What are the diseases in budgies? How to know if your parrot is sick? What to do when a parrot is sick?It is sad when our pets get sick. However, this happens even to the most caring owners. Therefore, it is very important that the pet owner does not lose his head in such a situation, but pulls himself together and acts clearly and quickly. Since especially with parrots. Other animals many diseases pass very quickly (z. B. So), and if you miss the moment, you may lose the chance for your pet to recover.
Well, and our publication today, in which we tell you how to treat a parrot, where to start – you will definitely prove useful in the process .
How to tell if a parrot is sick?
It is very important to notice in time that your parrot is sick. This way, you can start treating your feathered pet in time and significantly increase its chances of recovery. Therefore, we have compiled especially for you a list of symptoms of problems that indicate that your parrot is sick. This
– Sudden changes in the bird's behavior. The refusal of food. Water or vice versa increases thirst. – Fearful or lethargic behavior. – Weight loss. – Lameness. – Sneezing and discharge from the nose and eyes. – Deterioration of the plumage condition and its. – Redness of the eyes. – Change in litter consistency.
You should not wait until your bird shows all the symptoms from the above list in all its glory. This must not happen. After noticing at least one of them, you should already pay attention to the parrot's health and show the bird to the vet as soon as possible.
Choosing a veterinarian for parrots
Find a good veterinarian for your bird
Ah, this is where it gets interesting. As experience shows, there are not so many specialists who would treat parrots. Most veterinarians in our clinics are generalists and we don't want to undermine their professionalism in any way, but treating cats and dogs is a little different from treating parrots. So, If you are interested in your bird's health, you should see a specialist for treatment and advice as soon as you get it. So to say for the future. Then, in case of emergency, you will not waste time searching for a good specialist, but will know immediately who to contact. It is very important. At the same time, it's a good idea to find not one specialist, but several – that way you're protected against unforeseen situations and acts of God. It does not hurt to look for contacts of specialists from other cities – e-mail, phone, Skype number. With the power of the internet this is not so difficult. Any such contact is an extra chance for your feathered friend to recover.
First aid kit for a parrot
Sometimes the bird needs first aid. And on your efficiency, as well as on whether you have all the necessary means to provide such first aid, may depend on the further fate of the feathered pet. Therefore, we would recommend you to carefully collect the same day you bring home a parrot – no matter what, a big bird (read more about keeping such birds) or a budgerigar First aid kit for parrots. All these funds should be in one place. You should regularly check their expiration date.
Such a first aid kit must contain antiseptic wipes, adhesive bandages, tweezers, absorbent cotton, hydrogen peroxide, activated charcoal, elastic bandage, scissors, a small towel (to fix the bird), a saline universal applicator or heating pad, a teaspoon . In addition, the first-aid kit should be a notebook with telephone numbers and contacts of your veterinarians, addresses and contacts of the nearest veterinary clinics. It does not hurt to put in the first aid kit and a common pen and paper on which you can write the appointment of a veterinarian, if you contact him by phone.
Even in an emergency, if your bird is injured (read more) or urgently needs your help, you can quickly respond and provide first aid. However, as you have noticed, the first aid kit does not include medications – this is true, as their list depends on the bird's illness and the doctor's prescriptions. And we would not recommend you to treat a parrot by yourself.
According to veterinary statistics, in 90% of cases of parrot diseases, the owners are responsible for this condition of their birds. So, a dirty cell are all the factors that contribute to the weakening of immunity of birds, and consequently, factors that favor the development of various diseases. About the diseases of budgies. How to treat them – our publication .
Paw injuries in budgies
There are different types of injuries – bruises, dislocations, open or closed fractures, sprains . As a rule, such injuries can be inflicted on a budgie by careless handling of a bird, or the parrot itself can be injured – often birds cling to objects with their claws, and in the case of a sharp movement this also causes such leg injuries in parrots.
The injured paws of the parrot are in an unnatural position, redness of the paw, swelling is possible, this condition affects the general well-being of the bird and it becomes sluggish and lethargic, may refuse food.
What should a parrot owner do? Of course, it is best to seek the advice of a specialist to determine the nature of the injury to the paw – if it is a dislocation or fracture, the paw must be properly fixed, because if not properly approached, it will atrophy and the parrot will be crippled. You should also pay attention to the diet of a sick parrot – you may need to feed the bird. It is not worth letting a sick bird out of the cage – it is too much stress for them. If the parrot refuses to even fly around the cage, try to get food and water as close to it as possible so the bird can eat and drink when it wants to.
Fluffy eaters
Cold symptoms of parrots are similar to those of humans
It's actually easy to notice the first signs of a cold – just pay attention to the bird's health. So, if a parrot behaves apathetically, sits disheveled, sneezes often, has nasal secretions, scratches his brain or eyes often, a shiver runs through his body, the parrot refuses food, the bird breathes heavily, regurgitates food – your parrot has most likely caught a cold.
For a parrot to get sick with a cold, it does not need to be brought to 20 degrees of frost. A good breeze and the temperature in the room below 20 degrees Celsius is enough, and cold water in the drinking bowl – like a bird, especially if its immunity is weakened – it can easily catch a cold.
How to treat a cold parrot? First, you need to warm up the bird – to do this, you can put the cage under an ordinary table lamp (do not forget to darken one half of the cage with a cloth, so that the parrot can hide from the light if necessary ), you need to pour the parrot with a solution of chamomile (you can add lemon juice and honey) – just pour this solution into the drinker. If the parrot sneezes and coughs – it is recommended to inhale the bird – put a bowl of boiling water near the cage, into which you drip menthol and eucalyptus oil. Inhalation can be replaced with an open asterisk balm that you place near the cage.
If the bird's body is strong and you received treatment in time, the prognosis is favorable, but if the cold is neglected, the parrot may die.
Crop inflammation in a parrot
A rather insidious disease that is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Very often a crop inflammation can be mistaken for a cold or poisoning. And if this happens and the bird is treated for these diseases, the goiter disease progresses and the bird can die.
Veterinarians call the causes of goiter inflammation low-quality food in the diet of a parrot, inhalation of toxic substances (paint, smoke), poisoning by poisonous plants, low-quality water in a drinking bowl – all this can be an impetus for the development of an inflammatory goiter process.
The prognosis of crop inflammation is not rearing. In most cases, the birds die because the disease in its advanced form is no longer treatable. In the initial stages of goiter inflammation, it is recommended to wash the goiter with tannin using a special catheter inserted into the goiter of a sick bird.
Poisoning in budgies
The causes of poisoning in budgies are the use of poor quality food, poor water and the use of forbidden foods. Poisoning manifests itself with the following symptoms – vomiting and foam, liquid feces, refusal to eat, general malaise of the parrot. If these symptoms characterize the condition of your parrot, it is recommended to give him absorbents to reduce the level of toxins in his body (you can simply give activated charcoal), instead of water pour a solution of chamomile officinalis in the drinker, and if The bird is trembling, install an additional lamp to heat him up.
If the symptoms of poisoning do not disappear within 3 days, and at the same time you give the birds absorbents and follow all other recommendations, then the reason for this condition is different.
In this article we will talk about a topic that is probably the most important for any good parrot breeder.
It does not matter how many birds you have, a whole family or just a little prankster – you should always be ready to understand in time when he needs help, and to provide this help.
Losing beloved pets is always very hard and a healthy and happy parrot can live for eighteen years.
And now let's find out what you need to know in order not to shorten this deadline.
How to understand that the parrot is sick?
The first and most important thing to remember is that a sick parrot is very different from a healthy one. Literally.
Any change in your pet's appearance is a real warning sign that you should recognize.
The parrot, which has no health problems, behaves like a small child: it constantly sings songs, actively explores the world around it, holds itself on the perch with one paw and eats with appetite.
So you don't have to be an ornithology professor at all to see strange changes in a bird's behavior.
Initially, coordination is disturbed, and the parrot sits always and everywhere only on two legs.
In this position it starts to sleep a lot and stops taking care of itself.
If you wake him up, he will still constantly squint his eyes or not respond to you at all.
As you have already understood, it is quite easy to notice these signs, especially if you love and care for your parrot.
He will be able to accurately diagnose and prescribe the necessary treatment, which will quickly get the plumage "on its feet".
However, there are more complex cases with very characteristic syndromes that are already more difficult to recognize.
They are almost always caused by different viruses, which we will talk about now.
Viral diseases of parrots
These diseases pose the greatest threat to bird health.
As in the human body, viruses spread very quickly in the body of a parrot and even mutate.
This greatly complicates the process of treatment and diagnosis.
And only known medicines, so-called antibiotics, can help.
Bird Flu
The name of this disease is widely known to us from the media.
And unfortunately, not only trains and geese, but also parrots get sick from it. This virus is extremely dangerous. Poses a great threat to the life of a parrot.
Its strain is also known to us – H5N1. Light contact with a carrier of the virus is enough to enter your pet's body. The symptoms of bird flu are very similar to those of human flu.
Like all of us, a sick parrot practically stops eating, becomes lethargic and sometimes starts losing feathers.
It is almost impossible to cure bird flu, we can only advise you not to let the parrot get in contact with birds from outside. This is the only way to prevent the disease.
Smallpox
An extremely dangerous disease scientifically known as Borreliota avium. Unfortunately, medicine can not defeat this virus, and therefore the infected bird is doomed to extinction. Like bird flu, a sick parrot abruptly loses its appetite. Any interest in the world around him.
It is also worth looking at his tongue, and if you notice a white coating, then this is a reason to sound the alarm immediately.
Further changes in the parrot's appearance and physique are already irreversible and a real nightmare for loving owners.
The parrot starts diarrhea, sometimes with the appearance of blood, vomiting is constant and a terrible kind of abscesses forms on the head.
The bird begins to dehydrate constantly, loses the ability to move and dies.
So the most terrible part of our article is over. Now we will talk about diseases that are easily treatable.
They are caused by nothing more than bacteria that surround us everywhere.
Aspergillotoxicosis
It is nothing but a fungus from the genus Aspergillus. These bacteria can be found in dirty litter in a cage or in food.
Most often young chicks suffer from this disease, but adults also have a risk of infection.
If the disease manifests itself in an acute form, urgent intervention of a veterinarian is required.
Otherwise, severe convulsions can lead to the death of the bird. There is a chronic. An acute form. The acute form occurs mainly in very small (week-old) chicks.
Already at birth they can notice characteristic signs. Adult birds suffer from a chronic form.
It is worth talking about the symptoms of this disease. By the way, they are very typical: loss of appetite, lethargy, respiratory failure.
Once the disease has started, serious digestive problems begin.
The bird's feces become liquid, sometimes blood can be seen in them. Unfortunately, chicks with pullorosis can not survive and die quickly.
However, adult parrots have every chance of beating this disease.
You already know all the symptoms, even if they are not so pronounced in this case.
Get help immediately from a specialist who can prescribe the proper treatment.
Goiter diseases
These problems await the parrot, if his food is of poor quality.
bad food, not purified water, this can easily lead to a crop inflammation.
The main symptom in this situation should most likely already be clear to you: The crop visually increases.
At the same time vomiting and diarrhea are observed with an unpleasant white substance, in which you can see the remains of food that the parrot ate not so long ago.
But despite the rather unpleasant syndromes, treatment is quite simple. The veterinarian prescribes the necessary antibiotics. The bird will recover quickly.
Eye infections
These include various inflammations of the lacrimal glands and conjunctiva.
The parrot's eyes may become sharply red, and he himself will constantly try to scratch them.
Eye drops help to solve the problem, which the veterinarian prescribes without any problems.
Your budgie, which was constantly pleased with its tireless energy and fun activity in the apartment, suddenly sharply calmed down, shows no interest in life?
Parrots' inherent genetic trait of hiding their discomfort, which helps them survive in the wild, can be a significant problem at home if the owner is not sufficiently informed and attentive to their pet. Therefore, to avoid serious consequences that can end badly for a bird, you should know the most characteristic symptoms that show that all is not well with the health of a parrot.
How to tell that a bird is sick by its behavior
Not always changes in the behavior of a parrot are symptoms of a violation of its state of health and require treatment. Do not hesitate if the budgie:
– sleeping too much; – sitting disheveled in a corner of a cage or on a perch; – indifferent to everything that is happening, makes you pull yourself together; – silent or making noises that are not characteristic of him: wheezing, whistling, plaintive squeaking; – refuses food, indifferent to favorite delicacies; – lost a lot of weight; – breathes heavily, makes certain sounds when inhaling; – shows anxiety of a different kind: constantly itches, shakes his head; – drinks often and in large quantities; – constantly spits; – stopped taking care of feathers or makes it messy; – shows incoordination, cramps, lameness.
External signs of bird disease
The main indicator of a bird's health is its plumage. A sign of health is even, shiny, clean, smooth and tight feathers. At the slightest change in these indicators, disheveled, dirty, or you should immediately see a doctor.
In a healthy bird, the beak is clean, shiny, without neoplasms and has an even color. Deviations from them, cracks, seals, rapid growth of the beak, discharge from the nostrils indicate a disease.
A sign of the disease may be red swollen eyes, heavy lacrimation or purulent discharge from them, a change in the color or uniformity of the iris, and itching around them.
The parrot should be treated immediately if the skin on unfeathered areas, especially the paws, becomes detached, uneven or swollen, changes color and turgor, cracks or growths appear.
The loss of feathers, their excessive soiling, inflammation and swelling of the skin around the cloaca may be a sign of disease of the internal organs.
Litter – an indicator of the disease of a parrot
The litter of a healthy parrot has a uniform consistency, a greenish-brown color. Veterinary consultation is required when the litter:
– changed color or texture; – contains blood, mucus, watery inclusions, undigested food; – has a strong malodorous odor.
The owner of a budgie should understand that keeping a pet significantly affects its health status. Only with proper care, proper nutrition, regular hygiene procedures and the creation of the necessary psychological environment, the bird will live a long and happy life, protected from many dangerous diseases.
Budgies, which many of us keep as pets, with proper systematic care live much longer than in their natural habitat, where many dangers await small birds with bright plumage. At the same time, you must understand that the guarantee of health of a feathered friend in captivity depends entirely on the conditions of detention. Improper nutrition, violations of the feeding scheme, hygiene rules and other negative factors can lead to the development of diseases and pathologies. Parrots, like all other living creatures, are susceptible to various diseases. Therefore, in order to help the pet in time and cure the ripple, it is very important to know what budgies get sick, to recognize the symptoms of contagious and non-contagious diseases.
This is what healthy budgies look like
The life expectancy of budgies averages 13-16 years with proper, systematic care. An indicator of the state of health is the appearance of a feathered pet.
In a healthy wave:
– clean, bright feathers; – clear expressive look; – clean beak; – neat appearance; – normal appetite; – smooth scales on legs.
Healthy waved parrots are active, cheerful, show interest in the world around them, react appropriately to external stimuli, make various sounds throughout the day, pay attention to their hygiene (plumage) and go about their business in the cage.
If the budgie is trembling, shaking, sitting sluggishly in one place, refusing to eat, its feathers are ruffled, its tail is lowered, mucous membranes are pale, discharge is visible from the beak, eyes – these signs should warn owners.
The main symptoms of wave disease:
– lethargy, apathy, depression; – increased thirst; – difficult heavy, shallow breathing; – inappropriate behavior; – growths on the beak, paws; – impaired coordination of movements; – inflamed joints on the paws; – growth of claws, beak; – vomiting, liquid feces; – poor plumage condition; – mucous discharge from the beak, eyes; – loss of appetite, complete refusal to eat.
A sick parrot is disheveled, disheveled, does not fly, does not show interest in others, does not take care of the hygiene of its feathers, looks untidy, is emaciated, constantly sits on two legs on a perch or on the floor of the cage , hides its head under the wing.
Important! When a budgie becomes ill, regardless of the etiopathogenesis of the disease, the symptoms are usually noticeable on the first day of the development of pathological processes, systemic disorders in the body.
At the first signs of deterioration of the general condition, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. Most infections are characterized by a lightning aggressive course. Pose a deadly threat to the life of a feathered friend. Therefore, treatment should be started as soon as possible.
Causes and symptoms of diseases
Most of the diseases of the corrugation are connected with the violation of the conditions of detention, improper, unsystematic care.
Among the main reasons that can lead to a deterioration in the health of a budgie can be noted:
– poor hygiene, dirty cage; – poor quality, poor, unbalanced diet; – drafts, too dry indoor air; – sudden temperature changes, humidity in the room where the bird is kept; – lack of normal leisure (toys); – improperly equipped, too narrow cage; – frequent stress, severe anxiety.
Some overly caring owners overfeed their pets, which can lead to obesity, metabolic disorders and the development of endocrine pathologies.
When birds are fed abundantly with sunflower seeds, fat accumulates in the peritoneum and sternum. The bird becomes inactive, she has respiratory distress, her reproductive ability decreases.
Constant stress and severe anxiety can lead to the development of "bad" habits in a pet. You can see, for example, how a parrot plucks its feathers like crazy or even tears them out. Often feathered pets deprive themselves of feathers due to boredom.
Lack of clean drinking water, unbalanced diet, eating disorders, immobility, obesity can cause constipation.
Budgies are prone to colds, the development of which is favored by drafts, high humidity in the room and sudden changes in temperature. A parrot with a cold coughs, sneezes and makes uncharacteristic noises. Breathing is difficult, mucous secretions are secreted from the beak and eyes.
Poor hygiene in cages, dust, dirt and excessively dry air can lead to inflammation of the oil gland, which secretes a secret that birds use to lubricate feathers.
Frequent shedding, poor plumage condition can be caused by unbalanced diet, hypo-, beriberi.
Infectious diseases
Budgies are susceptible to many infections, and only after a series of diagnostic laboratory tests can it be determined what the parrot is suffering from. Therefore, do not treat yourself, urgently take the bird to the veterinary center or clinic, or call the veterinarian at home.
Consulting! Infectious diseases of budgies respond well to treatment in the early stages of their development. Remember that some infections are dangerous not only to the bird's life, but to others as well.
Infectious diseases of wavy:
– mycoplasmosis; – kidney infection; – psittacosis; – salmonellosis (paratyphoid fever); – candidiasis; – aspergillosis; – tuberculosis; – giardiasis.
Infection with viral and bacterial infections is facilitated by the penetration of pathogenic agents into the body of parrots, which can be in food, water, household items and inventory. An unfavorable indoor climate, a dirty cage and stress are also the causes of infectious diseases in Wellig.
When a parrot has myxomatosis, it sneezes, coughs, and its plumage deteriorates. The bird sits, disheveled, trembles, twitches its tail, refuses to eat, loses weight quickly. Mucous watery discharge is noticeable at the eyes and nostrils.
Psittacosis is characterized by the same symptoms as myxomatosis, but in this infection the bird begins to slander strongly. The stools have a sharp specific smell. A rich bright lemon color. The disease is caused by frequent exposure, which leads to a decrease in immune potential.
Weakness, depression, swelling of the abdomen, paralysis of the legs, wings, exhaustion, sudden weight loss are the main symptoms of kidney infection.
Candidiasis is characterized by severe diarrhea, frequent yawning, swelling, thickening of the goiter walls. The disease provokes dirt, moisture and unfavorable conditions of adhesion.
When a parrot is sick with salmonellosis, its joints become inflamed, its paws swell and its temperature rises. The wavy is bloated, refuses to eat, suffers from diarrhea. If sick with giardiasis and treatment is not started in time, the bird will die from poisoning, exhaustion. The disease is difficult to treat, dangerous for humans!
Colds of budgies are manifested by shortness of breath, frequent shallow breathing, decreased or complete loss of appetite, increased thirst, coughing, sneezing. When a parrot catches a cold, it becomes inactive, lies on the floor of the cage, its plumage deteriorates, its wings tremble. A bird with a cold hollowitsya ames unnatural poses and stretches its head forward. In women with flu, a cold, the fallopian tube often becomes inflamed.
Giardiasis in budgies manifests itself in rapid weight loss and loss of appetite. The bird becomes lethargic, does not respond to external stimuli, does not pay attention to its hygiene. The disease is caused by the simplest microorganisms – Giardia.
Helminths cause severe exhaustion, prevent the absorption of nutrients, disrupt the function of internal organs. Intestinal obstruction, severe poisoning can lead to the death of a bird.
Non-communicable diseases of parrots
Non-contagious diseases of budgies and their symptoms are no less dangerous for the life and health of feathered friends. Diseases of non-infectious etiology develop due to the impact of various adverse factors on the body of the bird, violations of the rules of care and maintenance.
Injuries, severe bruises can cause damage to limbs, wings, sprains and even fractures.
If the bird often slurs, refuses to feed, burps or vomits, there is an unpleasant odor from the beak – this indicates poisoning of the feathered pet. Causes of poisoning may be low-quality, moldy food, contaminated drinking water, allergens, household chemicals and beak diseases. Persistent diarrhea can cause inflammation of the cloaca, which is associated with death.
Very often parrots have problems with goiter. If the bird sits disheveled, shows no interest in the world around him, does not eat well, he may suffer from crop inflammation. When palpating the swelling area from the beak, an unpleasant odor is felt, a foul-smelling fluid is released. The pet may not touch it because of severe pain.
Budgerigars are prone to allergies, dermatitis, dermatosis and other non-contagious diseases, which must be treated as soon as you notice the first symptoms that indicate deterioration of health.
If the budgie is sick and you do not know how to treat parrots and help your pet, seek help from an ornithological veterinarian. The specialist determines the cause of the disease, makes an accurate diagnosis and prescribes effective and appropriate treatment.
Treatment of infectious diseases requires an integrated approach. The bird is prescribed antibacterial drugs, broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, tonic drugs and homeopathic remedies. The course of treatment, dosage of drugs, duration of treatment are prescribed by the veterinarian.
For non-communicable diseases, their treatment depends on the underlying cause and aims to stop the main symptoms and normalize the general condition of the sick person. In case of poisoning, adsorbents, enzyme agents are used (Enterosgel, activated charcoal, Smektu). To restore the intestinal flora, birds are given Vetom, Linex. The preparations are diluted with water. Feeding the bird several times a day.
For internal bleeding, black feces, parrots are treated with dicin. A sick bird is drunk with decoctions of chamomile, nettle, plantain. Cimaks, Vitasol are prescribed for kidney diseases.
In case of a cold, the bird is placed in a warm room, which is drunk with honey and lemon and children's syrup. Colds in parrots can be cured by heating, using incandescent lamps with power up to 60 watts. Inhalations with eucalyptus and menthol also help. The duration of the procedure is not more than 8-10 minutes.
If there are wounds, bleeding wounds on the bird's body, treat them with peroxide, betadine. Do not use iodine and brilliant green, as strong means can cause severe burns. Parrots have a very sensitive skin.
For sick pets, owners need to create optimal conditions and choose a nutritious, varied diet. It is very important to follow all recommendations of the veterinarian during treatment. Please read the instructions carefully before giving the medicine to your bird. Observe the condition and behavior of the feathered pet and remember: many feathered diseases are easier to prevent than to treat.