The impacts of obesity on the avian respiratory system.

Obesity compresses caudal air sacs in birds, warranting species-specific BCS and careful perioperative respiratory management.

This study investigated the anatomical effects of obesity on the avian lower respiratory system using micro-CT imaging in three species: white cockatoos, red-tailed hawks, and New World vultures. Three-dimensional anatomical models were constructed from DICOM images of live, sedated obese and nonobese birds to visualize and quantify air sac volumes. Results demonstrated that internal adipose tissue consistently affected air sac volume and displacement across all obese individuals examined. Specifically, the caudal air sac group (abdominal and caudal thoracic) was compressed in obese and egg-bearing birds, reducing total air sac volume, while the cranial air sac group (cervical, interclavicular, and cranial thoracic) and associated diverticula expanded into cervical and axillary regions as compensatory displacement. The magnitude and pattern of these changes varied among individuals and species. The authors also critically evaluated current avian body condition scoring (BCS) methods, noting that existing systems fail to account for internal adipose distribution or its anatomical consequences. This limitation is clinically significant because internal fat redistribution may not be apparent on external examination alone. The findings carry important implications for perioperative and clinical management of obese avian patients, as altered air sac architecture could impact respiratory function, anesthetic risk, and surgical planning. The authors advocate for the development and use of species-specific BCS tools in avian medicine. Further research is warranted to establish the functional respiratory consequences of these anatomical changes.

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