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Bird Illness

Copyright 1997 By Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, DVM
Avian & Exotic Veterinary Services
Salem, Virginia

"Devoted to the care of birds, reptiles, and exotic mammals"

Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Statement

Most problems seen by avian veterinarians stem from two things:

  • Birds are masters at hiding symptoms until illness has progressed to a critical point.
  • Lack of proper care (especially nutrition).

Many dog owners know that dogs may show symptoms at the onset of disease, and may wait before calling the "vet". Bird owners should not wait. At this point the disease may already be at a critical state, and delaying a day or so may make it harder to save him or her. Birds are not delicate creatures and do not necessarily die early in illness -- this misconception arose when people did not understand that birds that looked "healthy" may be hiding disease.

Annual physical examinations by an avian veterinarian can help determine if there are any subtle symptoms that may indicate illness. At this time you can go over any specific recommendations. The goal is a healthy bird that will live a normal lifespan. A budgerigar ("parakeet") can live 15 years but often and "sudden illnesses" that had been going on for a while. Larger birds can live 25 to 95 years depending on the species. There are some disease that should be tested for as well to make sure the bird is healthy.

Do not use over-the-counter bird "antibiotics". Generally these are ineffective against avian bacterial disease because of underdosing and development of resistance. Of course, antibiotics do not treat non-bacterial conditions at all. The main problem with these products is that they delay proper treatment and allow the original problem to get worse and harder to treat. They also can cause test results to become invalid, making it harder to determine what is wrong.

Between annual visits by your veterinarian, call if you notice any subtle signs such as:

  • Change in the droppings
  • Decrease in talking or activity
  • Picking at feathers other than normal preening
  • Discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth
  • Anything else out of the ordinary or questionable in nature

Call your veterinarian immediately for:

  • A bird that is not eating
  • A weak or "fluffed" bird
  • Bleeding
  • Convulsing
  • Bird caught by a cat or dog
  • Regurgitating other than with courtship

There are few diseases that can be caught from birds. The main one is psittacosis or "parrot fever" and birds can show a wide range of symptoms. Ask your physician if you have any questions regarding your health. Many birds can carry this bacteria and only shed it intermittently. We cannot definitively say that a bird is free of psittacosis with our current technology, but we have tests available.

Ask at your annual visit about new vaccine technology coming available for many birds.

"CAN MY BIRD GET SICK?"

About 75% of the diseases of birds, reptiles, and exotic animals are preventable and usually due to improper care or nutrition.

Since exotics may hide symptoms late into the course of illness, even "healthy" animals should receive annual physical examination. If problems are detected early they often may be treated easier than later.

During a visit to your Avian Veterinarian, you should be provided with information on care and nutrition, and have your pet examined to track down problems. You should discuss diagnostic and treatment alternatives available, with your veterinarian.

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