Lesson 1Sample collection methods and handling: blood volume limits, venipuncture sites, swabs, feces, and feather sampling best practicesReviews best practices for avian sample collection and handling, including safe blood volumes, venipuncture sites, swab and fecal sampling, and feather collection, to maximize diagnostic yield and minimize patient risk.
Calculating safe blood volume in small birdsChoosing and accessing venipuncture sitesSwab selection, storage, and transport tipsCollecting and preserving fecal samplesFeather sampling for cytology and DNA testsLesson 2Dermatologic and behavioral assessment: feather sampling, skin cytology, bacterial/fungal cultureAddresses dermatologic and behavioral presentations in birds, covering feather and skin sampling, cytology, culture, and integration of behavioral assessment to distinguish medical from psychogenic feather damage.
History of pruritus, plucking, and self-traumaFeather selection and sampling for analysisSkin scraping and cytology slide preparationBacterial and fungal culture site selectionBehavioral clues to nonmedical feather damageLesson 3Respiratory-focused tests: choanal and tracheal swabs, transtracheal wash, thoracic radiographsDetails diagnostic options for avian respiratory disease, including choanal and tracheal swabs, washes, and thoracic imaging, with emphasis on safe sampling, artifact avoidance, and correlating results with clinical signs and auscultation.
Clinical signs guiding respiratory test selectionChoanal swab technique and cytology reviewTracheal swabs and transtracheal wash methodsThoracic radiography positioning and viewsInterpreting respiratory findings with exam dataLesson 4Crop and GI-focused tests: crop cytology, crop swab culture, crop radiographyExplores targeted crop and gastrointestinal diagnostics in parrots, including indications, sampling techniques, and interpretation of cytology, culture, and imaging to differentiate infectious, inflammatory, obstructive, and motility disorders.
Indications for crop-focused diagnostic testingSafe crop content collection and restraintCrop cytology preparation and interpretationCrop culture: when, how, and limitationsCrop imaging: radiography and contrast useLesson 5Minimum database: CBC, biochemistry, fecal parasitology, fecal flotation and direct smearIntroduces the avian minimum database, outlining how CBC, biochemistry, and fecal tests are selected, collected, and interpreted together to screen systemic disease, monitor chronic cases, and prioritize advanced diagnostics.
Core components of the avian minimum databaseCBC collection, smears, and cell morphologyBiochemistry panels and organ function patternsFecal flotation and direct smear techniquesIntegrating fecal parasitology with clinical signsLesson 6When and how to pursue advanced diagnostics: endoscopy, contrast radiography, CT, PCR panels, heavy metal testing, hormonal assays (e.g., thyroid, corticosterone)Explains when to escalate to advanced diagnostics such as endoscopy, contrast studies, CT, PCR, heavy metal testing, and hormonal assays, including case selection, basic principles, and client communication about risks and value.
Clinical criteria for advanced test escalationEndoscopy indications, prep, and biopsy targetsContrast radiography for GI and crop disordersCT imaging for respiratory and skull diseasePCR, metals, and hormones: panels and timingLesson 7Interpreting avian laboratory results and common artifacts in avian hematology and chemistryProvides a framework for interpreting avian hematology and chemistry, recognizing species differences, common artifacts, and patterns that suggest inflammation, anemia, organ dysfunction, or sampling error.
Species and age variation in reference rangesRecognizing hemolysis, lipemia, and dilutionPatterns of inflammation and infection on CBCBiochemistry clues to hepatic and renal diseaseCorrelating lab trends with clinical evolutionLesson 8Comprehensive physical exam techniques for psittacinesCovers stepwise physical exam methods for psittacines, emphasizing low-stress handling, systematic body systems review, pain recognition, and prioritization of abnormal findings to guide further diagnostics and immediate stabilization.
Low-stress handling and towel restraint basicsSystematic beak, oral cavity, and choanal examCardiovascular and respiratory auscultation skillsBody condition scoring and musculoskeletal palpationRecognizing pain, shock, and critical instabilityLesson 9Interpreting history and environmental risk factors in parrotsFocuses on obtaining and interpreting a thorough history in parrots, including diet, housing, enrichment, flock dynamics, and toxin exposure, to identify risk factors, refine differentials, and prevent future disease.
Structured medical and husbandry history formsDiet, foraging, and water source assessmentCage design, perches, and air quality reviewSocial, behavioral, and stressor evaluationIdentifying toxin and infectious exposure risks
