Common Health Problems in Birds
Most avian illnesses and diseases are diet-related! An improper diet causes the bird to miss out on key nutrients needed to keep her body healthy. Below are some common avian health problems, their causes, symptoms, and how to prevent them.
Aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection in birds. Most birds are commonly exposed to the spores that cause Aspergillosis, but usually only birds whose immune systems are already suppressed will develop the infection.
Causes of Aspergillosis
The spores that cause this infection grow in dark, damp conditions with poor ventilation. Encrusted fecal matter, damp feed, dirty food dishes, and food that sits in the cage too long all encourage mold growth.
Symptoms of Aspergillosis
•
Labored respiration
Labored respiration •Severe lethargy
Severe lethargy •Extreme emaciation
Extreme emaciation Diagnosis
Unfortunately, diagnosis of Aspergillosis can be difficult since the symptoms of illness in birds are all generally the same. Your vet may rule out a bacterial infection, do a blood test that could show an elevation in white blood cell count & mild anemia to make a diagnosis. X-Rays may be taken to look for signs that are consistent with the spores that cause Aspergillosis. Cultures may also be taken from your bird to look for the spores.
Treatment
Before treating Aspergillosis, your vet may wish to work to alleviate any pre-existing conditions that are causing your bird stress. Aggressive antifungal treatment will then be used either localized (if the infection is in just one area of the body) or systemic (throughout the whole body). Surgery may be necessary with certain localized infections, while nebulization and sinus flushings may be used in some cases. Additionally, a long-term treatment schedule should be instituted. The course of treatment all depends upon the bird.
Psittacosis
Psittacosis is also sometimes called "Parrot Fever" and "Chlamydiosis." It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be passed to humans; therefore it is reportable to the U.S. Department of Health. It is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, which is like a bacteria (in that it responds to antibiotics) as well as like a virus (in that it will grow only on a tissue culture, not on bacterial media).
Psittacosis is a weird disease, in that many birds can survive 10 or more years with it without showing any signs or symptoms. However, it can also kill a bird in a couple of days. In some birds it is very powerful, and in other birds is a mild annoyance. In some birds it can be treated easily, and in others it must be treated aggressively, and then then the treatment might not be successful.
Transmission
Young chicks are especially susceptible to Psittacosis, and many vets will automatically test them for it. Any bird with a lowered immune system (even if they're just under stress) is more susceptible. The organism that causes Psittacosis is shed in nasal secretions and in the feces from infected birds, recovering birds and carriers. Once outside the body, the organism can live for a long period of time, drying to form dust and infecting others as they breathe. Fecal and oral contamination are especially prevalent in crowded conditions (such as in pet stores), as well as in nest boxes. As a general rule, inhaled Chlamydia will cause severe disease, while ingested Chlamydia will tend to develop into carriers.
Symptoms of Psittacosis
•Ruffled feathers
Ruffled feathers •Lethargy
Lethargy •Labored breathing
Labored breathing •Nasal and eye discharge
Nasal and eye discharge •Lack of eating and vocalizing.
Lack of eating and vocalizing. •Lime-green or yellow droppings
Lime-green or yellow droppings •Infrequently, you may see tremors, shaking, head twisting and convulsions
Infrequently, you may see tremors, shaking, head twisting and convulsions •Cockatiels can develop paralysis of the limbs, and usually dark, tarry stools.
Cockatiels can develop paralysis of the limbs, and usually dark, tarry stools. Diagnosis and Treatment
Your vet will do a Gram stain to be tested at a lab to confirm diagnosis. Treatment will include using Tetracycline to treat birds. The antibiotic can be given intravenously, orally or mixed with food. Calcium must be withheld since it binds the tetracycline.
Prevention
Keep your birds away from obviously sick birds! In fact, I prefer to keep my birds away from most other birds, period, since Psittacosis can lie dormant for many years. Keep your bird's environment clean, since the organism that causes Psittacosis can remain on cages and toys for a while. You can help prevent Psittacosis by avoiding: confining, crowding, transporting, dietary changes, exposure to other infections and forced exposure to infective excrement.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Hypovitaminosis A, or Vitamin A deficiency, is common in birds who are on a poor diet. Birds fed only seeds are especially vulnerable. Vitamin A deficiency causes the bird's body to become more susceptible to infections. Symptoms depend on which area of the body is affected, but the respiratory system is often where this deficiency shows up. The mouth is one of the first places where signs would be evident.
Signs & Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency
• Small white plaques on the roof of the mouth and/or at the base of the tongue.
• Large abscesses will become evident as the plaques become infected.
• Labored breathing will begin as the abscesses close off the airway.
• Eventually you will see nasal discharge and obvious swelling around the eyes.
• The bird may also display sneezing, wheezing, nasal discharge, crusted or plugged nostrils, lethargy, diarrhea, tail-bobbing, loss of weight, swollen eyes & eye discharge, lack of appetite, gagging, foul-smelling breath and "slimy mouth".
Treatment
Birds don't usually die of Vitamin A deficiency, but of the secondary infections. If your bird is deficient, your vet will give her injections to increase her levels of Vitamin A. The vet will also have to treat her secondary infections, which will be tested for. Your bird may be hospitalized and nebulized (given medication through inhalation).
Prevention
To help your bird ward off a Vitamin A deficiency, offer her foods high in Vitamin A, such as carrots, cantaloupe, papaya, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, broccoli leaves and flowers, turnip leaves, collards, endive, beets, and dandelion greens. Ask your vet if you should be adding a daily supplement to your bird's diet, also.
Egg Binding
Egg binding is the inability of a hen to pass a developed or partially developed egg. The inability to pass the egg quickly results in the death of the hen. Female birds can generate eggs even if they're not exposed to or mating with a male. If you have a female bird, you might someday come upon an egg or two that she's laid in her cage, exclusive of having a proper nest.
Causes
There are lots of theories on why egg binding occurs, but most theories aren't strong enough to explain all cases of egg binding. The most viable theory is that egg binding is caused by poor nutrition. Problems metabolizing Calcium properly, caused by a lack of Vitamin D3 or too much Phosphorus in the diet, and damaged mucous membranes in the vent area are some theories.
Prevention
•Use of full-spectrum lighting for all birds to help with Vitamin D3 absorption
Use of full-spectrum lighting for all birds to help with Vitamin D3 absorption •Using Vitamin D3 supplements
Using Vitamin D3 supplements •Feeding foods with a proper Calcium to Phosphorus ratio (about 2 times as much Calcium as Phosphorus)
Feeding foods with a proper Calcium to Phosphorus ratio (about 2 times as much Calcium as Phosphorus) •Feeding foods high in linoleic acid (Vitamin F) and Vitamin A, which will help to keep the cloaca membranes soft and flexible
Feeding foods high in linoleic acid (Vitamin F) and Vitamin A, which will help to keep the cloaca membranes soft and flexible Treatment
•Call a vet immediately! Egg binding can be deadly.
Call a vet immediately! Egg binding can be deadly. •Keep the bird warm and quiet environment.
Keep the bird warm and quiet environment. •Give your bird Calcium, as it will help her to expel the egg.
Give your bird Calcium, as it will help her to expel the egg. •Massage a small amount of vegetable oil around to her vent help the hen pass the egg.
Massage a small amount of vegetable oil around to her vent help the hen pass the egg. •Once the egg has passed, you should now assess the nutritional problems that caused this problem in the first place.
Once the egg has passed, you should now assess the nutritional problems that caused this problem in the first place. Heavy Metal Poisoning
Birds love to chew on things, and when the object they're chewing has toxic substances in it, that can be very dangerous for your bird.
Toxic Metals
•Brass
Brass •Lead
Lead •Zinc
Zinc •Tin
Tin •Copper
Copper •Cadmium
Cadmium •Mercury
Mercury Signs of Heavy Metal Poisoning
•Diarrhea, greenish in color
Diarrhea, greenish in color •Rust-red colored stool
Rust-red colored stool •Stumbling, unable to perch
Stumbling, unable to perch •Paralysis
Paralysis •Blindness
Blindness •Vomiting
Vomiting •Lethargy
Lethargy •Convulsions and seizures
Convulsions and seizures •Pneumonia when volatile vapors are inhaled, especially with mercury poisoning
Pneumonia when volatile vapors are inhaled, especially with mercury poisoning •Long-term poisoning: Poor feather condition, darkened feathers, and weak feathers
Long-term poisoning: Poor feather condition, darkened feathers, and weak feathers •Long-term poisoning:Weak and deformed beak
Long-term poisoning:Weak and deformed beak Diagnois
Diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning can be difficult. Your vet may do a Complete Blood Count to look for a rise in white blood cells. X-Rays can sometimes show heavy metals in the gizzard.
Treatment
If X-Rays show toxic metals in the gizzard, your vet may try to remove it. Feeding high-fiber foods may help to dislodge it, or a special substance that binds to the metals, called Calcium EDTA or Calcium Versonate, may be given to your bird. As a last resort, your vet may end up performing surgery.
Prevention
Birds should always be supervised when they are outside their cages to assure that they don't chew on anything that could have toxic metals in it. Any sources of toxic metals (lead curtain weights, stained glass, old paint, costume jewelry, etc) should be removed from the home. Toys and cages should be made of bird-safe materials.
