Companion birds present unique veterinary challenges due to their ability to mask illness and the limited training most veterinarians receive in avian medicine.
Companion bird veterinary welfare is compromised by two intersecting factors: birds' evolutionary suppression of illness signs and the limited access to avian-specialist veterinarians in many regions. A bird showing obvious signs of illness is often critically ill, making annual wellness examinations essential for detecting problems before they become emergencies. Weight loss — often the first indicator of illness — requires regular weighing at home to detect gradual decline before it becomes visible as "puffing up." Finding and establishing a relationship with an avian veterinarian before emergency arises is a critical welfare planning step for all bird owners. The welfare of sick birds in inadequate veterinary hands — misdiagnosed, mistreated, or untreated due to lack of avian knowledge — represents a significant and underestimated problem in companion bird populations.