Even though birds don’t need the same type of oral or dental care that dogs and cats do, their oral and beak health is still an important part of their wellbeing.

Many avian patients are not only beautiful, they are also very intelligent, with big personalities. As such, many veterinarians enjoy seeing birds at their practice. However, to appropriately evaluate and treat these patients, extensive knowledge is required of the many differences between birds and mammals. 

While it won’t be possible in just one article to cover every issue a bird could have with its mouth or beak, below we’ll cover some of the most common conditions to look for in pet birds, mostly focusing on Psittacines (parrots). 

Normal Anatomy and Signs of a Problem

The beak is also known as the bill or rostrum. It consists of the upper (maxillary rostrum) and lower (mandibular rostrum) jaws, each of which is covered at its rostral end by a hard keratin structure known as the rhampotheca or “horny bill.”  

Normally, the upper and lower portions of the beak should align well with one another. But various beak or systemic health problems can lead to overgrowth, malocclusions, or other problems. Additionally, health issues can present within a bird’s mouth.

An owner may alert their veterinarian to a problem by mentioning symptoms they’ve noticed at home, such as halitosis, yawning, frequent beak rubbing, or changes in eating behavior.

During the physical examination, keep a lookout for any asymmetry of the head and beak. Look inside the mouth for lesions, too, such as masses, plaques, odor, foreign bodies, or wounds.

When examining a bird, a low-stress approach is best—for the ease of the veterinary visit, for avoiding spurious lab results due to stress, and for the wellbeing of the bird. Avoid using excessive pressure or restraint. For some birds, sedation may be ideal.

Common Health Conditions of the Beak and Mouth in Birds

Some of the most common conditions a veterinarian will see include…

• Beak overgrowth, uneven wear, or malocclusions. Routine beak trimmings can help prevent these problems. Commonly, a Dremel is used for this purpose. It can take practice and experience to gain proficiency. The Dremel should not be held in contact with the beak for too long, due to the risk of excessive heat. 

More complicated issues, such as a malocclusion, may need additional treatments or referral to a specialist. 

Once the beak shape is corrected, enrichment at home, which encourages normal use of the beak, can help prevent the problem from occurring again and possibly eliminate the need for further beak trimmings.

• Beak and oral trauma. Common traumatic injuries include bite wounds/punctures (from other birds or other animals), fractures (which may be just to the tip of the keratin part of the beak, or may involve underlying bone), avulsions, and oral trauma or punctures from hard objects or toys.

• Oral and beak diseases. Birds may suffer from bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. One example is the viral Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease. Also, neoplasia may occur.

• Systemic diseases can also affect the beak or oral cavity. One condition which may affect the mouth and GI tract is an internal papillomatous disease (IPD). Psittacines with this condition may present with cauliflower-like growths in their oral cavity or cloaca, while also having masses present internally. 

An overgrown beak may be an indication of malnutrition or systemic disease (such as liver disease). 

And Candidiasis (thrush) may be an indication of an underlying disease or immunosuppression.

Diagnosing and Treating Beak and Oral Health Conditions in Birds

In addition to symptoms reported by the owner and physical exam findings, diagnostic tests are often indicated. This could include radiographs to evaluate the extent of an injury, bloodwork to look for systemic disease, infectious disease testing, histopathology of masses or growths, or other testing as needed.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. In some cases, a simple beak trim with a recommendation for home enrichment may be all that’s required. With certain diseases and injuries, the treatment may be much more complicated.

Depending on a veterinarian’s knowledge and comfort level with birds, they may consider referral to a specialist. Knowing the common oral and beak conditions in birds, what to look for, and what is normal versus abnormal anatomy, can help a practitioner know when a referral is warranted.

For any veterinarians wishing to care for more birds at their practice, continuing education, hands-on labs, practice/experience, and good informational resources can all help with developing the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and treat these beautiful and unique patients.

Written by: Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM