Pet birds can be wonderful companions and enjoyable pets for all members of the household. Birds are not hard to keep as pets, but do require specific types of housing, care and nutrition in order to thrive and live long, healthy lives. Just like any pet, birds can become ill or depressed. Some signs of illness in pet birds are:
- Lack of personal grooming
- Constantly fluffing feathers
- Tail bobbing
- Weakness or inability to perch
- Unusual discharge eye/nose/feces
- Inability to make usual sounds
- Floor walking
- Skin lesions, sores or warts
Chlamydiosis in Pet Birds
There are many diseases that affect pet birds. Some diseases are zoonotic and are required to be reported and treated as stated by law, and can be dangerous to bird handlers. One of the more common zoonotic diseases shared between birds and humans is Chlamydiosis. This disease is easily treated by antibiotics (any humans in contact with the bird will need to be treated as well) but can be fatal if left untreated.
Fungal and Yeast Infections in Pet Birds
Fungal infections in pet birds are often caused by the Aspergillus species. One symptom that suggests a bird may have a fungal infection is the inability of the pet bird to make his usual noises or sounds. Sometimes a small localized mass may be found at the base of the trachea when viewing radiographs of birds with fungal infections.
Another common disease found in younger or immuno-suppressed birds is yeast. Sometimes bird owners will notice a musty or rancid odor coming from the mouth or nasal area of their pet bird. An avian veterinarian will take a swab of the affected area and can identify the yeast under microscopic examination. Both fungus and yeast are easily treated with prescription medicine from the veterinarian’s office.
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease
PBFD is a serious virus that can exist in seemingly healthy birds for years without outward signs, and is very infectious. This disease can be devastating in breeding flocks and currently there is no treatment for the virus. Some signs of this disease include sudden feather picking, beak deformity, and deformed feather growth. Any birds with these symptoms should be tested immediately.
Nutritional Deficiencies Causing Illness in Pet Birds
Nutritional deficiencies are usually related to poor-bird keeping habits of owners. Vitamin A deficiency is caused by seed only diets and can be corrected by proper diet and Vitamin A supplementation until the bird recovers. Signs of Vitamin A deficiency include poor quality feathers and skin, and sometimes foot sores or lesions are present.
Hypocalcemia is a lack of calcium (or too much phosphorus) in the diet and can be recognized by symptoms such as seizures, inability to perch, and sometimes hens become egg bound. Again, this problem can be corrected by changing the bird’s diet to contain a more appropriate calcium and phosphorus ratio appropriate to the species.
Illness in Pet Birds Related to Housing
Lead poisoning can be fatal in birds and is most often a result of owners being unaware of this potential threat when setting up a bird cage and buying toys, perches and accessories. Hardware cloth in homemade cages, attachment pieces for perches and some chains included with toys contain lead. Symptoms of lead poisoning are weakness, inability to perch, and vomiting. It can be treated if caught early.
Zinc poisoning has similar symptoms as lead poisoning in birds. Zinc is found in powder coated metals, galvanized metals and some coins. A conscientious bird owner should remove all suspect hardware from the bird’s reach and replace it with stainless steel. Again, if caught early, zinc poisoning can be treated at the veterinarian’s office.
Teflon fumes can be very dangerous and immediately fatal to birds. Teflon that is overheated can give off a gas that can cause immediate death in birds. Birds that are only mildly exposed to hot teflon fumes can be taken outside to fresh air, but more often than not, birds immediately succumb to death upon exposure.
Illness in Pet Birds
There are several diseases and viruses that can be transmitted among birds and some can be transmitted to people. Any bird that shows signs of illness, unthriftiness or other abnormal signs should be thoroughly examined by an avian practitioner. Learning to identify illness in pet birds can help with a speedy recovery and ensure many years of enjoyable bird ownership.
Wendi Gibson - Wendi is a Registered Veterinary Technician in the state of Texas with an Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. She has ...
