9 Symptoms That Your Pet Bird Is Sick

As the owner of a bird, you owe great responsibility to ensure that the bird is healthy; we need to recognize the common signs and symptoms of illness to be prompt to take it to an avian vet. Examining the signs of infection early in the bird would go a long way to saving the life of a sick bird.

Symptoms to look for in a sick bird:

1) The color and consistency of a pet bird’s droppings is an important indicator; dropping that are yellow, tarry black or rusty brown could indicate internal bleeding or any other serious problem, while droppings that are runny or too firm indicates complications for your pet bird.

2) If the pet bird’s cere or the little patch above its beak that holds its nostrils is red, inflamed or runny, it means the pet bird is seriously ill; it needs to be warmed up and taken immediately to the avian vet.

3) Consider it serious if the pet bird sits with its feathers fluffed out or ruffled for a long time; fluffed out feathers indicate respiratory or other problems, while ruffled feathers conceal weight loss that could be life threatening to the pet. If this behavior persists for more than a day, immediately take the bird to an avian vet.

4) Watch out for your bird’s eyes that look cloudy with discharge; your pet bird could be affected by nervous, muscular or respiratory disorder that requires the immediate attention by a vet.

5) Birds are generally hygienic and take care to preen and keep their feathers clean; consider it serious if your bird has feathers around its face or rump that appear clumped up, stuck together or messy.  Inform the avian vet of any changes in the food consumption or dropping for a day or two.

6) Watch out for your bird breathing with mouth open at rest; your bird could be seriously ill and suffering from respiratory problems. Your bird requires the immediate attention of an avian vet with probable hospitalization.

7) Birds have extremely high metabolisms and need adequate nutrition; if your bird loses weight or stops eating, it could indicate a sign of intestinal blockage or impaction and death in the absence of prompt medical attention.  

8) Watch out for normal vocalization pattern of the bird; your bird could be less talkative than usual, or there is a general change in the frequency or general tone of vocalization. Watch out for other symptoms to give prompt attention and save the bird.  

9) Repetitive bobbing of the tail is an indication of respiratory infection in birds; the muscles located at the base of the tail help birds to breathe, with the tail muscles working harder to breathe. Tail bobbing is often noticed only at later stages, so if you notice the bird behaving in this manner report to the vet immediately.

Image Courtesy: Bing