Is Your Bird Sick?

Ever pet bird owner needs to know that you can tell if your pet bird is sick. It doesn't matter if you own a finch or canary or a huge bird like a macaw, the methods of checking for signs of illness are the same. Just one of the signs of illness should result in immediate action such as consulting your avian vet, rushing the bird for a vet visit or taking measure to support the bird until a vet can be seen.

In the wild, a sick bird is a liability to the flock and is often cast out of the flock to ensure the safety of the greater number of healthy birds. Because of this, your pet bird will instinctually try to hide any signs of illness. However, these subtle signs much be picked up on in order to ensure that you catch any illness early while your pet can be saved.

One way you can tell if your pet bird is sick is to watch the color and consistency of the droppings. While droppings vary somewhat based on what the bird has recently eaten, they should not ever be yellow, rusty red-brown or deep black nor should they be liquid or runny more often that right after a bird has eaten greens or watery foods.

Healthy droppings are white in the middle and greenish in a circle on the outside edges. Black, brown or yellow droppings on more than on occasion can indicate internal bleeding. A bird that has diarrhea will have runny or liquid droppings and probably has an intestinal virus or is otherwise ill. In either case, action to save the bird should occur immediately. Consult your aviary vet about what steps to take and see the vet as soon as possible.

A healthy bird sleeps on one foot. Even huge pink flamingos sleep with one foot pulled up. This rests the foot that is off the ground or perch for a while. It won't always be the same foot that is pulled up but only a sick bird will be soundly sleeping with both feed on the ground. This doesn't mean that short nap on both feet is a bad sign.

When the bird is sleeping so soundly that its head is turned backward and nestled in its feathers, one foot should be off the perch. A sick bird can not balance well and will sleep on both feet.

A healthy bird sits up tall, with feathers tight and near the body while a sick bird will sit low to the perch and will have all its feathers fluffed out. Birds nap low on the perch and fluffed out somewhat, but a sick bird doesn't perk up and stand tall with feathers tight when playing, eating or being petted. This sign is often indicative of respiratory problem. The fluffed appearance can conceal dangerous weight loss also. If you see this behavior for more than a short time, contact your vet.

Red, inflamed or runny cere or nostrils indicates illness. The cere is the patch over the beak where the nostrils are located. If you see a runny nose, you must keep the bird warm and get to the vet immediately. Usually indicating a respiratory infection, the bird can be overcome quickly if not supported with care immediately.

Mouth breathing is another way you can tell if your bird is sick. Parrots and softbill birds like finches and canaries simply don't breathe though their mouths unless they can't get air through their nostrils. A respiratory blockage, infection or possibly even a tumor could be blocking the air flow.

Any of these problems should be look at by a professional avian care provider right away. Mouth breathing is also an indication that the bird may have been sick for a while and is just now becoming so compromised that it can no longer hide its distress. Acting quickly is important.

Cloudy eyes or discharge from an eye is a certain sign that your pet bird has a respiratory infection or a nervous or muscular disorder. Getting treatment immediately is, again, crucial for survival.

Reduced appetite is another way you can tell if your pet bird is sick. Birds eat a great deal for their size each day because their bodies use so much energy. If your pet bird suddenly eats a lot less or refuses food, there can be serious problems that must be resolved. An internal blockage preventing proper digestion and waste elimination could be the cause, but almost any illness will result in loss of appetite.

If the pet bird is not interesting in food for most of a day, you should prepare to get to the vet right away. Weight loss is another sign of illness. If your pet bird lets you pet him, touch his chest frequently so you know what he feels like when healthy. Then if you start to feel its breastbone protrude slightly, you'll know that your pal is losing weight and should be check out quickly.

Birds are neat creatures that clean their feathers every day. They spend a great deal of time grooming themselves, making certain they are clean and neat. A sign of illness can be found by looking at the bird's vent. If you find droppings stuck in the feathers there or dirty, stained feathers, the bird is certainly ill. If feathers around the face area look clumped up, wet or messy, your pet has a problem. Have your beloved feathered friend treated by a vet immediately.

Pet birds do not have a diaphragm muscle as do humans. The muscles near the base of a bird's tail help expand the lungs to take in air. Respiratory distress can be seen sometimes because you'll notice the bird's tail begins to bob frequently. This can indicate a respiratory infection or other illness. It can also indicate another problem that has progressed and compromised the bird's ability to breathe well.

You can tell if your pet bird is sick but if you don't act quickly, you might lose your bird. Get treatment right away because early diagnosis is key to survival!