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Bird Health
Herpesvirus Infection in Birds
Herpesvirus is not only a human virus; it can just as easily infect the birds, too. In birds, herpesvirus infections can cause a variety of diseases, including those can be fatal to the animal.
Symptoms and Types
Pacheco’s disease is a deadly herpesvirus infection in birds. It causes multi-organ failure and usually is fatal. Birds can be treated with Acyclovir. But those that survive have lifelong problems due to massive organ damage. Symptoms may or may not appear in birds afflicted with Pacheco’s disease.
Hormonal Disorder in Birds
Avian Diabetes Mellitus
Hormonal disorders can occur in birds and cause a disturbance in the blood levels of different hormones.
Symptoms and Types
Diseases of the glands can either increase or decrease the hormone secretion ability of the gland. One such glandular disease in birds is Diabetes Mellitus. The usual symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:
Increased amount of urine (polyuria)
Increased thirst
Increased levels of blood glucose or glucose in urine
Hormonal disorders can occur in birds and cause a disturbance in the blood levels of different hormones.
Symptoms and Types
Diseases of the glands can either increase or decrease the hormone secretion ability of the gland. One such glandular disease in birds is Diabetes Mellitus. The usual symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:
Increased amount of urine (polyuria)
Increased thirst
Increased levels of blood glucose or glucose in urine
Injury in Birds
Injuries And Accidents
Pet birds often behave like wild birds when it comes to injuries and accidents. Therefore, your pet bird will have a natural instinct to hide any sign of injuries and accidents. This is to give an appearance of strength, and prevent being attacked by animals and other birds of prey.
However, your bird is a pet and you obviously want it to recover from any injuries and accidents. So, pay close attention to any behavior that can be a sign of injury.
Symptoms and Types
Pet birds often behave like wild birds when it comes to injuries and accidents. Therefore, your pet bird will have a natural instinct to hide any sign of injuries and accidents. This is to give an appearance of strength, and prevent being attacked by animals and other birds of prey.
However, your bird is a pet and you obviously want it to recover from any injuries and accidents. So, pay close attention to any behavior that can be a sign of injury.
Symptoms and Types
Intestinal Parasite in Birds
Avian Giardiasis
Gastrointestinal parasites can cause many problems in a bird's stomach and intestines, but also affects the normal functions of other organs. One such parasite is Giardia, which is a singled-celled microbes (protozoa) found in the intestines.
Giardiasis generally affects cockatiels, budgerigars, lovebirds, and other birds of the parrot family, like macaws, parrots, and cockatoos.
Symptoms and Types
Symptoms of the Giardiasis infection include:
Malnutrition
Gastrointestinal parasites can cause many problems in a bird's stomach and intestines, but also affects the normal functions of other organs. One such parasite is Giardia, which is a singled-celled microbes (protozoa) found in the intestines.
Giardiasis generally affects cockatiels, budgerigars, lovebirds, and other birds of the parrot family, like macaws, parrots, and cockatoos.
Symptoms and Types
Symptoms of the Giardiasis infection include:
Malnutrition
Iodine Deficiency in Birds
Avian Iodine Deficiency
If pet birds are not given a proper diet, they can suffer from nutritional disorders. One such nutritional disorder is iodine deficiency, which is common in budgerigars.
Iodine deficiency affects a bird's thyroid gland -- enlarging it from its usual size of three millimeters, to about about one centimeter, or more. (The swelling of thyroid gland, due to iodine deficiency, is called Goiter.) For birds, the thyroid gland is located in the neck and is one of the glands that maintain proper function for various bodily organs.
If pet birds are not given a proper diet, they can suffer from nutritional disorders. One such nutritional disorder is iodine deficiency, which is common in budgerigars.
Iodine deficiency affects a bird's thyroid gland -- enlarging it from its usual size of three millimeters, to about about one centimeter, or more. (The swelling of thyroid gland, due to iodine deficiency, is called Goiter.) For birds, the thyroid gland is located in the neck and is one of the glands that maintain proper function for various bodily organs.
Iron Storage Disease in Birds
As in humans, a balanced nutrition is important for your bird. Any nutritional imbalance can result in a host of disorders and diseases in your pet. If there is excessive iron in the blood, it accumulates in the bird's main organs, and is generally referred to as Iron Storage Disease.
Kidney And Urinary Tract Disorders in Birds
Even birds can suffer from kidney and urinary tract disorders like humans and other animals.
Symptoms and Types
A bird can show different symptoms depending on the actual kidney and urinary tract disorder. Generally, one or more of the following symptoms are seen.
Increased urination
Change in color of urine
Blood in urine
Chemical imbalance in the blood
Increased or decreased thirst
Difficulty in walking or movement
Lethargy
Low Blood Calcium Levels in Birds
Acute Hypocalcemia In Birds
In order to ensure a healthy bird, you must give it a well-balanced diet. This will help prevent any nutritional disorder in your animal. However, if there is a calcium, vitamin D3 and phosphorus imbalance in your bird’s body, it can lead to Acute Hypocalcemia (or a presence of low serum calcium levels in the blood).
Symptoms and Types
The bird with acute hypocalcemia will show one or all of the following symptoms:
Weakness
In order to ensure a healthy bird, you must give it a well-balanced diet. This will help prevent any nutritional disorder in your animal. However, if there is a calcium, vitamin D3 and phosphorus imbalance in your bird’s body, it can lead to Acute Hypocalcemia (or a presence of low serum calcium levels in the blood).
Symptoms and Types
The bird with acute hypocalcemia will show one or all of the following symptoms:
Weakness
Macaw Asthma in Birds
Macaw Respiratory Hypersensitivity
Macaw Respiratory Hypersensitivity (or Macaw Asthma) is a lung and airway disease which causes an allergic reaction in the bird. Blue and gold macaws are especially prone to this condition.
Symptoms and Types
Birds with Macaw Asthma will display similar symptoms to other respiratory illnesses. Some include: nasal discharge and difficulty breathing, which may lead to permanent lung damage. Allergic birds are also more prone to have a Macaw Asthma relapse.
Causes
Macaw Respiratory Hypersensitivity (or Macaw Asthma) is a lung and airway disease which causes an allergic reaction in the bird. Blue and gold macaws are especially prone to this condition.
Symptoms and Types
Birds with Macaw Asthma will display similar symptoms to other respiratory illnesses. Some include: nasal discharge and difficulty breathing, which may lead to permanent lung damage. Allergic birds are also more prone to have a Macaw Asthma relapse.
Causes
Macaw Wasting Disease in Birds
Avian Proventricular Dilatation Disease
Digestive disorders in birds are due to various reasons, including infection, low immunity and injury. One such digestive disorder in birds is the macaw wasting disease, or proventricular dilatation disease, which is due to a viral infection and can be fatal.
Despite its name, any pet bird can be infected with this disorder. Other birds who are susceptible to macaw wasting disease are cockatoos, conures, and African, Asian and Eclectus parrots.
Symptoms and Types
Digestive disorders in birds are due to various reasons, including infection, low immunity and injury. One such digestive disorder in birds is the macaw wasting disease, or proventricular dilatation disease, which is due to a viral infection and can be fatal.
Despite its name, any pet bird can be infected with this disorder. Other birds who are susceptible to macaw wasting disease are cockatoos, conures, and African, Asian and Eclectus parrots.
Symptoms and Types
Newcastle Viral Infection in Birds
Newcastle Disease
Newcastle disease is a viral infection that is usually seen in poultry, but it can also affect pet birds. Newcastle disease, which causes various lung and airway disorders in birds, unfortunately has no cure or treatment for it. Birds affected with this disease can also quickly spread the infection to healthy birds.
Symptoms and Types
Symptoms for Newcastle disease include:
Appetite loss
Weight loss
Sneezing
Nasal discharge
Newcastle disease is a viral infection that is usually seen in poultry, but it can also affect pet birds. Newcastle disease, which causes various lung and airway disorders in birds, unfortunately has no cure or treatment for it. Birds affected with this disease can also quickly spread the infection to healthy birds.
Symptoms and Types
Symptoms for Newcastle disease include:
Appetite loss
Weight loss
Sneezing
Nasal discharge
Pacheco's Disease in Birds
Pacheco's disease is a highly infectious and deadly bird illness. It is caused by the rapidly spreading Herpesvirus and especially affects birds in the parrot family. Once infected, the animal may or may not develop symptoms, but usually dies within a few days of contracting the disease.
Symptoms
Pacheco’s disease damages many of the bird’s organs, including the liver, spleen, and kidneys. If the bird does survive an infection, however, the organ damage will remain permanent.
Parasitic Feather Mites in Birds
Feather Mites In Outdoor Birds
Feather Mites are a skin problem outside aviaries birds suffer from. And although this parasitic infestation seldom occurs in the pet birds staying inside, if left untreated, it can lead to the bird's death and be contagious to other birds.
Symptoms and Types
Feather Mites are a skin problem outside aviaries birds suffer from. And although this parasitic infestation seldom occurs in the pet birds staying inside, if left untreated, it can lead to the bird's death and be contagious to other birds.
Symptoms and Types
Polyomavirus in Birds
Polyomavirus is a deadly infection that affects many of the bird's body parts and organs simultaneously. This infection affects caged birds, especially those from the parrot family. Young birds from newborn to juveniles (14-56 days), are the birds most at risk and is usually fatal. Though not proven, adult birds are thought to form some immunity to polyomavirus.
Symptoms and Types
Poxvirus Infections in Birds
Avian Poxvirus Infections
Poxvirus infections can happen in any bird, and is named after the specific bird species affected by it, like turkey pox, pigeon pox, canary pox, etc. The incidence of Poxvirus infections in pet birds has been greatly reduced due to the import restrictions of exotic birds. Poxvirus infections at one time were very common in the blue-fronted Amazon parrots which were imported to America and Europe as pet birds. The severity of Poxvirus infections can range from mild, to more serious and deadly.
Symptoms and Types
Poxvirus infections can happen in any bird, and is named after the specific bird species affected by it, like turkey pox, pigeon pox, canary pox, etc. The incidence of Poxvirus infections in pet birds has been greatly reduced due to the import restrictions of exotic birds. Poxvirus infections at one time were very common in the blue-fronted Amazon parrots which were imported to America and Europe as pet birds. The severity of Poxvirus infections can range from mild, to more serious and deadly.
Symptoms and Types
Respiratory Parasite in Birds
Avian Sarcocystosis
Lung and airway problems can occur in birds and can be triggered by parasites. These respiratory parasites can be protozoan, much like the parasite sarcocystis falcatula, which causes sarcocystosis disease in birds.
Lung and airway problems can occur in birds and can be triggered by parasites. These respiratory parasites can be protozoan, much like the parasite sarcocystis falcatula, which causes sarcocystosis disease in birds.
Respiratory Tract Infection in Birds
Avian Aspergillosis
Airway and respiratory tract diseases are very common in pet birds. One such disease commonly is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection of the bird's respiratory tract.
Symptoms and Types
Airway and respiratory tract diseases are very common in pet birds. One such disease commonly is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection of the bird's respiratory tract.
Symptoms and Types
Roundworms in Birds
Roundworm
Gastrointestinal parasites can cause many problems in a bird's stomach and intestines, but also affects the normal functions of other organs. Roundworms, in particular, are a type of parasite which affects the bird's digestive tract.
Symptoms and Types
The usual symptoms of a roundworm infection are weakness and weight loss. Also, if left untreated, the roundworms can eventually obstruct the bird's intestine.
Causes
Gastrointestinal parasites can cause many problems in a bird's stomach and intestines, but also affects the normal functions of other organs. Roundworms, in particular, are a type of parasite which affects the bird's digestive tract.
Symptoms and Types
The usual symptoms of a roundworm infection are weakness and weight loss. Also, if left untreated, the roundworms can eventually obstruct the bird's intestine.
Causes
Scaly Face Or Leg Mite Infection
Parasites can cause skin problems for birds, just as they do in other animals and humans. Scaly Face or Leg Mite, is a parasitic skin condition which commonly affects budgies, canaries and finches. In parrots, it is usually only a problem for budgerigars.
Symptoms and Types
Scaly face infections symptoms are displayed near the beak, mouth, nostrils and eyes. Leg mite infections affect the legs and toes.
Ten Tips for Training Your Baby Bird
Bird Training 101
A bird is one of the cleverest animals you can choose as a companion pet. That being the case, you want to make sure that your bird knows who is in charge (that would be you), and knows how to behave respectably in social situations. Most parrots can never be fully domesticated, always retaining a bit of their wild side. But with consistency and patience, you and your bird can happily coexist in the same "nest."
A bird is one of the cleverest animals you can choose as a companion pet. That being the case, you want to make sure that your bird knows who is in charge (that would be you), and knows how to behave respectably in social situations. Most parrots can never be fully domesticated, always retaining a bit of their wild side. But with consistency and patience, you and your bird can happily coexist in the same "nest."
