Introduction
Egg Binding is a problem that
occurs most often in the smaller female birds. Canaries, lovebirds,
cockatiels, budgies and finches are the commonly affected breeds. Egg
binding can be a serious problem, and is considered an emergency,
requiring delicate and professional care. Unfortunately,
some birds can succumb in spite of this
care.
Cause
Infection, trauma to the reproductive tract, inadequate nesting
area, excessive egg laying, obesity, and nutritional problems are some of the
factors involved with this problem. Those birds on all seed diets or those with
an inadequate calcium intake are particularly prone. An egg that is too soft
can also cause the problem. Some birds are just prone to the problem, and even
environmental factors like hypothermia can be involved. Determining the exact
cause can be difficult.
Symptoms
Birds that have this problem might exhibit
depression, labored breathing, straining, abdominal distention, lack
of droppings, fluffed appearance, and poor appetite. There might even
be a broken
bone due to inadequate calcium. These are
also the symptoms of other avian diseases. Pressure from a stuck egg
can even interfere with nerve function to the legs. Sometimes the
only symptom is your bird sitting at the bottom of the cage.
Unfortunately, the only symptom in some cases is a dead
bird.
Diagnosis
In many egg bound birds there is a history of
recent egg laying. Some birds exhibit sexual behavior and even build
nests. During physical examination of a bird with a distended abdomen
an egg can sometimes be palpated. There are other causes besides egg
binding in sick birds with distended abdomens, so it is important to
follow a thorough diagnostic
process.
X-rays are a significant aid in making this
diagnosis, but only if a bird is strong enough. Eggs shells have a
high level of calcium, so depending on how well they are developed,
might show up vividly on an x-ray. Some eggs are poorly calcified and
do not show up well on a radiograph.
It's
not difficult to see the egg on this bird that is laying
on its back. The circular whitish material just above the
egg is grit in the gizzard (ventriculus).
Treatment
Egg bound birds are very ill and require emergency
care. Many are hypothermic and require immediate warming. They can be
toxic from the inability to eliminate waste products and dehydrated
from poor appetites and weakness, so warm fluids are also
administered. If the bird is in shock we will give these fluids via
an intraosseus
catheter. Calcium is also administered to
aid in muscle contractions and hopefully expulsion of the egg on its
own. Medications to stimulate the uterus to contract are also used.
Whether or not they help depends on the cause of the
problem.
If medical therapy does not work we attempt to
help in the removal of the stuck egg. Once the bird is more stable we
can sometimes gently expel the egg with digital pressure. If the egg
is adhered to the uterus digital pressure might not work. Inserting a
needle with a syringe attached directly into the egg allows us to
collapse the egg and make expulsion easier.
This
female is being examined with a lubricated speculum to
determine the exact nature of her problem. We can deflate
the egg by passing the needle through the speculum. The
arrow points to a high intensity cool light that allows
greater visualization.
Prevention
There are factors involved with this problem that
we have no control over. Factors we can control are good nutrition, a
clean environment, spaying birds that are predisposed to egg binding
or are excessive egg layers, minimizing obesity and stimulating
exercise.
Careful daily observation of your pets daily
habits will help you recognize the early symptoms of this disease.
No matter what the problem, any time your pet bird shows any
symptoms of a disease, no matter how subtle, it is considered
significant and requires immediate veterinary care. This is
because birds are masters at hiding illness, and we are all too often
presented with sick birds in advanced stages of disease. Our ability
to return these birds to normal health is diminished because proper
care has not been given early on in the disease process where it is
most beneficial.
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