Parrots’ illnesses
Inadequate nutrition often leads to sickness with parrots. The diet always needs to be checked at first signs of bad condition: loss of appetite, listlessness. Other illnesses resulting from a poor diet are: feather- beak- and skinproblems, brittle bones, corpulence, diarrhoea, epilepsy, respiratory problems and general poor health.
Parrots Disease (psittacosis):
Psittacosis, also known as Parrots Disease as it was first found in parrots, can be contracted by humans through contact with sick birds, and may be fatal.
It is caused by a bacteria, Chlamydia, and is transferred by dust from feathers and faeces. In the Netherlands, this disease is often found with pigeons. Other animals may be infected, in the wild as well as pets.
Parrots living in their natural habitat and carrying the disease, may show signs as secretion from the eyes and nose, especially when exposed to stress.
Parrots bred in captivity may be infected by infected wild birds.
Bacteriological infection:
Parrots are vulnerable for bacteriological infections, such as Salmonellose and fungal infections, such as Aspergillose. Scrubbing the cage with a disinfectant thoroughly once a week may fight the danger of infection.
Beak- and Feather rot:
Initially, it was thought that only cockatoos contracted “beak- and feather rot” but it appeared that various parrots, wild as well as captive, may contract this disease.
Symptoms are deterioration of the feathers and deformation of the beak.
“Beak- and Feather rot” is caused by a virus, which easily spreads within a group of parrots. Once a breeder is affected, it will prove hard to eradicate the virus.
Plucking of feathers and gnawing of toes:
Behavioural problems such as plucking of feathers and gnawing of toes and stereotypical behaviour are all problems of parrots, being in a cage on their own, not getting sufficient attention and being bored.
These are just a few of the most common illnesses amongst parrots. Small aches and pains deteriorate easily and may quickly result in death of the bird.
So: do not hesitate and engage a specilized veterinary as soon as possible. Some of the diseases apparent with birds may affect people.
In the chapters, a number of rather common zoonoses , emanating from birds, are being discussed.
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