Congenital Cardiovascular Anomalies, Including Ventricular Septal Defects, in 2 Cockatoos

Abstract

Cardiovascular anomalies have been reported rarely in psittacine birds. This report describes 2 cockatoos, each presenting with a heart murmur, tachycardia, and a bounding pulse. Clinical signs associated with these patients included cyanosis of the cere and, in 1 bird, ascites. Echocardiographic evaluations of both birds suggested ventricular septal defects, which corresponded to radiographic evidence of an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Pathologic evaluation revealed a ventricular septal defect and persistent truncus arteriosus in an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba), whereas a Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) had a subvalvular septal defect and aortic hypoplasia. Congenital cardiovascular anomalies should be considered when young psittacine birds are presented with heart murmurs and signs of circulatory dysfunction.