IDENTIFYING A POTENTIALLY SICK BIRD
GENERAL BIRD SAFETY TIPS - DANGERS / POISONING RISKS
A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM - IMPORTANT IN FIGHTING DISEASES
GOING TO THE VET / MEDICAL INFO
DO-IT-YOURSELF DISEASE / SEX TESTING
SUMMARY
OF / IN-DEPTH INFORMATION OF BIRD DISEASES /
HEALTH PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, ETC.
IDENTIFYING A POTENTIALLY SICK BIRD
Birds are excellent 'con-artists' when it comes to hiding disease. They have to be, because -- in nature -- 'looking sick' means attracting the attention of predicators who are looking for easy prey.
However, there are signs that help in assessing if a bird has a health problem. Such as the following:
1.
Being lethargic, prolonged periods of being fluffed up, excessive
sleepiness, change in personality (quieter, less vocal), etc.
2. Signs of drowsiness, or even bad breath can be an
indicator that something is wrong.
3. Changes in feather condition or failure to replace old
feathers.
(Note that broken feathers are not a sign of disease. Feathers do break
at times, especially in clumsy youngsters / chicks. The feather
condition of baby birds / recently weaned birds is also usually not as good as the
adults'. Anybody who handfed baby birds knows how easily they get themselves
'into trouble' and how often they dirty themselves. However, there is a difference
between 'deformed feathers' and 'broken/soiled' feathers that you should take note
of. And of course, a 'not so perfect' chick should mold to show a good
plumage. If it doesn't, there may be a problem.)
4. Sneezing, coughing (clicking
sound), difficulty in breathing, discharge from nostrils.
5. Weight loss (i.e.,
prominent breastbone).
(Note that in most birds you will feel a breastbone. Especially young birds
may not have developed all their muscles yet. The difficult task is to assess
how prominent the breastbone is ... I personally like to 'fatten' my birds up so that you
can feel" good flesh around the breastbone. )
6. Eye discharge, crusty
or swollen eyelids. Eyes appear cloudy or bulge.
7. Loose droppings, or droppings that contain
undigested seeds. Also change in color of droppings (please see Evaluating
Bird Droppings or Poopology
for details).
8. Seizures,
circling, paralysis.
9. Growth/tracks/white crust
around beak.
10. Swollen joints, deformities of wings,
toes, legs. Favoring one leg over the other. Not holding wings the same way.
Identifiying Sickness in Eclectuses
Wet Vents in Finches 
Your Bird's Physical Exam
GENERAL BIRD
SAFETY TIPS - DANGERS / POISONING RISKS
A Practical Guide To Disinfectants Food We Shouldn't Feed
Birds
Toxic Plants Safe
Plants Toxic Plants & Foods Dangerous
Foods
Non-Toxic Branches & Plants Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
Teflon Kills Birds Teflon Poisoning!
Put-It-Together-Yourself
First Aid Kits Ordering
First Aid Kits
Please be aware that products such as Glade Candles and
Febreeze have also been linked with bird deaths.
I would recommend not using any deodorizers / sprays of any kind around your birds.
If you know of any special risks to our feathered friends, please contact me!
Info on Antibiotics
Bird Safe Pest Control
Alternatives Non-Toxic/Environmentally
Safe Cleaners
Gillian's (Excellent web site with info on: First Aid Kit, Holiday Hazards, Apple Seeds, Citrus Fruits, Papilloma, Safe Wood, Pens/Pencils/Felt Markers, New Homes, Zink Toxicity, Metals, Onion Toxicity, Weeping Fix Toxicity, Falling from Perches, Echinacea as an Immunostimulant, Honey, Uncooked Beans Toxicity, Citronella Oil, Boric Acid/Borax, Pomegranates, Mothballs, Tea Incense , Oak & Acorns, Red Carob Maple Trees, Cedar, Pinecones, Birch, Eucalyptus, Black Walnut)
Many people already know that lead poisoning can occur due to 'lead-based paint' ... But did you know that your drinking water can make YOU and YOUR PET sick? Below are some quotes from the 'Home & Safe Lead Testing and Training" organization. If you have problems with seizuring in birds or thin birds, etc. click on the heading "Lead Poisoning" and it will take you to their website and provide more information. Anyway, below the excerpt on drinking water lead poisoning:
"According to the EPA, chances of having lead in your drinking water are likely to be high if:
- your home has faucets or fittings made of
brass which contains some lead, or
- your home or water system has lead pipes, or
- your home has copper pipes with lead solder, AND the home is less than 5 years old, or
you have naturally soft water, or water often sits in the pipes for several hours.
To minimize lead in drinking
water you should:
- Flush your pipes. Don't use water that has been sitting in your pipes over
six hours.
- Use only water thoroughly flushed from the cold water tap.
- Flush until the water becomes as cold as it will get (this can take up to 2 minutes or
longer).
- Once you've flushed a tap, fill a container and put it in the refrigerator for later
use.
- Use only cold water for drinking, and especially for making baby formula.
- Never cook with or consume water from the hot-water tap. (Hot water dissolves lead more easily and is therefore more likely to contain higher levels of lead.)
- Have your water tested by a competent laboratory approved by your state or the EPA. (Your local or state department of environment or health should be able to tell you which labs are qualified.) "
First Aid (Excellent web site with info on: Air Sac Rupture, Anorexia, Bleeding, Broken Blood
Feather, Broken Bones, Burns, Cat Bites, Convulsions, , Diarrhea, Egg Binding, Eye
Problems, Heat Stroke, Oil Contamination of Feathers, Poison, Shock, Vomiting, Bird,
Hydration for Baby Bird/Sick Bird, Food for Sick Bird, Signs of Illness)
GOING TO THE VET / MEDICAL INFO
New
Bird Testing
Recommended Vets or go to Avian
Vet Search
I feel strongly that
any pet bird should be considered a family member and as such be provided with health
care. Saying this, I am also aware of the RISK of going to the vet.
Like a breeder friend of mine said: "What better way to pick up a
disease!" I totally agree with that. I feel a breeder would be
better served to have a vet come to my promises rather than going out and potentially
allowing my birds to get in contact with and bring home a deadly disease. Now,
what to do if you are a pet owner? You would have a real hard time to convince a vet
to come to your home to provide health care to your bird.
Now, there ARE ways of minimizing risks of
'catching a disease' at the vet's:
1. Express your
concern of your pet getting in contact with an airborne (or otherwise) disease pathogen,
and ask to make an appointment very early in the morning before many sick birds have been
in the office, or -- if this is not possible -- at any other time when traffic in
the office is slow. 2. Keep your bird in
a COVERED carrier.
3. Stay
away from any other patients -- consider them as potentially contagious.
4. Do not allow anyone to touch your bird. 5. Once in the treatment room, place a CLEAN towel on top of the
treatment table BEFORE placing your bird on it. Please note that the
"Spray & Wipe" method of disinfecting does NOT work since disinfectants need
up to 20 minutes of actual contact to kill disease causing pathogens. 6. Observe the
vet / vet's assistant to see if they wash their hands in between patients.
California
Avian Laboratory
(Laboratory Reference Ranges, Disease
Testing, Diagnostic & Consultative Services for Avian & Exotic Veterinarians)
Veterinary Medical Board and
Registered Veterinary Technician Committee
Avian Necropsy Techniques
DO-IT-YOURSELF DISEASE / SEX TESTING
DNA
Sexing/Disease Testing
Net
Vet Medical
Resources / MARE
Chlamydia Test Kit
Do-It-Yourself
Bacterial Testing - Microbiology for the Aviculturist
DNA
vs. Surgical Sexing
Personally, for pet birds I prefer DNA sexing since the risk of Surgical
Sexing due to cross-infection at the vet's office -- especially at sexing clinics where
the vet performs invasive procedures on MANY birds from a VARIETY of sources -- greatly
enhances the risk of spreading disease. I feel -- for pet birds -- this is
simply not worth the risk. Dr. Ritchie -- in his book: Avian Medicine:
Principles & Applications addresses the risk of "Sexing Clinics" in as
far as spreading disease during this invasive procedure is concerned. Besides the
risk of 'catching a disease', the risk of anesthesia and invasive procedures such as this
should also be considered. I understand that for a breeder, Surgical Sexing provides
the advantage that the the vet can visually inspect the internal organs, to verify
breedability of a bird. If the Surgical Sexing method is chosen, please apply
caution to minimize the risks to your bird.
A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM - IMPORTANT IN FIGHTING
DISEASES
Increase your bird's chances
of fighting / overcoming disease through a combination of:
Excellent nutrition and an environment that is conducive to the bird's
emotional and physical well-being.
VETARC HOME PAGE
For specific, excellent info provided by the Vet Arc
website, please visit the following:
FEATHER PICKING, DIETARY
REQUIREMENTS / CONVERTING TO PELLETS, DISINFECTING
IN THE NURSERY
Food as
Natural Medicines
Let Food Be Your Medicine
Bird Care Guidelines Special Needs Parrots Food & Nutrition Avian Nutrition
The
Problem with Pellets
Average Bird
Weights Food We Shouldn't Feed
Birds
Eclectus Care/Info
The African Grey Health Care Kit
SUMMARY OF / IN-DEPTH INFORMATION OF BIRD
DISEASES /
HEALTH PROBLEMS, RESEARCH, ETC.
Summary
of Avian Diseases (Fungal/Nutritional/Tumors/Parasites/etc.)
Manual of Parrot
Diseases / Info on all Major Diseases
BACTERIAL
INFECTIONS: Treatment of Bacterial and Fungal
Infections in Psittacine Birds Bacterial
Testing Bacterial
Diseases Gram Stains Coliforms,
Salmonella, E Coli - Bacterial Enteritis Diseases
PSITTACOSIS / CHLAMYDIOSIS
/ ORNITHOSIS / PARROT FEVER: Myths about
Psittacosis Compendium of
Psittacosis Control, 1998 Compendium of Psittacosis
(Chlamydiosis) Control 1997 Psittacosis (Chlamydiosis), 1995
Understanding Psittacosis Psittacosis Psittacosis - Assoc. of Avian
Veterinarians Psittacosis Psittacosis by
Dr. Bourke, DVM Psittacosis (emphasis on human infection)
Psittacosis: The
Enigmatic Disease Psittacosis (Summary
& Treatment) Facts about Psittacosis by
Deborah Wisti-Peterson (Identification, Treatment & Control
Psittacosis
(Chlamydia Psittaci Infections) in Pet Birds Chlamydia Do-It-Yourself
Testing
PDD:
PDD PDD / PDS / Macaw
Wasting Disease - 1996 Progress in Understanding
Proventricular Dilation Disease (PDD) (1998) PDD Update (Requires
Adobe Acrobat to view.)
PAPILLOMA: Papilloma
LIVER DISEASE: Fatty Liver
Disease / Pancriatitus Evaluating
Liver Function in Birds
FEATHER DISORDERS: Avian
Skin and Feather Problems 1998
Branson Ritchie Update: PBFD Feather Disorders Feather Picking
Feathers PBFD PBFD2 Quaker
Resource Center / Info on Mutilation & Feather Plucking PBFD - Beak & Feather Disease
PBFD Diagnostic Flowchart
POLYOMA: 1998
Branson Ritchie Update: Polyoma AVIAN
POLYOMAVIRUS: David N. Phalen, D.V.M., Ph.D Info on Polyoma & Techniques for
Prevention / Disease Control
Preventing Polyoma - Info
on Vaccinations Polyoma Virus
OTHER DISEASES: Avian
Pox Bordetella
Avium in Cockatiels House Finch Conjunctivitis
(MG) Conjunctivitis in Song Birds
Budgerigar
Ailments & Diseases Avian Gout Giardiasis In Cockatiels Bordetella
Avium in Cockatiels Candidiasis
(Fungal) Knemidokiptic Mange in Pet Birds: Scaly
Face and Scaly Leg Disease
BREEDING-RELATED PROBLEMS:
Causes of Death or Abnormalities in
Embryos
Early
Chick Mortality
TOXICITIES / POISONING /
INGESTION: Zinc Toxicities Lead Poisoning Teflon
Poisoning Bird Poisoning
Risks In Our Homes
Metal Toxicities Hazardous Litter
Material
Wet Vents
in Finches
Background by: 
Website Design by: :
Comments / suggestions
are welcome:
Please note that I am NOT an expert on avian diseases (thank God). The love of my life are birds, and in my quest to learn more about their care requirements, and in order to protect my birds from health problems, I have done a lot of research and the Avian Health website is basically a collection of my experiences and resources. I do deeply care for the health and well-being of ALL birds, and have spent many hours doing research for people who have had or are experiencing a disease outbreak.
Wishing you and your feathered friends good health ...
Sibylle Faye
