Top 5 Bird Health Problems
Having a sick bird is never fun: but it's even more terrifying if you have no idea what could possibly be wrong with your precious pet. Knowing everything that you can possibly learn about bird health issues is the key to being able to provide the best possible care for your feathered friend -- and that's certainly something that every bird owner wants to do! Look over this list of the top 5 bird health problems for an overview of some of the most commonly seen health issues in birds and the symptoms that might signal them. Having this knowledge might help you work with your avian vet to figure out a quick treatment plan to get your pet on the road to recovery should an illness ever occur in the future.
When you're talking about a feather problem, it can seem like a relatively minor issue -- however, a bird with a broken blood feather can actually die from this condition, and such an accident can happen at any time. Because of this, it is highly recommended that all bird owners learn how to fix a broken blood feather themselves at home, and then follow up for treatment with their avian vet as soon as possible after the bleeding has been gotten under control. Failing to do so could cost your bird his or her life.
Believe it or not, proper amounts of exercise may be even more important to your pet bird's health that it is to your own. In the wild, birds fly literally hundreds of miles per day looking for food, mates, nesting spots, shelter from predators, and more. In captivity, they spend most of their time confined to a cage -- deprived of the opportunity to receive the exercise that their bodies are built for. Take time to make sure that your bird is getting as much exercise as possible as often as you can to make sure that you are warding off health problems that could be related to a sedentary lifestyle.
In recent years, more and more doctors have attempted to make us aware of the bad effects that stress can have on our bodies -- and the same goes for our birds. In fact, birds that are stressed can have an even harder time dealing with the consequences than people can. Learn to recognize the signs that your pet bird is stressed and do what you can to minimize his or her exposure to the sights, sounds, and things that place stress on your pet. Doing so can go a long way toward improving your pet's health.
It has been stressed over and over again from avian experts throughout the years, yet still so many parrots suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Parrots in the wild enjoy a feast of fresh fruits and vegetables, insects, seeds, leafy greens, and a whole variety of foods on a daily basis. Pet birds that live in cages cannot possibly be expected to reap the same nutritional benefits if they are being fed the same exact pre-packaged diet every day. Do you bird a favor by including a variety of fresh, bird-safe foods in his or her diet every day. This can help make sure that your pet lives a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.
One more thing that bird owners have to watch out for in their pets are parasitic infections. Birds are very good at hiding illness and injury -- it's a defense mechanism that nature gives them to help them survive in the wild -- so pay very close attention to your bird's behavior, eating habits, weight, and yes, even his or her droppings to make sure that there isn't a health issue going on that your feathered friend is hiding from you. Some parasite infestations that birds are susceptible to can even be passed on to humans, so it is extremely important for you to be diligent about keeping tabs on your pet for the health of your whole household.
•Broken blood feathers.
When you're talking about a feather problem, it can seem like a relatively minor issue -- however, a bird with a broken blood feather can actually die from this condition, and such an accident can happen at any time. Because of this, it is highly recommended that all bird owners learn how to fix a broken blood feather themselves at home, and then follow up for treatment with their avian vet as soon as possible after the bleeding has been gotten under control. Failing to do so could cost your bird his or her life.
•Lack of exercise.
Believe it or not, proper amounts of exercise may be even more important to your pet bird's health that it is to your own. In the wild, birds fly literally hundreds of miles per day looking for food, mates, nesting spots, shelter from predators, and more. In captivity, they spend most of their time confined to a cage -- deprived of the opportunity to receive the exercise that their bodies are built for. Take time to make sure that your bird is getting as much exercise as possible as often as you can to make sure that you are warding off health problems that could be related to a sedentary lifestyle.
•Stress.
In recent years, more and more doctors have attempted to make us aware of the bad effects that stress can have on our bodies -- and the same goes for our birds. In fact, birds that are stressed can have an even harder time dealing with the consequences than people can. Learn to recognize the signs that your pet bird is stressed and do what you can to minimize his or her exposure to the sights, sounds, and things that place stress on your pet. Doing so can go a long way toward improving your pet's health.
•Poor nutrition.
It has been stressed over and over again from avian experts throughout the years, yet still so many parrots suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Parrots in the wild enjoy a feast of fresh fruits and vegetables, insects, seeds, leafy greens, and a whole variety of foods on a daily basis. Pet birds that live in cages cannot possibly be expected to reap the same nutritional benefits if they are being fed the same exact pre-packaged diet every day. Do you bird a favor by including a variety of fresh, bird-safe foods in his or her diet every day. This can help make sure that your pet lives a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.
•Parasitic infections.
One more thing that bird owners have to watch out for in their pets are parasitic infections. Birds are very good at hiding illness and injury -- it's a defense mechanism that nature gives them to help them survive in the wild -- so pay very close attention to your bird's behavior, eating habits, weight, and yes, even his or her droppings to make sure that there isn't a health issue going on that your feathered friend is hiding from you. Some parasite infestations that birds are susceptible to can even be passed on to humans, so it is extremely important for you to be diligent about keeping tabs on your pet for the health of your whole household.
