My Veterinary Essentials

Today I worked on a Fairy Bluebird. These are small passerine birds found in Asia and the Philippines. My job was to obtain a blood sample from the bird, and have it evaluated for uric acid content. Uric acid sounds a bit like urea, and in fact, they are very similar. Uric acid and urea are both nitrogen containing waste products from the breakdown of chemicals in the body. All nitrogen wastes, as well as other wastes, are filtered by the kidneys and removed from circulation. In mammals, urea is eliminated from the body in the form of urine, and in birds, it appears as that white stuff splattered on your car. High levels of urea or uric acid in the blood can imply problems with the kidneys ability to filter wastes; build-up of these compounds, known as hyperuricemia, can result in a condition called gout. This painful conditions results from uric acid crystals building up in joints and capillaries. In some species of birds, especially insectivores, uric acid levels can be artificially elevated. In these species, a fasted blood sample is obtained in order to obtain normal levels.