Xrays in parrots

[DonnaBudgie]

I learned something about xrays on birds. I had one of my budgies, Rocky, xrayed last week to determine if she had an egg because she wasn't putting full weight on her left leg and was holding it off the perch. The reproductive system of a bird is on her left side and an egg can put pressure on the leg nerves. She didn't have an egg or any fractures. I asked them how they were able to xray her without anesthesia because holding her still with hands would cause the hands to be xrayed too. The toweled her and xrayed her restrained by the towel. They said that this method doesn't allow precise positioning but it isn't necessary when looking for a large obvious thing like an egg. It's also accurate enough to see any major fractures like a femur or wing fracture. To see any smaller detail the bird would need to anesthetized and positioned. I wanted to share this information because a lot of us are afraid of xrays because of the anesthesia required. Sme xrays require sedation but a quick film to check for presence of a retained egg doesn't.

 

[nkrbkr]

That’s interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Cool . I had a cockatiel some years ago that needed an x-ray to see if he had a bone infection. That's probably what they did to him! Towled the boi!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I do get concerned about stressing birds out by restraining them even for a couple minutes in a towel but vets know how to do it as safely as possible. People who don't know better (bird store clerks perhaps) may put too much pressure on a bird's chest not allowing they to breathe well. But there is always a rare case of a bird dying of cardiac arrest from the stress of even a properly done restraint. My beloved budgie died during a beak trim at a bird store many years ago and I was hysterical. I think it was stress. The point I'm making is that I wonder which is more risky- light anesthesia for an xray or toweling? Some xrays require anesthesia. I recall the photos of LaManuka's
Princess Peach having wing extensions (imping) done because she had only one wing severely trimmed. Princess Peach was lying on her back with her head positioned in a gas anesthesia cone sleeping while the procedure was being done. It would have been impossible to do that with her awake. I don't know how long that procedure took but the shorter the anesthesia period the better. A positioned xray wouldn't take long and neither would having a Suprelorin implant. I plan to get Joey my female budgie the implant after Christmas, so I guess that's why I'm so focused on anesthesia risks. I'm willing to take the risk to give Joey a better life.

Those of us who have female birds and have access to avian vets should always consider the possibility of the bird being egg bound if they appear sick.