Association of Avian Veterinarians

Application of a Beak Ball to Prevent Self-MutilationAuthor(s): Matthew BondSource: Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Vol. 7, No. 2 (1993), p. 100Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30135016 .

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IN MY EXPERIENCE.

APPLICATION OF A BEAK BALL TO PREVENT

SELF-MUTILATION Matthew Bond, DVM Loxahatchee, Florida

A Bali Mynah (Leucopsar roth- schildL) hen in our collection chroni- cally mutilated her skin. After an exten- sive work-up, including biopsies, a col- lar was applied. While this prevented further mutilation and promoted heal- ing, it was stressful for the patient, caused feather wear, and hindered fly- ing ability, which prevented her return to the collection.

A ball of UV light-sensitive dental acrylic was placed over a base of a needle tip that was threaded through the upper beak, and the point was trimmed from the lower beak. The results have been excellent: the muti- lation ceased, the skin and feather con- ditions have improved dramatically, and the bird was successfully returned to an aviary with the beak ball still in place.

Ascaridiasis may be so severe as to dilate large portions of the gastrointestinal tract.

UVlight sensitive acrylic was formed into a beak ball to prevent self-mutilation.

100 JAAV

SEVERE ASCARIDIASIS IN AVIARY BIRDS

Bill Parsons Margaret A. Wissman, DVM

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Many veterinarians are under the assumption that if breeder birds (or any birds, for that matter) have no access to the ground or the bottom of the cage, they do not need to be checked or treated for ascarids. We have recently seen three groups of birds that proved otherwise.

Case 1. A group of Amazons that been housed outdoors in suspended flight cages for years was prophylactically wormed, first with fenbendazole, then with ivermectin three weeks later. Many adults passed roundworms. One older

hen that had died (from trauma by its mate) was found on necropsy to have significant ascarid infestation.

Case 2. A female Green-winged Ma- caw, which was purchased as a hand- fed baby at 8 weeks of age, was origi- nally housed indoors in a large, wrought-iron cage with a bottom grate. Several years later, the bird was moved to a suspended flight cage in a protected outside aviary for breeding. Eight months after successfully hatch- ing a chick, the bird died. Necropsy showed an emaciated bird with diar- rhea pasted around the vent. The small intestines were dilated and the proven- triculus contained ascarids measuring 4-6 cm in length. Ascarids were so abundant in the jejunum that the entire GI tract proximal to the obstruction

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