Dealing with a Prolapsed Cloaca: Avian Health Concerns
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Cloacal prolapse can occur in any bird species (as well as in reptiles and amphibians) and is evidenced by moist or dried tissue protruding from the vent. It is frequently associated with egg-laying, and may occur before, during or after the process. A calcium deficiency is usually at the root of the problem…the muscles, weakened by the lack of calcium, cannot contract as forcibly as is necessary, and the resultant straining pushes the cloaca outward. Weakness in other muscles, i.e. the sphincter, adds to the problem. Less commonly, a prolapse may be caused by an infection in the uterus or cloaca.
Emergency Care
A prolapsed cloaca is a matter for your veterinarian, but there are some steps you can take to alleviate the situation. Most important is prevention – assure that your birds, especially breeding hens, are in good health and are receiving optimal amounts of calcium and other minerals and vitamins.
Upon noting a prolapse, you can try lubricating the tissue with a water-soluble product, such as KY Jelly. The bird should be kept warm, as its metabolism will be functioning poorly, and may have difficulty generating enough heat. Liquid calcium might be an option, especially if it will take some time to get the bird to a veterinarian. Plan ahead and ask your vet to suggest a product to keep on hand.
Veterinary Care
Your veterinarian may place a suture in the vent while the cloaca heals. Antibiotics will usually be given, as an extruded cloaca is susceptible to infection. If all else fails, or if too much time has elapsed and the tissue is beyond repair, surgery may be necessary. Such is usually successful for birds of cockatiel size or beyond, less so for smaller species.
Please write in with your questions and comments. Thanks, until next time, Frank Indiviglio.
The importance of calcium and Vitamin D in parrot metabolism is discussed in an article posted at:
http://www.avianmedicine.net/articles/stanford-calcium.doc
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about 3 years ago
I have a 6 year old African Gray parrot who has been acting strangely lately. Making little whimping sounds and pushing her rear end against my arm. I checked her backside and the cloaca seems to be protruding out. It looks healthy but I am concerned. I called my vet and he said she may have a protracted croaca and would need to be taken to San Diego, (200 miles away). Any suggestions?
about 3 years ago
Hello, Danny,
Frank Indiviglio here. Thanks for your interest in our blog.
Unfortunately your parrot will need to see a veterinarian; the fact that it’s pushing and making noises is a sign that it is in distress. Its promising that the tissue looks health and has not dried out…but in its present condition it will be very susceptible to infection.
I suggest that you gently apply KY Jelly or another water soluble lubricant (not Vaseline) to that part of the tissue which is visible… but bear in mind that this is just to prevent drying and not a real treatment…for that you will need to see a veterinarian. Keep the cage very clean and the bird warm. You should arrange to have the bird seen as soon as possible, as complications are more likely the longer you wait.
Be sure to get your veterinarian’s opinion as to the probable cause of the prolapse…blood tests are usually helpful in this regard.
Good luck, please let me know if I can be of any further help.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 2 years ago
For a bird with a Prolapsed Cloaca that is not being treated by a veterinarian, What are the complications this bird will face? Is/Will this bird be in pain?
Can the bird live a normal life in this condition?
I am doing some research on this issue and would appreciate any information you may be able to share.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely
Anita
about 2 years ago
Hello Anita, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog.
Unfortunately, cloacal prolapse is a serious matter, and can only be treated by a veterinarian. As an internal organ is now exposed to the air, the bird is indeed in pain. It will not be able to pass feces and will certainly develop an infection as well. The cloaca will also begin to dry and the tissue will become necrotic, which, along with the aforementioned complications, will lead to the bird’s death.
The longer the bird goes without medical attention, the less chance there will be for a successful recovery. Please see the article referenced for emergency measures, but please understand that, as stated there, these measures are only designed to keep the bird comfortable until it can be seen by a veterinarian.
Please let me know if you need a reference to an avian veterinarian in your area.
Good luck and please keep me posted,
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 9 months ago
Hi Frank, Today 4/27/11 I found my female Lutino cockatiel dead and yesterday she was fine. I didn’t see anything protuding she seem fine. She was a hand fed bird and I got her as a gift in 1994. She traveled with me cross country 4 times and I can’t believe she is gone. It was sudden , but in all the postings, it seems like people have enough time to take their cockatiel to the vet. Could this of happened this quickly without me knowing. She wasn’t evening crying. Iris
about 9 months ago
Hello Iris, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog.
Sorry to hear your sad news. While many of the more common parrot ailments do present symptoms, unfortunately there are a great many that can cause sudden death as well. Judging from the age of your bird and your close relationship with it, I am certain that it was not a case of your not noticing a problem. I have worked with birds all my life, and can recall many such deaths in a wide variety of species. Necropsies (all dead animals were examined during my years at the Bronx Zoo) usually revealed heart or other organ failure in such cases, but all sorts of conditions, including cancers that remain asymptomatic and that are undetectable, can be involved. Often, birds so afflicted were getting on in years; while cockatiels can live into their 20’s, age may have played a role in the case of your bird. I’m sure your bird had a fine life and hope that fact is of some comfort to you.
Please let me know if you need any further information.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 9 months ago
Hello Frank,
My female cockatiel has been bleeding from her cloaca. it does not seem like is a egg binding because she does not seem distress but I am concern because it looks bloody and dark under her tail. Unfortunately i cannot afford a vet. I ‘ll appreciate your help.
Thank you
about 9 months ago
Hello Dahne, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog. Bleeding from the cloaca can indicate a wide variety of problems; unfortunately, it is not possible to diagnose or treat this problem at home. I wish I had better news for you, but it would be irresponsible of me to suggest anything other than a vet visit. Keep the bird calm and warm for now. Perhaps a local bird club or cockatiel/parrot society can direct you to a vet that cooperates with them, or a vet that is a member?…this is sometimes a less expensive option.
Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 8 months ago
Parakeets are cheap costing animals however their medical care costs are astronomical in comparison. This is abuse. Their should be laws to protect them. They should be expensive, medical care insurance should be included in the purchase price. Their should be incentives to Vetinarians, possibly tax incentives or education loan forgiveness if they use their skills and time to care for those who cannot afford a vet. These animals should only be affordable to those who can provide care for them in all fairness to the animal. Their should be breeding licences controlling the amount breeded or maybe breed some infertile breeds. I have no health insurance for myself yet I am spending $402.00 for my parakeets prolapsed uterus, calcium and pain shots this week. She passed an underdeveloped egg. This is the second underdeveloped egg passed in weeks so I believe it was partially due to a calcium deficiency. I spent another $99.00 for an eye problem in my other keet two weeks ago. I am still tortured about their past sister who suffocated to death slowly from a probable unseen tumor which closed off her lungs-it appeared. Having asthma, I know their is no hunger like hunger for air. Birds are great at masking illness so when you do not think they are in pain, they are! We are doing a dis-service to the animals selling them for $10 or $20 dollars, adios!. My keet is still at the vet and the uterus keeps prolapsing after the doctor pushes it back in. I am waiting for the doctor’s call, but the bird is OK thus far.
about 8 months ago
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interesting post; you raise a number of very important issues. The situation you describe is even more serious with regard to pet reptiles – hatchling sliders sold (illegally) for .50 but needing set-ups costing several hundred dollars in time; green iguanas given away with purchase of a small aquarium and so on. Unfortunately, many people do not research the costs involved before purchasing pets, especially those sold cheaply or given away.
Here in NYC vet care for birds and reptiles is as expensive, or more so due to specialized doctors being in short supply, as for dogs. There are insurance policies available (for dogs, not sure about others) but premiums are quite costly.
I hope all works out well.
Good luck, and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.