Re: Egg bound Cockatiel

pjmontgo — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:16:27 GMT

Thank you so much for such a comprohensive reply. It will come in handy when I do see one or if anyone else like me comes on here and searches for egg bound cockatiel! I hope there isn't one on my list tomorrow, having never seen one before in 4 yrs in practice it would be a coincidence! Thanks again for your advice Caroline

Re: Egg bound Cockatiel

Marie Kubiak — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:58:13 GMT

I agree, most ascitic tiels I see don't have a long and happy life ahead of them. Advanced cardiac/repro/liver disease aren't uncommon and require a very dedicated owner to work up and manage them properly, and even then the prognosis is very guarded.

However, your receptionist has now jinxed you and you will probably have a truly eggbound cockatiel present tomorrow! It is an emergency situation as most cases are only picked up in extremis. Stabilise them first - s/c fluids (I prefer interscapular s/c space but the skinfold at the base of each leg is another option) 2ml of saline/hartmanns is a good start, oxygen if dyspnoeic and analgesia (butorphanol 2mg/kg IM) and keep warm, dark and quiet while fluids/meds take effect. Xray under isoflurange GA to see if an egg is present, where it is and whether you have other problems present. Most cockatiels I see with egg binding have large eggs present in the distal oviduct/bordering on cloaca. If I cant manipulate them out with lubrication under GA I try and visualise them per cloaca and then 'drill' a large bore needle through the visible shell and remove the egg contents with syringe suction. The shell can then be gently imploded and removed very carefully in pieces. Transcoelomic aspiration of more proximally located eggs carries greater risk with leakage/tissue trauma and may require laparotomy to remove fragments after the bird is stabilised. Oxytocin is not very effective in birds, prostaglandins are an option but have human handler considerations and will only make the situation worse in oviductal torsion/egg oversize cases.

Assuming everything goes perfectly to plan, you fix the tiel and everyone is happy, discuss preventing recurrence with owners - salpingectomy is a very fiddly surgery that is not for the faint hearted, husbandry changes to discourage breeding behaviour (appropriate diet, handling, training, light manipulation) or a GnRH implant are more practical options in general practice.

Marie

Re: Egg bound Cockatiel

pjmontgo — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:49:31 GMT

Panic over, didnt seem to be egg bound when I saw it but was severely dyspnoeic and ascitic, niether of which i find carry a good prognosis in any breed so opted for pts.