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Conure Diseases
By peace | August 19, 2007
In general, conures have a strong survival instinct, and even when ill, will continue to act normally for long periods of time. But conures, like all pets, can gt sick or injured. Since birds cannot describe how they are feeling, it is very important that you understand the basics of your pet’s physiology as well as the signs of illness. With preventive measures, early detection, and good care, the odds for a successful recovery are great.
With good care, a conure can live up to 40 years, although the average life span of a pet conure is about 15 years. Conures are prone to feather picking, papillomas, and psittacine beak and feather disease syndrome (PBFDS). Conures fed seed-only diets can also develop a vitamin A deficiency and other nutritional disorders.
When conures were being imported in large numbers, some of them developed a condition called conure bleeding syndrome. Conure bleeding sydrome has been documented in blue-crowns, peach-fronts, half-moons and Patagonians. Affected birds suffer episodes of internal bleeding that eventually kill them. These birds have nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, weakness, diarrhea and excessive urination. The cause is unknown, but a lack of vitamin K, calcium, and other minerals in a bird’s diet may contribute to conure bleeding syndrome. Other veterinary experts believe the condition is caused by a virus.
Papillomas are benign tumours that can appear almost anywhere on a bird’s skin, including her foot, leg, eyelid or preen gland. These tumours, which are caused by a virus, can appear as small, crusty lesions, or they may be raised growths that have a bumpy texture or small projections. If a bird has a papilloma on her cloaca, the bird may appear to have a wet raspberry coming out of her vent. Many papillomas can be left untreated without harm to the bird, but some must be removed by an avian veterinarian because a bird can pick at the growth and cause it to bleed.
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Syndrome (PBFDS) is a virus that has been reported in more than forty species of parrots, including conures. PBFDS causes a bird’s feathers to become pinched or clubbed in appearance. Other symptoms include beak fractures and mouth ulcers. This highly contagious, fatal disease is most common in birds under three years of age, and there is no cure at present.
Feather Picking
Conure owners, particularly those who own nandays and suns, need to be on the alert for feather picking. You will see feathers on the floor of the cage and scruffy or even bald spots on your bird. Conures who suddenly begin picking their feathers, especially those under the wings, may have an intestinal parasite called giardia. If you notice that your bird suddenly starts pulling her feathers out, contact your avian veterinarian for an evaluation. Other causes to consider include poor diet, low humidity, infrequent baths, and lack of access to regular periods of light.
Psychological causes for feather picking can include boredom, insecurity, breeding frustrations, nervousness, and stress. Stress in bird’s life can result from something as simple as rearranging the living room furniture or as complex as bringing a new child or pet into the home.
What To Do In Emergency
If your bird requires urgent care, keep the following in mind:
- Stay as calm as possible
- Stop any bleeding
- keep the bird warm
- keep the bird calm and quiet
- call your veterinarian’s office for additional instruction
- describe what has happened to your bird
- listen carefully to any instructions you receive
- take your bird to the veterinarian’s office or veterinary urgent care clinic as soon as possible
Topics: All Posts, Animals, Pets |
August 19th, 2007 at 3:39 am
[…] The colour of the droppings can also be an indication of health. Birds who have psittacosis typically have bright lime-green droppings, while healthy birds have avocado or darker green and white droppings. Birds with liver problems may produce droppings that are yellowish or reddish, while birds who have internal bleeding will produce dark, tarry droppings. […]