The wings are the most important part of the flight apparatus of a bird and consist of feathers, bones, muscles, nerves, and patagial skin flaps. The complex kinematics of wing beats and the perfect control of aerodynamics make avian flight possible. An impaired flight can be viewed as an avian lameness; therefore, a better understanding of avian locomotion can help to diagnose and to evaluate the avian patient, especially when perfect flight is required for release of wild birds. Every condition affecting a specific part of the wing can lead to serious biomechanic and aerodynamic consequences during flight. This review summarizes wing mechanics that might be of clinical relevance for avian practitioners considering the current experimental and theoretical scientific knowledge available on avian flight in conjunction with observations of birds in various wildlife centers.

To compare the efficacy of treatment protocols recommended to aid passage of metallic foreign objects from the ventriculus of birds, a 1-mm metal sphere, made from solder wire, was placed into the crop of each of 44 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). After survey radiographs confirmed the spheres were lodged in the ventriculus, birds were divided into 6 groups. Each group received 1 of 6 different treatment protocols: psyllium with grit, acidic drinking water, fine grit, coarse grit, cathartic emollients (peanut butter and mineral oil), and a control group. All birds were treated simultaneously with a chelating agent, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), to prevent heavy-metal toxicosis. Successive survey radiographs were used to monitor elimination of the spheres from the digestive tract. Of all protocols tested, birds treated with either fine or large grit had the shortest mean elimination time of the metal spheres. These results indicate that administration of grit particles, either fine or coarse, appears to be effective in hastening the passage of metallic foreign objects from the ventriculus of budgerigars.

Diagnostic assays that use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods are increasingly available to veterinarians. Psittacine beak and feather disease virus (family Circoviridae, genus Circovirus) is a pathogen of clinical importance for which PCR assays have been developed. Several laboratories offer this diagnostic assay in the United States; however, there is little information on the sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy of these assays. In this study, known positive (n  =  10) and negative (n  =  10) samples were sent to 5 commercial laboratories. Accuracy was 100% for 2 laboratories, 95% for 2 laboratories, and 71% for 1 laboratory; the accuracy of the latter laboratory was affected because of a specificity of 20%. These results suggest that although the results from most laboratories are highly accurate, both false-positive and false-negative results are occasionally reported by at least 2 laboratories. These results also suggest that at least 1 laboratory may be generating large numbers of false-positive results.

To determine the effect of midazolam on ketamine-xylazine anesthesia, 20 guinea fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) were randomly divided into 2 groups. Birds in group KX were anesthetized with ketamine (15 mg/kg IM) and xylazine (2.5 mg/kg IM), whereas the birds anesthetized in group KXM received midazolam (0.3 mg/kg IM) in addition to the ketamine and xylazine protocol. The onset of anesthesia, duration of analgesia, duration of recumbency, and recovery time were determined. Heart and respiratory rates as well as cloacal temperatures were recorded immediately after drug administration and at 10-minute intervals until the birds were sternally recumbent. Analgesia was assessed as a response to artery forceps applied to the digit and skin proximal to the tarsal joint. The mean (SD) duration of analgesia in the group KXM birds was 37.4 ± 23.5 minutes, whereas no analgesia was apparent with the group KX birds. The duration of recumbency was significantly longer and respiratory rates were significantly lower in group KXM birds compared with those in group KX. Adverse effects were minimal and included diarrhea (n  =  1) and hypersalivation (n  =  2) in group KX birds, and regurgitation (n  =  2) in group KXM birds. Midazolam administered intramuscularly appeared to improve the anesthetic quality of ketamine and xylazine in guinea fowls without adversely affecting safety.

An outbreak of avian paramyxovirus serotype 3 (APMV-3) infection occurred in a private bird collection consisting mainly of Neophema species. Two Bourke's parrots (Neopsephotus bourkii) and one red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) were examined after developing torticollis and circling. The 3 birds were euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. Brain and liver samples from the 3 birds were homogenized and inoculated into the allantoic cavity of 10-day-old embryonated specific-pathogen-free chicken eggs. An APMV-3 isolate replicated but did not induce embryonic mortality after up to 5 consecutive passages. Allantoic fluid from the second passage was used in hemagglutination testing performed on chicken erythrocytes, which resulted in a titer of 64 hemagglutinating units. Avian paramyxovirus serotype 3 was identified in the allantoic fluid, and a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction verified the isolate as APMV-3/parakeet. An eventual mortality rate of 70% occurred in the Neophema species, but a group of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and parrotlets (Forpus species) kept in the same facility showed no clinical signs during the outbreak.

An adult male prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) was presented for evaluation and treatment of self-inflicted wounds along the right proximal patagium. The bird had started self-traumatizing approximately 1 month after fracturing the right metacarpus, although the fracture had stabilized, surface wounds had healed completely, and treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug had been administered. The bird was treated with gabapentin (11 mg/kg PO q12h), ketamine (0.5 mg/kg IM q24h), and low level laser therapy (LLLT) (<5 mW, 630–680 nm, 5-second application per site) for 3 weeks, but, despite initial improvement, new self-inflicted wounds appeared at the same site. Approximately 1.5 months later, a radial and medianoulnar nerve block was performed by using bupivacaine (2 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.5 µg/kg). In addition, the dosing interval of ketamine was increased to q12h, and the dose of gabapentin was increased 7.5-fold. A higher energy and wavelength of LLLT (1040 mW, 830 nm, 2 J/cm²) was applied once to the injured region and fracture site, then the original LLLT protocol was applied once daily. After 2.5 months, the wounds healed completely and no further mutilation took place. Once deemed ready for release, the falcon was returned to the wild after 181 days in captivity. This is the first reported application of successful multimodal analgesia in a raptor with uncontrolled neuropathic pain.

Neoplasms of the skin are occasionally seen in domestic birds but are uncommon in nondomestic birds. An 8-year-old male hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) was presented with bilateral axillary ulcerative lesions that improved but did not resolve with empiric antibiotic and antifungal therapy. Skin biopsies were taken, and bilateral feather folliculomas were diagnosed on histopathologic examination. The duck was euthanatized because of the poor prognosis. A 9-year-old Indian runner duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was presented with an ulcerative lesion, with pseudomembrane and serocellular crust affecting the axillary region. This mass was diagnosed as a basosquamous carcinoma. The mass was surgically excised, and no recurrence was observed. Feather folliculomas are usually considered benign neoplasms in domestic birds and may be primarily ulcerative, exudative, bilateral, and symmetric in location. Basosquamous carcinoma may have a similar gross appearance. It is unknown if the axillary region may be an area with increased incidence of neoplasia in birds. This appears to be the first report of feather folliculoma and basosquamous carcinoma in Anseriforme species. Feather folliculomas and other neoplasms, such as basosquamous carcinoma, should be considered as a differential diagnosis in ulcerative or proliferative skin lesions in birds.

In today's economic climate, many businesses, including many veterinary hospitals, are struggling. In many parts of the country, fewer owners are bringing animals to the veterinarian for regular checkups, and more are waiting until their pets are ill to have them examined. Given this situation and their often limited advertising budget, veterinarians now, perhaps more than ever, must market their businesses successfully. But how do we veterinarians know how best to spend our advertising dollars? Only through trial and error and the advice of our colleagues can we see what kinds of advertising bring the strongest return on our investments.

To this end, I invited 6 veterinarians, practicing in successful clinics in different regions of the country, to share their experiences regarding marketing their veterinary practices. As you will see, what works for some, may not work for others. The participants are Thomas Bankstahl, DVM, Parkway Small Animal and Exotic Hospital and Parkway Veterinary Clinic, Clinton Township, MI, USA; Ann Bourke, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Northeast Bird Clinic, Ashford, CT, USA; Louis Crupi, DVM, Dog, Cat, & Bird Clinic of Nutley, Nutley, NJ, USA; Tia Greenberg, DVM, Westminster Veterinary Group, Westminster, CA, USA; Jeff Rhody, DVM, Lakeside Veterinary Center LLC, Laurel, MD, USA; and Michele Velasco, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Fleming Island Pet and Bird Clinic, Orange Park, FL, USA. In hearing about how they successfully advertised their practices, I hope that veterinarians everywhere will learn from them and be encouraged to market their businesses wisely.