Recognizing Illness in
Pet Birds
Peter
S. Sakas DVM,MS
Niles Animal Hospital
and Bird Medical Center
7278 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Niles, IL 60714
(847)-647-9325 FAX (847)-647-9862
Introduction
One of the most
important responsibilities of pet ownership is to recognize when your animal is
sick. Most people can tell when dogs and cats are ill, but sickness in birds is
not easily recognized. One of the greatest frustrations that face avian
veterinarians is that by the time a pet bird owner brings a sick bird into the
veterinarian the disease condition is usually well-advanced, making treatment
difficult, if it can be treated at all.
The failure to recognize
illness in birds is not due to the negligence of the bird owners but rather the
unfamiliarity with the subtle signs of early disease, which when addressed
promptly result in effective treatment of the condition. Anyone can tell that a
bird on the bottom of the cage, with ruffled feathers and partially closed eyes
is indeed very ill. The purpose of this discussion is to describe the early
signs of disease in pet birds so that you can better recognize them.
Birds hide their
illnesses very well as it is part of their natural defenses. A bird that is
obviously sick in the wild will be subject to predator attack or harassed by
other birds. Therefore, a bird that has been sick and ruffled all day may perk
up when someone walks into the room thus appearing normal in an effort to mask
their illness. When birds are no longer to effectively conceal their illnesses,
they are usually seriously ill.
Many people believe that
birds are frail creatures and the slightest draft could prove fatal. Birds are
actually very hardy animals and tolerate conditions as well as any other
animal. Unfortunately, the bird that "suddenly got sick and died" had
probably been sick for some time; the disease changes unrecognized, so that
even the healthiest bird would eventually succumb.
Outlined below are some
basic signs to evaluate in the assessment of a birds condition. The secret of
success is to develop a feel for what is "normal" for your bird.
After you are familiar with normal activity, attitude, appetite, etc., changes
from the norm may serve to indicate early signs of disease.
General
Appearance
Feathers - A healthy bird should be bright-eyed,
alert and have clean, nicely preened, sleek feathers held closely to the body.
Sick birds will usually ruffle (puff up) their feathers for extended periods of
time. When a bird ruffles it is chilled and its ruffled feathers trap a layer
of warm air around the bird. The bird will also close its eyes in a sleepy
fashion. Birds that huddle on the bottom of the cage and are extremely ruffled
are critically ill.
Dirty tattered feathers
may indicate lack of preening due to illness, mechanical damage due to poor
housing, or "emotional upset." Staining of the feathers above the
nares (nostrils) indicates rhinitis (nasal discharge). Pasting of head feathers
is usually seen with vomiting. The feathers around the vent should be clean. If
droppings are stuck to the vent it could indicate an intestinal tract infection
or abdominal enlargement.
Posture - The bird should maintain an erect
position on the perch, weight evenly distributed on the feet, wing tips
crossing over the back and the tail feathers maintaining a straight line with
the back. Sick birds will sit with either one or both wings drooped and its
tail directed downward. A bird that has their tail directed downward may have a
respiratory tract disturbance or abdominal discomfort (infection or enlargement).
Tail bobbing/flicking also can occur.
Unsteadiness on the
perch, wobbliness or low posture on the perch are signs of abnormality. Birds
with severe respiratory or abdominal disease may maintain a horizontal position
on the perch. Restlessness, shifting of body weight or favoring of one leg may
indicate pain or dysfunction due to disease or injury. In budgerigars paralysis
or weakness in one leg may be due to kidney tumors.
Attitude - Changes in a birds
attitude may indicate a problem. A decreased activity level, the bird that is
no longer playful, talking less or not singing may be indications of early
disease. Personality changes may also provide early clues, such as the
aggressive bird, that you could never handle easily, suddenly becoming passive
or the normally friendly bird that becomes aggressive/irritable and wants to
remain alone.
Beak
The beak grows
constantly and with normal activity should wear down, if this does not occur
and the beak overgrows it must be trimmed. However, if the beak quality changes
or if the beak suddenly grows rapidly and abnormally it could serve to indicate
disease. For example, in fatty liver disease (mainly in budgies eating an all
seed diet) the beak overgrows, deteriorates and black/brown spots of hemorrhage
are noted on the beak and toenails. Therefore, do not be fooled into thinking
that an overgrown beak is strictly due to "not using the cuttlebone".
Always check for any unusual crustiness, scaling or enlargements around the
beak and mouth.
Feet/Legs
Infections of the feet
occur despite precautions. Pressure sores on the bottom of the feet may develop
from improper perch sizes and could lead to ulcerations/bumblefoot. Keep the
perches clean, vary the sizes, and provide a soft or non-rigid type perch. If you notice weight
shifting, redness, swellings, sores on the feet/legs or lameness, veterinary
care should be sought quickly.
The sole purpose of the
leg band is for identification, it should be removed to prevent problems. We
very often see irritation of the leg due to the band or injury (such as
fracture or dislocation) if the band becomes caught on an object. If the leg
band is necessary always check the leg for free movement of the band and any
unusual irritation.
Unusual
crustiness/flakiness on the legs may indicate a nutritional or parasitic
condition and should be properly evaluated. One strong caution-care must be
taken whenever cream or ointment are applied to a bird. Never apply it to the
feathers as it will spread and destroy the insulative properties of the
feathers. If it is to be used on the feet or legs, use it sparingly.
Respiratory
Tract
When a bird breathes
there should be very little effort. Breathing hard while at rest or heavy
breathing for prolonged periods after exercise/exertion can indicate a problem.
Any noises heard while breathing such as clicking, wheezing or frequent
sneezing are signs of sickness; a bird should breathe with no noticeable
respiratory sounds.
Upper respiratory tract
infections are very frequently seen in birds. A nasal discharge may appear as
fluid in the nostrils or staining of the feathers above the nostrils.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) may also be seen with swollen, reddened eyelids and
discharge around the eyes. Early signs of conjunctivitis may be indicated by frequent
blinking or partial closing of the eyes for prolonged periods. If the condition
worsens into a sinusitis there can be swelling around the eyes. Early
recognition of respiratory disease in birds is important because pus in birds
is not liquid, rather it becomes "cheesy." Thus when the pus builds
up in the sinuses and air sacs removal is very difficult.
A bird that is dyspneic
(difficult breathing) with mouth open and gasping is extremely ill and must be
handled with extreme caution, if at all. Not all dyspneic birds have a
respiratory tract infection. One possibility is a space occupying mass in the
abdomen that may prevent full expansion of the air sacs so that air flow
through the lungs is greatly reduced. Tail bobbing is another sign of an impaired
respiratory tract, whether it is a primary respiratory disease or abdominal
enlargement. Heart disease in birds can also cause labored breathing.
Extreme breathing
difficulty can lead to the development of cyanosis, indicated by a bluish color
of the skin, legs and beak. However, do not be fooled by the normal bluish
color of the legs of some birds, particularly budgies.
The incessant,
high-pitched squeaking sometimes heard in budgies may be due to goiter and
pressure of the enlarged thyroid gland on the syrinx (voice box)/trachea
(windpipe). The condition responds nicely to iodine therapy.
Digestive
Tract
Food Consumption - A bird that is not
eating well is at great risk due to its very rapid metabolic rate and its
condition can deteriorate rapidly. It is important to check daily that your
bird is eating, and if so, how much. A bird may be picking at the food cup and
not actually eating. You must determine if the seeds are being hulled or if
they are just being scooped out of the dish onto the floor of the cage.
Sometimes a bird may hull the seed but not ingest it. Check the seed cup and
bottom of the cage for seed hulls as well as making sure there is not an
increased amount of hulled seed present.
If there is hulled seed
on the bottom of the cage it must be determined if the bird is not ingesting
the seed, regurgitating or vomiting. Regurgitation is a normal part of the
courtship behavior. During courtship, regurgitated seeds may be seen on or near
the mirror or toys. The bird may even begin to regurgitate to you in a
courtship gesture. However, vomited seeds can be seen in sticky clusters
throughout the cage - often adhering to the bars of the cage. Further evidence
of vomiting is that the head feathers of a vomiting bird are pasted together
with vomitus, and this can occasionally mixed with seed.
Grit is a controversial
subject. It should only be used sparingly as it is not continually required for
the replenishment of the gizzard. However, for the purposes of our discussion,
sick birds, especially those with gastrointestinal upsets, tend to overeat
grit. This could lead to impaction/blockage. Very often it is believed that a
sick bird is eating, when in fact it is consuming only grit. Thus excessive
consumption of grit could be indicative of a problem.
The best means of
determining whether or not a bird is eating enough and that food is passing
through normally is to check the droppings daily. In an upcoming section we
will discuss this in detail.
Water Consumption- Birds may not appear to
drink a large amount of water but they do require an adequate fresh, clean
source, changed daily. Birds that begin to drink excessive amounts of water may
be suffering from a metabolic disorder (such as diabetes), kidney disease or a
digestive tract disturbance. You should have a feel for daily water intake. You
do not need to determine the exact amount consumed as some will be lost due to
evaporation, for example. Rather you would notice that the water cup is half as
full as it normally has been and also that the droppings have become more
watery.
Evaluation of the Droppings - Droppings are an
excellent indicator of a birds condition. Changes in the appearance of the
droppings or their number may be early signs of an abnormality. First and
foremost develop a feel for what is normal for your birds. Check the cage
papers daily. The number of droppings per day should be fairly consistent, a
reduction in number indicates reduced food intake (or passage of food material)
and should alert you to a potential disease condition. For example, a healthy
budgie should have more than 30-40 droppings per day. Also the appearance of
the droppings should be roughly similar. Droppings will change depending upon
the variety of food consumed, but if the bird has not had any unusual dietary
changes and the droppings appear significantly different, a problem may be
developing.
We recommend the cage
bottoms be lined with paper so that the droppings can be observed easily on a
daily basis and the cage papers discarded daily. If wood shavings or corn cobs
are used, although convenient, the character and number of droppings cannot be
easily determined. Also if these are used in cages they are not changed as
often which could increase the possibility of elevated bacterial populations in
the cage bottom. Therefore if you do use wood shavings or cob you must make
special efforts to check the droppings daily as well as perform frequent
cleanings.
A normal dropping
consists of three basic parts; a formed fecal portion, an off white urate
portion, and a liquid urine portion. The fecal portion is usually green in seed
eating birds as seed imparts no color to the droppings so the green bile color
predominates. However if the bird would eat foods other than seed the color of
the fecal portion would change. For example, a bird eating pellets would have
brownish droppings, a bird fed strawberries would have reddish droppings. The
consistency of the droppings will vary with the variety of bird and its diet. A
bird that eats fruit, vegetables and other succulent foods will have more
watery droppings. Pelleted diets, in addition to causing brownish droppings,
may also lead to increased water intake and hence more watery droppings with a
less formed fecal portion and increased urine.
Droppings that have
suddenly changed consistency and color could indicate disease. The amount of
fecal portion should be checked. If the bird is not eating, there may be a
scant fecal element or a dropping that is mainly urine with a small amount of
bile. It is normal for a bird to "urinate" when it will pass only
liquid urine and urate crystals with no fecal matter. However, this is an
occasional occurrence and if it predominates a problem exists. Remember that
although a reduction in the number of droppings or amount of fecal portion
indicates reduced food intake, it may also indicate interference with normal
passage of fecal matter, such as with vomiting.
Watery droppings should
be carefully evaluated to determine if they are due to gastrointestinal
disturbance or increased urine production (polyuria). A somewhat formed fecal
portion with an extremely watery urine portion or excessive urate portion may
indicate a kidney problem or metabolic problem such as diabetes.
A more liquid
consistency in the fecal portion of the droppings is suggestive of an
intestinal tract infection. Occasionally, birds with an intestinal disturbance
may have a grayish coating on the fecal portion due to excessive mucous. When a
bird has pancreatic disease it has characteristic "popcorn" droppings
which are bulky and off white to gray in color. Undigested seed or grit in the
droppings are abnormal and could indicate a gizzard malfunction.
Blood in the fecal
portion of the droppings is usually from the cloaca or oviduct. Severe
inflammation in the cloaca, ulcerations or tumors may be responsible. Blood may
also be seen in female birds encountering difficulty passing eggs. In Amazon
parrots and macaws, blood in the droppings could be due to cloacal papillomas,
which are of viral origin. Other signs of this condition include straining to
defecate and the presence of granulation tissue (appears almost like a
strawberry) around the vent and in the cloaca.
The urate portion (urine
crystals) should be off white in color. If the urates are yellow or neon green
it may serve to indicate hepatitis. The neon green urates may be suggestive of
psittacosis. Blood in the urine or urates (to be distinguished from blood in
the fecal portion) are indicative of a kidney disturbance or toxicity,
particularly heavy metal poisoning such as lead.
Unusual
Growths/Enlargements
Birds can develop
abscesses, feather cysts and tumors, so any unusual swellings should be
properly evaluated. Fat deposits may develop on the chest and/or abdomen and
should be considered abnormal. Other abdominal enlargements could indicate the
presence of a tumor or an egg. Many times these growths are not detected until
they are quite large. Early detection may be accomplished by noting irregular
displacement of the feathers. Keep a close watch on your bird as the earlier
these problems are treated the greater the success rate.
Conclusion
The above discussion
provides some basic tips to help you better understand some of the signs of
illness in pet birds. If you observe any of these signs or have questions about
your birds condition, do not hesitate to notify your veterinarian for aid a
sick bird that is treated promptly and properly has a much better chance of
recovery.
Yearly physical
examinations including blood testing and fecal analysis are strongly recommended
for all birds. New birds should be examined shortly after purchase so that
their state of health can be properly evaluated. Early detection is the key.
In conclusion, develop a
sense for what is normal with your bird, deviations from the norm could
indicate disease. The more you handle and interact with your bird the greater
will be your understanding of the bird as well as your ability to detect
potential problems.