ABSTRACT
The masking phenomenon and the ease with which early clinical signs can be overlooked highlight the importance of regular health examinations for the companion bird. Long-standing conditions such as malnutrition can be detected and corrected before the bird begins to decompensate and show signs of overt illness. A good history can alert the clinician to likely problems and allow him/her to focus on likely possibilities and refine the rest of the diagnostic approach. Birds’ droppings are made up of three components: faeces, urates and urine. In a healthy bird the faecal portion should be formed and homogeneous, with little odour. A vital aspect in avian medicine is the accurate recording of the patient’s weight. All birds should be weighed on each visit to the veterinarian and each day while hospitalised. When to auscultate is the prerogative of the clinician, but it may be better performed before the bird is handled for too long.
