Abdominal hernia with formation of a urate concretion in a cockatiel

A female cockatiel had a 2-week history of abdominal distention, lethargy, and diarrhea. The cockatiel had a history of frequent egg-laying, and the owner suspected that she was egg-bound. A solid mass was removed through the cloaca and found to be a concretion of urates that had formed within a hernial pouch of the caudal abdominal musculature. Diagnosis was aided by contrast radiography, and surgery was performed. However, the abdominal hernias recurred 16 months later. The continual egg-laying probably predisposed this bird to hernia formation. Abdominal hernias in birds may be a consequence of continual egg-laying and associated hormonal effects leading to a weakening of abdominal musculature.