Reproductive Diseases of Pet Birds
Reproductive diseases of pet birds originate form reproductive tract itself or secondary to disease of some other organ.
The diagnosis of the reproductive tract disease by history, clinical sign, palpation, radiography. Abdominal enlargement may be due to large gonadal tumour, oviduct impaction
Cessation of egg laying may be due to regression of ovary due to onset of broodiness, failure of infundibulum to engulf oocyte, obstruction of oviduct.
Discharge from the oviduct may be due to salpingitis or vent gleet
Loss of libido can be due to or associated wit degenerative changes or diseases of testes. Prolapse of the cloaca or oviduct may be due to straining to pass a retained egg
Sex change may occur due to steroid producing tumour. Vent gleet (cloacitis) is a chronic foul smelling sticky discharge from the vent that soil the ventral feather.
Female Reproductive Diseases of Pet Birds
Oophoritis
Oophoritis is the infection with salmonella spp and may be secondary to systemic diseases.
Ovarian Haemorrhage
Ovarian Haemorrhage may be due to defective blood clotting mechanism.
Other complication may be Follicular atresia, ovarian tumour, cystic ovary.
Abdominal Eggs
Abdominal eggs affected birds are known as internal layers, may be due to reverse peristalsis or rupture of the oviduct.
Affected birds may be found dead without showing any signs. Other birds may show abdominal enlargement.
Surgical removal of egg via abdomen is advisable if egg peritonitis is not formed.
Egg Peritonitis
Affected birds may show sudden death, depression, weight loss, respiratory distress. In advanced cases peritoneal adhesions may also noticed.
Egg Binding
Egg binding is due to obstruction or impaction of the vagina with fully formed egg.
The factors associated with this condition are obesity, over sized eggs, low blood calcium, poor muscle tone, nervousness, variation in temperature and lack of suitable nesting place and poor body condition.
Clinical signs are intermittent bouts of straining, adopt abnormal postures
Treatment: recent egg binding can be treated by keeping the bird in warmed cage preferably with infrared irradiation, lubrication of cloacal opening, placing the bird in steaming kettle.
If the egg is in the vagina the content can be removed by hypodermic syringe and needle. Injection of calcium gluconate to Budgerigars showed some success.
Oviduct Prolapse
Oviduct prolapse usually restricted to laying birds. Sub optimal diet, and birds kept in small cages that have not laid an egg for a considerable period of time.
Affected birds are often bright and alert and condition not noticed. Recent prolapse can be treated surgically, if egg is retained can be removed and the prolapsed materials can be surgically retained and sutured.
But it cannot prevent subsequent egg formation, which may complicate the surgical intervention.
Male Reproductive Diseases of Pet Birds
Orchitis
Granuloms due to infection with a variety of bacterial like E. coli, Salmonella spp., P. multocida may occur.
Affected bird may show signs of generalized infection.
Lack of libido, the causative organisms may be identified and treated with appropriate antibiotics.
Testicular Atrophy
Testicular atrophy degeneration and hypoplasia may occur as a annual event in seasonal breeders.
Other condition like malnutrition, toxicity or bacterial infection can cause testicular degeneration.
Testicular Tumors
Testicular Tumors is unilateral testicular enlargement may be due to a tumour. The testes of sparrows can increase up to a thousand fold during the breeding season.
