Keep your parakeet healthy with regular vet checkups.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania are finding that pet owners with serious health conditions have a higher percentage of survival than those who don't own pets. In a similar study conducted by Patricia Anderson, an associate professor of Anthropology from the University of Chicago, parakeet owners believe that bird-owning improves their lives. Since these birds live only for five to eight years, it's important that owners keep their pets healthy.
Knemidokoptes Mites
Knemidokoptes mites are often the culprits of flaky skin. When they infect your parakeet, it develops a white crust around its cere, legs, vents, eyelids or other skin areas. According to Dr. Margaret Wissman, an avian specialist, Knemidokoptes mites can cause lesions, abrasions, or worse, cause the bird's beak to deform. Parakeets are treated with an oral medication of ivermectin.
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) is a viral infection that destroys a bird's immune system and damages beak and feather cells. According to Dr. Holly Nash, a veterinarian from Doctors Foster & Smith, Inc, this highly contagious disease is spread through droppings and feather dusts that contaminate the cage, food and water. If infected while the bird is young, a parakeet will show signs of depression and weight loss. Feathers will become loose and break easily. Meanwhile, signs in older birds include bare skin due to loss of feathers and deformed and discolored feathers. Their beaks can become fractured or irregularly shaped. A green tint, as well as mucus, may also be present in their droppings.
Psittacosis
Psittacosis, or parrot fever, is an avian disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci, a bacterium which can be transmitted to humans. Early signs in birds include red, watery eyes, loss of appetite, nasal discharge and diarrhea. According to the Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department of Doctors Foster and Smith, a special treatment is needed and is administered by an avian veterinarian. Although full recovery is possible, the bird can still acquire the disease in the future as it can't become immune.
Obesity
A fat parakeet isn't a healthy parakeet. Obese parakeets are prone to having lipomas, or fatty tumors, that usually develop in the abdominal area. If your parakeet's diet isn't changed, obesity can cause serious and fatal diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatitic lipidosis. Parakeets fed on seeds alone are prone to obesity. According to Dr. Wissman, the addition of pellets, whole wheat bread and fresh fruits in your parakeet's diet can prevent this nutritional disorder from occurring.
Goiter
Thyroid dysplasia, or goiter, is a disease that iodine-deficient parakeets suffer from. As a result, the parakeet experiences difficulty in breathing. The bird will also find it difficult to swallow when eating. According to Dr. Wissman, a poor diet, such as one consisting of only seeds, can increase your pet's chance of acquiring this disease.
Related posts
Symptoms of Liver Disease in ParakeetsLiver disease, often referred to as hepatic lipidosis or "fatty liver disease," in a beloved parakeet can cause serious symptoms that need to be exa...
Parakeets are popular household pets, with cheerful attitudes and bright colorations. Like any pet, however, birds come with some drawbacks, which include lice and mites. These insects get into a...
Humans are not the only species that can catch diseases. Poultry is also susceptible to diseases caused by microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. According to chickens-and-coops.com, birds have...
Parakeets fluff their feathers for a number of reasons.Parakeets are small birds in the parrot order Psittaciformes and are among the most common birds kept as pets. Although they can strongly bon...
Parakeets are lively birds that people enjoy having as pets.Pneumonia is caused by an infection of the bacteria Chlamydia psittaci. When a parakeet has pneumonia, the condition is called Chlamydio...
