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Cockatiel with lump at tail base

Dear Dr.Speer,

My 20 year old cockatiel has developed a small lump on his back near his tail which I first noticed three weeks ago. I have been keeping a check on it and as it has enlarged slightly I took him to the Vet to-day. My Vet doesn`t know what it is and suggested he anaesthetize him and lance it. Then on second thoughts he said to leave it and see how it developes as there are veins on the birds back when cut can bleed profusely. I am very worried about this as he may eventually need an operation to remove it. I would be glad of some advice please. Thank you.

In an older cockatiel, there can be a variety of problems that can develop in the uropygeal gland (preen gland) area. There are a small handful of tumors, cystic problems, and some types of infections that can be seen. I would recommend that you re-visit your veterinarian, and ask for either:1) Referral to a specialist for evaluation and diagnosis, 2) a discussion of options that may allow for diagnosis. These may include the use of fine needle aspiration, surgical biopsy, or other methods. Although it is probably not fair to expect a veterinarian to visually assess the structure and factually tell you exactly what is going on, it is fair to ask how this answer can be obtained, should it be needed. “Lancing” and draining a preen gland, alone, may be a bit inappropriate for some of the types of problems that I have listed above.

About Brian Speer, DVM

Avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer was raised in a small town on California’s coast. He received his BS in Biology from California Polytechnic State University in 1978, and his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983.

An active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), Dr. Speer is a much sought after guest speaker and has presented at numerous conferences in the avicultural and zoological communities both within the United States and abroad. He is well published in the AAV annual proceedings, has served as guest editor for the journal Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, the Veterinary Clinics of North America, and authored chapters in several recent veterinary medical texts on pet bird, avicultural and ratite medical topics. In 1995 he co-authored the extensive avicultural reference, The Large Macaws, and helped to co-author Birds for Dummies in 1999.

Since 1989, Dr, Speer has run a “bird’s only” practice in the San Francisco Bay area and is the President and Director of The Medical Center for Birds. He is a consultant for The Veterinary Information Network (Avian Medical Boards) and the Maui Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Lafeber award for excellence in private practice of avian medicine and surgery and in 2006, was named Speaker of the Year for the North American Veterinary Conference.