In the wild, birds try their best to hide all signs of illness so that predators don't target them as prey. Your pet birds are a lot like their wild cousins, so they are likely to hide their illnesses, too. The problem is that once birds appear visibly ill, it is often too late to help them! What can you, as a good bird owner, do to keep your bird healthy?

I. Track your bird's weight

The first sign of illness in birds is often weight loss. Therefore, some birders recommend weighing birds on a gram scale weekly, and keeping a record of their weights in grams. If you notice a sudden weight loss, or a trend of gradual loss over time, get the bird to the vet right away. (When you begin weighing your birds, you might want to compare your results against Avian Web's list of Average Bird Weights .)

II. Learn about your bird's droppings

Another good way to stay on top of hidden illness is by learning about the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy bird droppings. Check out an article by Dr. David J. Kersting, D.V.M., entitled Poop-ology: Understanding your bird’s droppings could save your bird’s life.

III. Keep a first aid kit on hand

Be prepared. In case your bird gets injured, you should put together a birdie first aid kit containing everything you might need, and keep it in a convenient place. Learn how to put together a comprehensive Bird First Aid Kit at Gillian's Help Desk.

Please note: If your bird gets a cut or wound, treat that cut as quickly as possible to avoid infection. Do not use hydrogen peroxide; that would damage your bird's delicate skin. Instead, use chlorhexidine (sold under the brand names of Hibitane, Hibiscrub, Hibiclens, Hibisol, Hibistat, and Hibisprint). Chlorhexidine is an over-the-counter antiseptic -- ask your pharmasist for some the next time you're at the drug store.

IV. Study health issues before your bird gets sick

It is a good policy to learn about common bird health issues. Familiarize yourself with some good web sites, such Ask Dr. Petra, AvianBiotech.com's Avian Health References on The Web, and Bird Crazy's Avian Vet Corner. Then, if you notice a problem with one of your birds, you'll know exactly where to look on the web for the information that you need.

V. Specific health problems

Concerned about a specific illness? I've created an annotated list of links to sites with useful information on twelve unique bird ailments.
Jump to:
1. Candida (Candidiasis)
2. Chronic Egg Laying
3. Egg Binding
4. Feather Plucking / Mutilation
5. Giardia
6. Liver Disease
7. Pacheco's Disease
8. Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
9. Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
10. Psittacosis
11. Sarcocystosis
12. Scaly Face and Scaly Leg

1. Candida (Candidiasis)

A bird with candida has a yeast infection. Symptoms include a white substance (yeast) in the beak, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea, which can cause dehydration. It can be a problem for birds of all ages, including chicks. To avoid infection, good hygiene practices are a must; keep your bird's water clean, and make sure the food is fresh. Veterinarians can treat this illness.

Candidiasis (Candida Albicans); this article details signs and symptoms, available treatments, and measures for prevention.
-- Kellie Stewart, Lory-Link

Candida; details symptoms, causes for infection, and available treatments.
-- Donna Mason, the Cockatiel Cabin

2. Chronic Egg Laying

Sometimes, a hen (female bird) will lay more eggs than is healthy. Chronic egg laying depletes the hen's calcium levels so much that in order to create eggshells, her body will begin removing calcium from her bones. This can lead to a number of serious problems, such as fractured bones and egg binding.

Removing the eggs the hen has laid will only make this problem worse. Instead, environmental changes, such as new toys in the cage, a new cage location, decreased baths, and decreased daylight hours, can remedy this problem.

Chronic Egg Laying; explains the risks of chronic egg laying and offers detailed instructions for treatment.
-- R. Gregory Burkett, DVM, Birdie Boutique

Chronic & Excessive Egg Laying; describes stimuli for chronic egg laying, treatment options, and preventative measures.
-- Parrot Behavior Modification web site

Eggs in Overdrive; a well-written article describing one hen's plight with chronic egg laying, and useful information on treating this problem.
-- VetCentric

3. Egg Binding

Egg binding is a serious, life-threatening condition in which an egg is trapped, or "bound," within a hen. Symptoms may include paralysis of the leg(s), due to nerve being pinched; droppings mixed with blood; and painful straining. It can be caused by calcium depletion due to chronic egg laying.

An egg-bound hen needs to be treated immediately to prevent death. The sites below detail what you can do to save your egg-bound hen's life.

Egg Binding, or Egg Bound; describes causes of egg binding and measures to take to help the egg-bound bird.
-- H&D Budgerigar & Cage Bird Society, Inc.

Egg Binding Links: Important information for Breeders; this site offers detailed information on egg binding and a list of excellent links.
-- Iris's Parrot Palace

4. Feather Plucking / Mutilation

All birds preen their feathers. However, sometimes, a bird will overpreen himself and begin fraying, damaging, or plucking out his feathers. The causes for this vary; there are both medical and non-medical causes. Non-medical causes include psychological reactions to stress or unhappiness. Feather plucking must be treated in order to prevent the bird from damaging his skin and to prevent infections.

How to Manage Feather Picking; this useful article explains the causes of and treatments for feather picking, and cautions against popular remedies that may not work.
-- Richard W. Woerpel and Walter J. Rosskopf, Jr, Hotspot for Birds

Feather Mutilation; details causes, treatments, and things you can do to track your bird's feather mutilation.
-- Anne Johnson, Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine

5. Giardia

Giardia is an intestinal parasite that be transmitted between people and their pets. Small parrots, such as cockatiels, budgies, and lovebirds, seem particularly susceptible to it. The problems is that giardia is difficult to detect and diagnose; symptoms in birds can include watery stools (polyuria), dry skin, and feather picking, but sometimes no symptoms are seen at all. Ensuring that your birds receive clean food and water can help prevent the transmission of this parasite.

Giardia in cockatiels; description, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
-- Ann M. Bourke, DVM, The 'Tiel Times

Ask the vet -- Giardia; forms, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and relapses
-- Linda Pesek, DVM, from Squawk; reprinted by The Aviary

Giardia; description, transmission, symptoms, prevention, treatment, and diagnosis
-- AvianBiotech.com

6. Liver Disease

When a bird has fatty liver disease, his liver is unable to do its job. This causes many problems for the bird. Symptoms may include fluffiness, weight loss, excessive urine (polyuria), pigmented urine (biliverdinuria), and labored breathing. There are a variety of causes for liver disease, including infectious diseases such as salmonella and e.coli; vitamin deficiency is also correlated. It is a very serious problem, but it can be treated -- with help from your veterinarian.

Know thy Liver; offers a detailed list of symptoms of liver disease, diagnosis, causes, and treatments.
-- April Winger, Catfood Aviary

Fatty Liver Disease in Cockatiels (Hepatic Lipidosis); a well-written article, detailing the causes of the disease, preventative measures, and treatments.
-- Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine

Liver Disease: Causes; an online powerpoint presentation.

Avian and Exotic Corner: Liver Disease (scroll down); a scientific summary of the disease, diagnosis, and treatments.
-- Antech Diagnostics News, March 1999

7. Pacheco's Disease

Pacheco's Disease is a form of herpes. Pachecho's Disease is very serious: It is often impossible to tell that a bird is infected until its sudden death, because there are often no symptoms. Therefore, there is no good way to diagnose this disease in a live bird. However, vaccinations are available as a preventative measure for birds who are exposed to many other birds (such as those in pet stores). This disease is a grim illustration of why quarantining any new bird is a must.

Ask the vet -- Pachecho's Disease; describes causes, strains, symptoms, problems in diagnosis, vaccinations, and preventative measures to take.
-- Linda Pesek, DVM, from Squawk; reprinted by The Aviary

Psittacine Herpes Virus (Pacheco's Disease); explains the history of the disease, signs, diagnosis, transmission, and difficulties in treatment.
-- East Petaluma Animal Hospital

8. Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)

PDD is a virus that damages a bird's ability to digest her food properly. Also known as the "wasting syndrome," birds with PDD often appear to waste away despite having a good appetite. Therefore, weight loss is a key symptom. Unfortunately, not much is known about this disease, and typically, it can only be diagnosed through a biopsy.

PDD is a fatal illness, and there is no treatment available for it at this time. To prevent the spread of the disease, birds diagnosed with PDD should be kept in single-bird homes.

Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD); cause, clinical signs and diagnosis, incubation and transmission, treatment and control
-- Hannis L. Stoddard, III, DVM, HotSpot for Birds

Proventricular Dilatation Disease (Macaw Wasting Syndrome); a professional aviculturist answers a breeder's question
-- Howard Voren, Bird Breeder Magazine

Proventricular Dilatation Disease: Help Stop PDD!; susceptible species, history, signs, diagnosis, causes, treatment; research plan proposal and donation form
-- International Aviculturists Society

Proventricular Dilatation Disease -- A Viral Epornitic; very scientific; introduction, clinical features, diagnosis, etiology, therapy and prevention
-- Psittacine Disease Research Group, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine

More information about PDD; Still need more information? This page will provide you with excellent links.
-- Iris Brzezinski, contributor to the Bittybirds Resources pages

9. Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

PBFD is a virus whose initial symptom can be the gradual loss of feathers over time (without plucking). Beak abnormalities also occur, and the immune system is greatly weakened, leaving infected birds at greater risk from other diseases. In accute cases, diarreah is also a symptom.

With veterinary treatment, recovery from PBFD is generally achieved; unfortunately, however, birds with chronic cases of PBFD face much worse odds. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is of critical importance.

Ask the vet: Psittacine beak and feather disease; causes, symptoms, testing, and treatment.
-- Linda Pesek, DVM, from Squawk; reprinted by The Aviary

PBFD Homepage; history, causes, diagnosis, pathogenesis, infection in wild and aviary birds, prevention and control, and current research.
-- Dr. S.R. Raidal, BVSc, PhD, MACVSc (Avian Health), Murdoch University, Western Australia

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (Psittacine Circovirus Disease); susceptible birds, symptoms, research, donations, and links.
-- Parrot Society of Australia

10. Psittacosis (aka Chlamydophila psittaci)

Psittacosis is a parasitic infection whose symptoms may include trembling, weight loss, diarrhea, nasal discharges, and/or ocular discharges (from the eye). Some birds show no symptoms but are carriers of the parasite, meaning that they can spread it to other birds. This airborne parasite can be transmitted to people and cause serious health problems, such as pneumonia.

Due to this threat, if a pet shop's birds are found to have psittacosis, the shop will usually be shut down by the local authorities for a period of time to prevent human infection. Psittacosis can, however, be treated in both human beings and birds. Be certain to contact a vet if you suspect your bird has this parasite, and if infection is confirmed, it would be wise to contact your own medical doctor.

Chlamydia psittaci; description, transmission, symptoms in birds and humans, prevention, treatment, etc.
-- Avian Biotech

Psittacosis FAQ; history, classification and life history, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention.
-- Deborah Wisti-Peterson

Compendium of Measures To Control Chlamydophila psittaci Infection Among Humans and Pet Birds (very scientific); transmission, symptoms, and diagnosis in humans, plus labs that test for human infection; similar info for birds; and many specific recommendations.
-- American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002

Avian Chlamydiosis (psittacosis); transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment.
-- Antech Diagnostics, August 2001

11. Sarcocystosis

Sarcocystosis is a parasitic infection that birds, especially those in outside aviaries, are susceptible to. The parasite is carried by opossums, and it is easily spread to birds through contact with flies and other insects that have been around the opossums. Sarcocystosis is most common in the warmer climates inhabited by opossums.

Unfortunately, there are typically no symptoms that a bird is infected until it is found dead. Therefore, prevention is of critical importance.

Sarcocystosis: The parrot breeders nightmare! (scroll down); useful list of 10 ways to prevent sarcocystosis.
-- The Electronic Eclectus, Issue 3, March 96

Sarcocystosis; commonly affected birds, prevention, the disease and its five forms.
-- Exotic Pet Vet.net

Sarcocystosis, Proposed Guidelines; transmission, lack of symptoms, preventative measures.
-- Sam Vaughn, DVM, Dip., ABVP—Avian Practice

12. Scaly Face and Scaly Leg

Scaly face and scaly leg are both caused by a mite : Cnemidocoptes pili. This mite burrows under birds' skin to lay eggs, causing much discomfort for the bird. Early scaly face symptoms can include a gray-white tint on the beak and/or pitting. Early scaly leg symptoms can include a gray-white tint on the legs and behavioral changes, such as picking at the feet and/or hopping around in discomfort. Veterinarians can successfully treat this disease.

Scaly-face or Mycosis of the Beak / Scaly Leg or Tassel Foot; symptoms, treatments, graphic photos of severe cases of both scaly face and scaly leg.
-- Hamilton & District Budgerigar and Caged Bird Society

Educational Budgie Pix; scroll down for pictures of a budgie with a typical case of scaly face and scaly leg
-- The Flock

Scaly Face; includes a graphic pictures of an extreme case of scaly face, plus promotional material on one scaly face solution. However, you should consult your veterinarian before treating your bird.
-- Dr. Colin Davis, BVSc

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