CPD article: How to perform venipuncture in avian patients

Birds have been kept in captivity since the beginning of records. The Sumerians (c 4100–1750 BC), the oldest civilisation known to have kept written records, had a word for bird cage: subura (Dennis, 2014). Birds are kept for many reasons across the globe, including: food (both as meat and to hunt with), research, companionship, beauty, entertainment and in zoological collections.

In the UK alone, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (2020) estimated that there were 1.1 million indoor birds kept as pets in 2019. Given that many birds are not kept indoors—including aviary birds, birds of prey, pigeons, pet poultry and zoological collections—it is fair to assume that this is a gross underestimate.

Owners can form strong bonds with their birds and avian pets presenting to the veterinary practice is becoming more common. Blood sampling, just as in more familiar species, such as cats and dogs, can be an important part of a wellness exam and for disease investigations. It can also be used to develop a baseline personalised ‘reference range’ for an apparently healthy patient. Many species are not sexually dimorphic and owners may wish to have their bird DNA sexed, although this is not possible for all species and the laboratory would have to be contacted beforehand. If an owner wished to add a bird to a collection, viral and chlamydia screening should also be considered for biosecurity purposes.