Pet birds fall sick just like any other pet, and being able to identify the disease early is key to effective treatment and recovery. If you notice your pet bird showing any sign of illness, you should contact your Vet and present your bird for treatment.
Diseases in Pet Birds
- Bird AIDS: It is also known as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD). It affects birds of all ages though common in birds less than 2 years. It is called Bird AIDS because of the similarity to AIDS in humans. Symptoms include abnormal feather development, growth, feather loss, and abnormal beak.
- Proventricular Dilatation Disease: It is also called Parrot wasting syndrome and it is common in African grey Parrots, Cockatoos, and Macaws. It affects the nerves that supply the bird’s stomach and intestines. Common signs include vomiting, weight loss, and swollen Crop.
- Parrot Fever (Psittacosis): It is a highly contagious disease of birds and can be passed from birds to other animals, including humans. Symptoms are not specific, but you can notice eye infections, watery/loose stool, weakness, and difficulty in breathing.
- Candidiasis: It is a fungal disease that often occurs secondary to an existing infection or low immune status. It affects the digestive system with presenting symptoms such as vomiting, white lesions around the mouth and throat, appetite loss, empty crops, and weakness.
- Polyomavirus: it is a viral disease that affects birds that are caged, especially parrots. It is a fatal illness with symptoms of an enlarged abdomen, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and paralysis. There is no known treatment for this disease.
