This is a picture of a baby cockatiel whose upper and lower beak are not properly aligned.  This is commonly known as "scissors beak".  The cause is speculated but not known.  In this first picture, you can see how the upper beak is displaced towards the bird's right side (left side of picture).   

In order to correct this deformity, we placed a wire implant through the bird's frontal bone while under anesthesia.  There is a hook at one end of the wire to which a rubber band is attached.  The other end of the rubber band is placed around the upper beak in order to place tension on it and pull it into the correct position.  While the implant was in place, the cockatiel was given pain medication and oral antibiotics to prevent infection.

The implant was left in place for 2 weeks, then removed.  Here is a picture of the baby cockatiel after implant removal.  There is still some minor swelling at the surgery site but the beak is now properly aligned. 

Littleton Animal Hospital 29 King Street Littleton, MA 01460	Phone: 978-486-3101 Fax: 978-486-0987