Birds
who die "suddenly" have usually been sick and no one knew it. But take
heart, there are some good indicators of poor health. You only have to
know what to look for. Once you learn the signs of early illness,
needed treatments can be performed by your avian veterinarian.
Some
of the best indicators of health are the bird's droppings. The
droppings are made up of feces, normally black or dark green. With this
will be urine, which is clear, and urates, a creamy white waste
material. Droppings with a mustard yellow liquid portion is not normal,
nor is blood or rusty brown color in feces. Healthy birds eat often and
make lots of droppings. A sick bird may have fewer droppings, or no
fecal portion in them, just white and liquid.
Another indicator
of illness is change in eating and drinking habits, for example,
excessive water consumption. A bird who isn't interested in food
indefinitely is ill. A change in attitude or behavior can signal
illness. Has he stopped talking, or does he appear sleepy and
lethargic? Is he huddled on the bottom of the cage or sitting low and
ruffled? Is he hiding his head under his wing? How about his feathers?
Are they dull? Has he stopped preening himself? How about weight loss?
Any of these symptoms indicates potentially serious problems.
Another
sure sign of illness is any hint of respiratory distress. Open mouth
breathing or any audible sounds, like clicking or wheezing are certain
problems. A tail bob is actually a sign of respiratory distress!
Vomiting in birds is very abnormal unless it is regurgitating to feed a
mate or baby. Any discharge from the eyes or nostrils is a sign of
illness, as is a swelling around the eyes. Of course, any injury or
bleeding requires immediate veterinary care. A broken "blood feather"
must be pulled immediately to stop the bleeding. These new, immature
feathers are recognized by their protective "cellophane-like" wrap and
their visible blood supply.
If your bird displays any of these
signs, take the bird to your avian vet. Meanwhile, keep the bird warm:
85 degrees is ideal with access to a cooler area. An ordinary heating
pad wrapped around on the side of the cage is fine. Offer food and
water, placing it on the cage bottom if the bird is weak. Never give
your own medicines, antibiotics or pet store cures to your bird. These
can do more harm then good. Your avian vet will prescribe appropriate
and SAFE medications.
