Parrot Health
It is known that parrots will try to hide their illnesses until they can no longer do so. Note any change in your bird’s behavior and keep a close watch on him if you see unusual changes. As a matter of fact, it’s a very wise procedure to check the tray Of the cage before you dump the papers, droppings, old feathers and empty seed hulls. You Call thus get a good idea of what the parrot is eating and the general state of his health each day.
A healthy patina will show it by eating enthusiastically and engaging in lively parrot games such as climbing and hanging in odd positions during a good part of the day and evening. Of course, even the healthiest parrot will slow down when tired. A cold room will also diminish the activity of parrots w. have not been gradually acclimated to lower temperatures.
Although parrots are normally hardy birds they are susceptible to certain illnesses and injuries. Your ability to recognize these or to report symptoms promptly to your veterinarian will be an important facto’ your bird’s recovery. Some common health problems follow.
Aspergillosis — This condition is caused by the spores of a common fungus. It develops when the individual swallows or inhales the spores. The body of a healthy bird will normally not permit the spores establish themselves but when a bird is run down or in an otherwise weakened state the condition can develop.
Respiratory Ailments — Nasal discharges almost always indicate that something is amiss in some part of the respiratory tract. Many parrots function quite well even when they are suffering from such an infection and even play normally. It is still advisable to have your veterinarian determine the cause and treat for the specific organism. A parrot who is wheezing should also be sr.en by the vet even it there is no fluid discharge From the nostrils. Sneezing may not be of any significance unless it is repeated frequently and produces a discharge. It is quite normal for a healthy parrot to clear his nostrils of dust or other foreign matter by sneezing.
Enteritis, paratyphoid and salmonellosis —These conditions are all associ¬ated with poor snitation. Bacteria, which cause these diseases, are found in animal wastes and under circumstances where crow., and lack of cleanliness exists. Diarrhea, loss of appetite and loss of weight are among the symptoms for these conditions. Victims should be segregated and treated with heat as well as appropriate medication. Cages and dishes of all birds should Ix: carefully cleaned.
Sealy lugs — Generally due to a mite which can also affect the beak. The raised and discolored scales are quite obvious when this condition occurs. In addition to treatment Of the bird by your vet you should thoroughly clean the cage with a mite killer anti either provide new perches or scrape and dean the old ones.
Worms — Loss of appetite, diarrhea and lack of activity may signal the presence of worms. The various worms which infect birds have different shapes and sizes. Ina number of cases they are visible to the naked eye. Worn, medications are quite toxic and the dose for a bird is predicated on his hotly weight. Since the object is to kill the worms without killing the parrot the owner should stick to the dosage the vet prescribes. Worms are much less common in caged birds than they are in birds living in aviaries with dirt Mows.
Feather plucking and mutilation — This is one Of the most common aggravating problems which parrot owners are faced with. The condition can stem from boredom, frustration, poor diet or high heat-low humidity settings. A vicious cycle can also occur where moderate leather plucking which stems from boredom is followed by skin irritation which results in still more plucking. In extreme cases birds can pluck to the point where blood is drawn. Prevention is, of course, much better than attempting to cure this ugly condition. Toys, attention, changes of cage and location and spraying with water have all been known to have varying degrees of success. A combination of these along with dietary modifications may also work.
Air Sac Aides —This condition is tamed by a parasite of the 14,0i:dory system, Sternostoma trarheorolum. The organism lives within the bird’s breathing apparatus and can be spread rapidly throughout the aviary. Symptoms include wheezing, heavy Iiquids in the respiratory organs, swelling of the tissues of the mouth, fluffed-up feathers, loss of appetite and loss of weight. The affected parrot is also open to infections by other organisms due to the body’s lowered resistance. Sometimes the secondary infections may confuse the issue and be taken as the main problem with subsequent inappropriate course of treatment.
Egg Binding — A female with this problem will be obvious by her strained efforts to pass the egg. A swollen region near the vent will also be easy to spot. Heat plus the application of a warm oil can help but care must be taken not to break the egg within the body cavity.
Newcastle Virus — Parrots with this disease show a variety of symptoms
as resistance to the condition differs widely among birds. Fluffed-up feathers, failure to eat, trembling, abnormal droppings and breathing problems may all indicate Newcastle.
Since birds imported into the U. S. are quarantined for at least thirty days to prevent the importation of diseased birds it is to your disadvantage to buy from sources which deal in smuggled birds.