Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds

This book is an invaluable quick reference resource for clinicians and a useful study guide for veterinary students and residents.

This practical and beautifully illustrated book takes you on a walk through avian medicine, beginning with the basics, such as common species, husbandry, nutrition, and grooming, before moving on to the more clinical-focused material, such as how to perform a physical examination, collect samples and interpret diagnostic tests, take good quality radiographs and then interpret them, and how to support a sick bird while in hospital.

It then moves into the disorders affecting the different organs and body systems. Each chapter begins with a description of clinical anatomy and physiology before going on to explore the disorders associated with the effects of disease or trauma. The book also addresses behavioural problems, incubation of eggs, paediatrics, anaesthesia, and surgery.

For this edition, Bob Doneley is joined by avian, zoo/wildlife and exotic pet veterinarian Shangzhe Xie. Together they have thoroughly updated the book by incorporating the latest research and covering a larger range of avian species. Building on the practical aspects that make this book stand out from other resources, they have added step-by-step pictorial guides to common procedures and surgeries, as well as videos for longer, more complicated ones. Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice will therefore allow the practitioner to immediately help the patient at hand, whether to prescribe a medication or perform a life-saving surgery.

Dr Bob Doneley graduated from the University of Queensland in 1982 and worked in veterinary practices in Bundaberg, Brisbane, Toowoomba and the UK before opening his own practice, the West Toowoomba Veterinary Surgery, in Toowoomba in 1988. He was awarded his Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (FANZCVS) in 2003, becoming Queensland’s first specialist in bird medicine, the third in Australia. In the same year he was awarded the College Prize by the Australian College for outstanding contributions to veterinary science in Australia.

In 2010 he sold his practice after 22 years to take up a position at the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus. He is now a Professor and Head of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service, a specialist bird practice, as well as treating reptiles, small mammals and wildlife. In 2015 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. In 2018 he was awarded the prestigious international T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year by the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

He lectures to both veterinary and veterinary technology students on avian and exotic pet medicine, has published two textbooks on bird medicine, including this one, Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice, which has been translated into German, Turkish and Chinese. He has also written and edited a text on reptile medicine and surgery, as well as chapters for many other textbooks and has published numerous papers in veterinary journals.

Dr Shangzhe Xie graduated from Murdoch University in 2008 and began a nomadic start to his veterinary career in small animal and exotic pet practices in Australia, New Zealand and USA. He returned to Adelaide, South Australia in 2013 to pursue a PhD studying the physiology and pathology of heat stress in Australian desert birds, and founded the Adelaide Exotic Pets Referral Services.

In 2017, he moved back to Singapore to take up a position at the Jurong Bird Park, Mandai Wildlife Group. He is currently the Vice President of Veterinary Healthcare at Mandai Wildlife Group, in charge of the 2 veterinary hospitals caring for the animals under the care of the organization. In 2020, he achieved board-certification status with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian practice and became recognized as a Diplomate of the Asian College of Conservation Medicine the following year.

He continues to mentor and teach veterinary students, research students and veterinarians through continuing education courses, veterinary student extramural rotations, internships and residencies. He has contributed to scientific publications and textbook chapters, culminating in Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice, 3^rd Edition.