Abstract
Question #1: My cockatiel pass- Question #2: It has been suggested
es whole, undigested seeds in the to me by several aviculturists to add a
stool. I have not changed his seed brand smaU amount of Nolvasan® to the
and he otherwise seems fine. Why drinking water of my birds. Is there any
does this happen and what do I need benefit that you know of in doing so?
to do about it? It is even a problem? Can it be harmful?
M. Cartwright, CA. S. Robinson. New York, NY.
Answer#1: The presence of whole Answer #1: The addition of
seeds in the stool is never normal and Nolvasan® (chlorhexidine) to drinksuggests
a problem with either the ing water has been suggested by many
proventriculus (glandular stomach) or as a method of controlling unwanted bacventriculus
(gizzard) where seeds are soft- teria and yeast from building up in the
ened and crushed. Causes of proven- drinking water. The primary benefit in
tricular and ventricular disease include doing so is to the seller and the manbacterial
infections (gram negative ufacturer of the product. Used accordEnterobacter
megabacteria and spiro- ing to the directions, chlorhexidine
chetes), fungal infections, parasites would not be harmful. However, there
(giardia and roundworms), proven- is no substitute for proper sanitation.
tricular dilatation syndrome (also known Clean, scrub, and sanitize water and food
as PDS or Macaw Wasting Disease) containers daily. If tap water is used as
and rarely cancer. A thorough physical your source of drinking water, let the
exam including fecal cultures, radi- water flow for one minute before using
ographs, and possibly surgical biopsy, to clear stale water from the pipe.
may be needed to determine the cause. James M. Harris, DVM.
Nicole VanDerHeyden, DVM Dipl. Oakland, CA.
ABVP. Indianapolis, IN. Answer #2: The addition of
Answer #2: The passing of whole and N ol vasan ® or one of the generic
undigested seed in the feces is gener- chlorhexidine products to the drinking
ally an indication of hypermotility of the water of birds, is thought to decrease the
gastrointestinal tract in which the seed number of bacteria and prevent the
is passed so quickly through the gas- occurrence of the yeast Candida albicans
trointestinal tract that there is no time in birds. Whether this actually works at
for digestion to take place. Abnormalities the small amounts that are added to the
in the crop in which food storage time drinking water, is fairly unlikely. When
is altered can also be associated with it is used at small amounts it is not harmpassing
whole undigested seed. ful to birds, but once again the benePancreatic
insufficiency can be a cause fit is extremely questionable. A number
as well. of aviculturists through the years have
Since all of the above mentioned added chlorhexidine to handfeeding
conditions can be harmful to the bird, formulas in an effort to reduce the
it is advisable to have your bird exam- possibility of Candida overgrown in
ined by an avian veterinarian to deter- babies. As the amount of chlorhexidine
mine the severity of the problem. that is added varies with the hand-
Robert B. Altman, DVM Dip!. ABVP. feeder, it is anecdotely thought to be of
Franklin Square, NY. benefit in some situations. Through
Answer #3: The passage of undi- cleaning and rising water bowls with a
gested seed in the stool is not a normal solution such as bleach, is a better
finding. I strongly recommend that the method than the use of chlorhexidine
bird go to a veterinarian with special in the drinking water.
interest in avian medicine and have a Amy B. Worell, DVM Dipl. ABVP. West
medical assessment and workup. Be sure Hills, CA.
to collect fresh feces and bring them to
your appointment so that they can be
checked.
James M. Harris, DVM.
Oakland, CA.
Question #3: Could you please
explain all of the diagnostic tests that can
be performed with a bird's droppings?
M. Judge, NM.
Answer #1: Bird droppings, a mixture
of both urinary tract and digestive
tract waste can have great diagnostic
value. The feces can be checked for the
ova (eggs) of intestinal worms and for
a variety of gastrointestinal parasites. The
organism that is responsible for psittacosis
(Parrot Fever) can be screened for
and isolated in culture from feces if it
is present. Pathogenic (disease producing)
bacteria can be cultured from
the stool as well as yeast. Blood, which
can be the result of a variety of insults
from tumors to infections to toxic substances,
can be detected from fecal
analysis.
The color of the droppings is an
indicator of health and disease. Change
in color may indicate infection, liver disease,
or pancreatic dysfunction. Change
in consistency is also significant. The liquid
portion (urine) with its associated
uric acid crystals (the white powdery
material) can also be analyzed. Tests and
cultures for renal (kidney) function
and disease can be done as well. Blood
in the droppings is significant and may
signal tumors or heavy metal poisoning.
Testing the droppings is a most useful
non invasive procedure.
James M. Harris, DVM.
Oakland, CA.
Answer #3: The droppings of a
bird originate from both the urinary system
and the gastrointestinal or digestive
system. The cloaca, the common sac in
which the droppings are deposited
prior to their release from the body, also
is the endpoint for the reproductive system
and its products, as well.
A large variety of diagnostic testing
can be performed on the droppings of
a bird. A partial list is included here.
• Fecal parasite examination- determines
the presence or absence of
internal parasites (worms) and
protozoa (single celled organisms)
that can parasitize a bird's body.
• Cultures and gram stains - determine
the presence of bacteria,
fungi, and yeast in the intestinal
tract. These organisms can either
be part of the normal flora (bacteria),
opportunistic organisms, or
pathogens.
• Fecal acid fast - can identify the
passing of the causative organism
of avian tuberculosis, Mycobacterium
avium.
• Urinalysis - from the urine part
of a bird's dropping an analysis of
the urine can be performed. This