ILLNESS IDENTIFICATION

The most important tool for early detection and treatment of illness is observation. Part of your daily review should be time spent observing each bird under your care. In addition to recognizing disease symptoms early enough for effective treatment, you may prevent the spread of disease among other birds. Birds deteriorate rapidly when ill. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential; if in doubt, seek avian veterinary care.

The following warning signs will help identify illness and other disorders so treatment can begin and spread of problem is prevented. For additional information, refer to your bird supplier or avian veterinarians.

Important note: Visual examination should be conducted at least ten (10) feet away from birds. Any closer may cause even stressed birds to assume "flight or fight" postures.

Warning Signs.

• Birds should appear calm and be sitting or perch or climbing around cage. Bird sitting on floor is usually either frightened or ill and should be examined. Birds should be able to bear weight on both feet and both feed should grip perch.
• Nails overgrown.
• Wings not held in proper position and symmetrical.
• Feathers puffed and dull or bird not fully feathered and has bare spots.
• Eyes dull, not bright and clear. Any scabs on eyelids, cere, or toes should be noted: as they may indicate pox virus infection.
• Eye and nasal discharge.
• Beak overgrown or asymmetrical.
• Respiration labored or accompanied by tail bobbing or open mouth breathing. Listen for wheezing, coughing or sneezing.
• Accumulation of fecal matter on feathers or feet.
• Lethargic (lack of energy, drowsy, dull, sluggish or inactive).
• Poor appetite - look for scraps on cage floor.
• Abnormal droppings. Stress-indicated diarrhea or polyuria should disappear and stool return to normal within day after arrival (if placed on proper regimen).
• Growths or enlargements.
• Abnormal or poor posture.

Note: Failure to eat is common following shipment. However, smaller birds that do not eat after 24 hours are in danger of starvation and may require force feeding. Larger species can go longer without food. Without water for 24 hours, canaries will die.

Sick birds rapidly loose body heat. Placing bird in warm or heated avian hospital cage is an ideal way to provide temperature. Heat lamps or electric heating pads (places under cages of small birds, or floor-sitters) can be used. Escape from the heat source must be provided if heat lamps are used. Aiming lamp at one side of cage allows bird to move to cooler side. Ideal temperatures for sick birds is 80-85°F. Isolation rooms should have separate thermostats or heating devices to provide necessary temperature.

Food and water containers must be provided within easy reach. Containers should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. Your avian veterinarian can supply you with soft, blind-ending feeding tubes and show you how to hold the neck of bird and crop-tube it. This method allows food to be given to sick birds.

Maintain medical history records for all isolated/sick birds.

Inoculations.

Vaccines are available to prevent or lessen severity of Pacheco's disease, Polyoma virus, Canary Pox and Salmonellosis.

• Pacheco's disease is a highly virulent form of herpesvirus contagious to all Psittacine birds in pet stores or aviary environments. Some birds are thought to be carriers. Although they remain apparently healthy they will, under stressful conditions, shed the virus to infect all other birds not resistant or immunized. Virus causes high mortality rate, especially in Amazon parrots.
• Polyoma Virus is a highly contagious disease particularly dangerous to unweaned Psittacine birds. It is a common cause of death in baby hand-fed parrots. Virus is also known as Budgerigar fledgling Disease and Papova Virus.
• Canary Pox is a highly fatal form of pox specific to canaries.
• Salmonellosis. is a bacterial disease often associated with liver disease in imported birds. Birds may also contract Salmonellosis. from contact with rodents and reptiles.

Vaccines developed to prevent these viruses and bacteria from infecting pet birds are killed and contain an adjuvant, which helps stimulate formation of active antibodies. These antibodies in turn fight off or destroy pathogens against which vaccines were created. Vaccines may not prevent infection; however, they lessen severity of disease enabling bird to recover. Other vaccines against avian viruses are being developed and tested.

Young cockatoos may react adversely to vaccines with emulsion adjuvants.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from P.I.J.A.C. Reference Manual

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