How to Fix a Bird

Avian medicine is a specialized branch of veterinary science dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of health issues in birds, encompassing species from companion parrots to wild raptors. Birds have unique physiological traits, such as air sacs and a high metabolic rate, requiring specialized diets rich in nutrients like vitamin A for feather health, respiratory function, and immune support; deficiencies can lead to conditions like squamous metaplasia. Avian anatomy includes lightweight bones, a beak adapted to species-specific diets, and keen senses (e.g., vision enhanced by a high density of cone cells for color perception), with behaviors like preening that can lead to feather plucking or ingestion of foreign materials.