We all want to prolong the life of our parrots through exercise, healthy lifestyles, and dietary choices. Annual or bi-annual veterinary check-ups and medical treatment are also necessary.
Parrots can develop life-threatening diseases like polyomavirus and parrot fever. Only a vet can administer the medicines and antibiotics needed to promote recovery or make life more comfortable.
Always register with a vet who understands avian anatomy and physiology.
Veterinarians Offer Treatment for Parrots
Few vets are trained to deal with exotic pets (like parrots), just domestic and farm animals.
While veterinary schools have a course dedicated to avian medicine, it’s not a core requirement. Some schools don’t offer exotic bird courses, so not all vets can treat parrots.
Vets with a Certificate in Zoo Medicine are qualified to treat birds and other exotic animals. You can determine who these vets are because they’ll have “CertZooMed” after their name.
You can take a parrot to a local vet for nail and feather clipping, which are standard veterinary practices.
How To Find An Avian Vet
Owners need an ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners) Avian board-certified Diplomate.
To find a vet, check the Yellow Pages under “veterinarians” and “animal hospitals.” You can also check the website of your state’s Veterinary Medical Association for further information.
How Often Parrots Go To The Vet
Parrots should be seen by an avian vet at least once a year, and older birds should be seen bi-annually.
While this doesn’t appear much, each examination should be comprehensive, including blood tests to detect changes and issues, particularly surrounding organ function.
Parrots are good at hiding health issues. They may be in the advanced stages of a medical condition when symptoms manifest.
Annual health check-ups allow veterinarians to establish standard behavioral traits and early health issues that can be used as a baseline for future check-ups.
Even if a parrot is asymptomatic, sickness and disease can still be detected.
Parrots Vaccinations
Most caged parrots aren’t routinely vaccinated.
After the Wild Bird Importation Act was passed in 1992, birds were no longer allowed to be imported into the U.S., so common parrot diseases diminished.
Only the polyomavirus vaccine is available for parrots. This condition affects the body and organs, and it’s common in juvenile parrots aged 14-56 days old and can be fatal at this early age.
Polyomavirus attacks the immune system, making parrots more susceptible to infections. The virus kills birds quickly, usually within 1-2 days. The symptoms include:
- Swollen abdomen.
- Regurgitation of food.
- Loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Depression.
- Weight loss.
- Excessive urination.
- Tremors.
- Paralysis.
Polyomavirus is contracted through other infected birds, air, dust, dander, and incubators.
If you have other birds, get the vaccine as the risk of exposure increases.
Parrot Vaccine Schedule
If you want a parrot to have the polyomavirus vaccine, ask a vet to administer the first dose at 4 weeks of age. Then, it’ll need its second dose after 6-8 weeks.
An older parrot will need a double dose of the vaccine. A vet can give a bird its first injection whenever convenient, and the second dose will be 2-4 weeks later.
How To Prevent Polyomavirus
There’s no treatment for polyomavirus. The vet can only diagnose the disease with a cloacal swab. Prevention is essential, which can be achieved with these steps:
- Get the parrot tested for polyomavirus once it arrives at your home.
- Keep the parrot quarantined from other birds.
- Disinfect the cage and surfaces regularly.
- Annual or bi-annual veterinary check-ups.
Transporting A Parrot To The Vet
Transporting a parrot to the vet isn’t always easy. Ensure it’s as stress-free as possible because parrots cope poorly with problematic situations. You’ll need the following items:
- Cardboard box.
- Travel carrier.
- Travel cage.
- Towels.
- Bird food.
- Water.
- Toys.
- Non-perishable bird treats.
Use a dark container for transportation, but remember to pierce breathing holes in various places. Alternatively, use a small to medium-sized plastic pet carrier.
Aim for a carrier that allows space for the parrot to be comfortable but prevents it from flapping its wings. Position it in a secure location in the car, or secure it with a seat belt.
How Much It Costs To Take A Parrot To The Vet
A standard parrot vet check-up usually costs around $50 to $80 per visit. However, this only includes the examination, not any treatments or tests resulting from the examination.
Unforeseen costs can accrue, so pet insurance is recommended. Standard insurance prices range from $10 to $30 a month and cover the cost of illness, injuries, accidents, and death.
Signs A Parrot Needs A Vet
Parrots attempt to hide their symptoms. This behavior is carried through to domestication, meaning owners don’t always notice the initial symptoms.
Be aware of changes in a parrot’s behavior or appearance so that you can schedule a health check. The following are common signs that a parrot should see a vet:
Vocalizations
A change in the parrot’s vocalization is a sign of illness. Any bird that stops chirping or singing is unwell, and any changes in tone should be monitored.
A bacterial or fungal infection can cause voice changes, which may signify Aspergillosis (a disease caused by Aspergillus). Also, check for gasping, squeaking, wheezing, and labored breathing.
Changes in Posture
If a parrot spends more time than usual standing on one leg or refuses to move one (or both) of its wings, it may have a physical injury. The parrot will hide its pain but won’t be able to for long.
Loss of Appetite
Parrots have high metabolisms, so they always require regular food.
Some are picky with their food, especially if they’re allowed to choose what they eat, but a parrot that refuses to eat needs veterinary attention.
Lethargy
Signs of lethargy, depression, or fatigue are negative signs.
Parrots are usually active, and prolonged inactivity shouldn’t be ignored. Similarly, parrots who refuse to exercise or lie still at the bottom of their cage need veterinary care.
Irritability
Some parrots are more prone to irritability than others. If a parrot’s bad mood seems out of character or lasts for days, it’s likely due to extreme discomfort.
While hormones can cause irritability, behavioral issues signify ill health.
Common Parrot Health Problems
Common health concerns include:
Parrot Fever
Also known as psittacosis, parrot fever is a contagious disease that affects hookbill birds.
It’s a Chlamydia bacterium that causes eye infections, inflammation, difficulty breathing, watery droppings, and lethargy.
A vet will administer tetracycline, an antibiotic injected or taken orally.
Psittacine Beak And Feather Disease
PBFD affects all species of parrots. The illness causes feather loss, a lack of dander, growths, lesions, and beak abnormalities. Affected parrots may experience abnormal feather development.
There’s no PBFD treatment available, meaning a vet will offer pain relief and supportive care.
Candida
Candida is a fungal infection that causes yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract.
Candida is contagious among birds. It causes white lesions around the throat and mouth, lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Antifungal medication like Nystatin can treat Candida.
Proventricular Dilatation Disease
PDD is commonly known as Macaw Wasting Syndrome and Parrot Wasting Syndrome. It mainly impacts Macaws, African grays, Amazon parrots, cockatoos, and conures.
It affects the gastrointestinal tract, the nerves that supply it, and other organs.
Most birds don’t show signs of PDD until they’re sick but affected parrots experience weight loss, vomiting, watery droppings, and a swollen crop.
An avian vet will recommend a healthy diet and administer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). There’s no cure, so these drugs are intended to minimize discomfort.
Veterinary treatment will likely be required during a parrot’s lifetime. Many common conditions spread rapidly between birds and present themselves asymptomatically.
