My Veterinary Essentials

Today I worked on several passerine birds. Passerines are the largest bird group, accounting for more than half of the over ten thousand bird species in the world. These birds include sparrows, swallows, thrushes, and tanagers to name a few. As a Registered Veterinary technician, my role in a bird procedure usually includes anesthetic induction and maintenance, diagnostics including radiography as well as sample collection. Bird blood sampling can be obtained from several vessels, the most prominent is the jugular vein. Why didn't I say veins?, because birds have streamlined several of their anatomical structures including the jugular veins. In birds, the jugular vein can be found on the right side of the neck; the left jugular is vestigial or absent. In most birds, like passerines, the jugular vein can easily be seen due to a featherless track in that area. In some birds such as ducks and geese, there is no featherless tract, making sample collection more challenging. So, if you are a vampire, go for the birds' right jugular vein!