education","contributor-van-zeeland"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Intersection of Behavior and Medical Issues in Avian Health - LafeberVet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Veterinary professionals should ideally approach avian health by considering both medical and behavioral perspectives. An integrated approach is vital, as medical issues can contribute to behavioral problems and vice versa. The diagnostic approach and management of medical and behavioral problems are compared and contrasted in this presentation. View the RACE-approved recording of this distance-learning event presented by Yvonne R.A. van Zeeland, DVM, MVR, PhD, DECZM (Avian, Small Mammal).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/behavior-and-medical-issues-in-birds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Intersection of Behavior and Medical Issues in Avian Health - LafeberVet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Veterinary professionals should ideally approach avian health by considering both medical and behavioral perspectives. An integrated approach is vital, as medical issues can contribute to behavioral problems and vice versa. The diagnostic approach and management of medical and behavioral problems are compared and contrasted in this presentation. 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