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About Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.
I have been a small animal practitioner since I graduated from Purdue University Veterinary School in 1975. I am the…

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Ask An Expert: Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.

Browse by category: Parrot Care, Behaviour and Training, Conservation, Ethics and Welfare, Housing and Environmental Enrichment, General, Health and Nutrition

If I want to bring another parrot into my home (where I already have two
parrots), is there really any risk of that bird having chlamydia/psittacosis
if it has been bred in the UK?

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:


Thanks for this excellent question, Helen. The incidence of contagious disease, including psittacosis, has decreased since the importation of wild-caught birds has become illegal. However, this has not eliminated contagious disease, even in the captive-bred parrot population. I do recommend testing and quarantine of all new birds before their introduction into the flock. Your best source of information is your own qualified avian veterinarian. A local veterinarian would know best about the prevalence of disease and recommended testing procedures for your specific area.

filed under: Health and Nutrition

My 18 month old cock budgie has developed a brown cere. I have read that this can be an indication of kidney or cancer problems. He is eating well but does seem to be breathing heavily. There is no discharge from the nares or any blockage. Is there anything that can be done for him?

Many thanks,
Helen

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

A brown cere is normal in a female budgie. Could your little guy be a girl? I am concerned about the heavy breathing, so my best advice is to get your budgie examined by an experienced avian veterinarian. A good doctor can determine by a physical examination and laboratory testing if your budgie is healthy. Thanks for the great question, Helen!

filed under: Health and Nutrition

Hello! I have female Plumhead Parakeet. Some of her tail feathers are curvy. She is about a year now. I got her month ago. She seems healthy otherwise. Droppings are normal and she has good appetite. A bit afraid of Beak and feather syndrome, cause have other birds too.... Is it possible she has had the sickness but recovered? Is she then carrying it and dangerous to my other birds?
Yours Tom

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

Hi Tom, Thanks for the great question. The best advice I can give is to take your bird to an avian veterinarian for a complete physical examination. Your veterinarian may then recommend some tests for general health and specifically for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD).

Birds in general are capable of appearing healthy and normal, in spite of serious disease or organ dysfunction. Your bird may be perfectly normal or may be ill or a carrier for PBFD. A good veterinarian can determine your bird's health status.

Ellen K. Cook, DVM

filed under: Health and Nutrition

My 8 year old Senegal, Qt, and I live in the Santa Cruz mountain area of California. We had excellent care when we lived in Contra Costa County, but here, I have learned there is no emergency avian care. Qt has never been ill prior to now. Unfortunately, it's the weekend and I'm terrified that I'm going to lose her. None of the vet hospitals with avian vets are open and none will contact the vet outside of normal business hours. I have called well over 10 offices and hospitals and have only found a regular DVM with an interest in exotic animals willing to see her (an 1 1/2 drive--proved worthless and $400). Her crop is so distended with gas and her droppings are scant to nothing. She is completely puffed up, half-lidded, and shaking--even in an 85 degree 'hospital' enclosure. I'm giving her warm Pedialyte and Diflucan. I'm massaging her crop every 30 minutes. The receptions I've been in contact with, to a person, have been insensitive and unresponsive. I want to know how an Avian vet (who knows that a visibly sick bird requires emergency care) can ethically leave their patients and community without emergency services or even a valid referral (most referred me to the same hospital that didn't have an Avian vet). I don't know what to do. I feel helpless and angry. I wish I had asked about supportive care after hours. It simply didn't occur to me. I am praying, now, that she'll survive until Monday...

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

Hi- There is nothing so frustrating and upsetting as having one of our avian companions seriously ill; I worry about my birds, too, when they are sick. Your feelings of anger and helplessness are justified in your concern about Qt. I have been practicing avian medicine for ten years (and small animal medicine for 35 years) and I find that avian DVM's are few and far between. Therefore, I recommend that all parrot caregivers be prepared for when (not if) an emergency occurs. Many areas are totally without avian veterinary care; it is not unusual for clients to drive 2-3 hours to see a doctor. When getting a bird, it is good to become established with a qualified avian veterinarian and discuss after-hours procedures before they are needed.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. Qt's symptoms could be caused by any number of diseases/problems. Whenever a bird is critically ill, the best treatment is to make sure they are hydrated (the Pedialyte is good, you might also try hand-feeding formula), warm (I would bump up the heat to 90 degrees and watch her for overheating: open-beak breathing, wings held away from body) and supplemental oxygen (difficult to do at home). I would not necessarily give the Diflucan unless Qt has had problems w/ yeast/fungal infections in the past. Another problem with birds is that they are masters at disguising illness and often do not show symptoms, even when seriously ill. I have had many experienced caregivers bring in their parrot in right away, after having noted them fluffed and not moving; upon examination/testing, it becomes apparent that the bird has been sick for days, weeks, even months. Often, the disease has progressed beyond the point of treatment. I hope this is not the case w/Qt!

Continue w/your supportive care for Qt. That is the best anyone can do; I will keep you in my prayers, too.

filed under: Health and Nutrition

My Question: I have an aviary budgie with very watery droppings and wheeziness. He has had a broad spectrum antibiotic jab at the avian vets, followed by 10 days on "ornicure".

Coccidia has been ruled out and I have had a lab test for chlamydia which has come back negative. The bird is still indoors although not needing additional heat. If he goes back out he really struggles (shortness of breath).

It may be relevant to mention that another bird has been prone to a messy vent for two months, without showing any other symptoms. The chlamydia test was a pooled swab.

I have also tried Ivermectin to rule out mites etc.

Where do I go from here?

Thanks, Helen Jones

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

This is an excellent question, Helen, but, unfortunately, there is no quick answer. Watery droppings can be caused by numerous diseases: parasites, toxins, viruses, bacteria, foods, the list is endless. I would suggest a complete diagnostic work-up for this little guy. This would include blood tests, multiple fecal examinations, radiographs, etc. Another point to remember is that even if a chlamydia test comes back negative, this does not rule out the disease.

Since another bird is involved, I would be most concerned about contagious disease. Check with your avian veterinarian: s/he knows you and your bird and can better suggest necessary testing/treatment.

I hope you can get to the bottom of your budgies' problems!

filed under: Health and Nutrition

I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. I am wondering if seashells are save to give me African brown head to play with. I noticed one of the toys in his pen has seashells attached to it. I collected some from the beach, and I was wondering if they are cleaned off properly if they can be used for toys. Thanks for your help!

Vicky

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

Hi Vicky, Seashells are usually safe for parrots. In fact, ground or crushed seashells are used in some calcium supplements. As long as the shells are thoroughly cleaned, they should be safe to give your bird.

I always recommend observing your bird at play to make sure he is not eating any toys or shells. Most parrots simply chew toys to bits, but occasionally one will actually swallow those bits. Needless to say, that is dangerous for the bird!

Have fun and thanks for the great question, Vicky.

filed under: Health and Nutrition

Hi Dr. Cook, One of my cockatiels has been "picking" at her back - an area right between her wing couplings - for about 3 months now. If left to it, she will chew until it bleeds. She is not plucking feathers, just chewing on the down and then the skin underneath.

It seems to bother her most in the evenings. Both our cockatiels (no other pets or children in the house) get plenty of attention and have lots to do during the day, foraging, playing with toys, being out in their aviary, etc. They also eat very well, with a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits in their diets, and get plenty of sleep. They don't bathe as often as I would like, but we manage it every couple of weeks or so. We run a humidifier in their sleeping room during the day and try to keep it up around 45%. (They are about a year and a half old.)

I have taken her to our local avian vet, who ran some tests to look for infections and inspected her for lice and mites, but found none. He was puzzled because she otherwise seemed in good health.

He advised there could be a myriad of explanations - many of them difficult to diagnose - and suggested it might be behavioural, so we have been doing our best to interrupt her activity. He also warned to watch how we do so, as we might be reinforcing the behaviour.

We have tried applying aloe to the area, but it only seemed to make her do it more so we stopped.

After observing her for some time, I began to wonder if perhaps it was an allergy, and have taken all wheat products out of her diet. It has been 4 weeks now and I have seen no changes in the behaviour, and I am wondering just how long I should wait to get it completely out of her system. Both our birds do so enjoy their (whole wheat) bread and pasta treats, and I hated taking it away, but will do so if that turns out to be the culprit.

Can you make any suggestions as to a reasonable time? Thank you so much for your insights!

Michelle

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

Hi Michelle, Thanks for the great question! I have a 'tiel we rescued at my clinic that did the same thing as your bird; with proper diet and medication, her symptoms resolved in about three months, so there is hope for your bird.

This type of self-injurious behavior seen in cockatiels is often a symptom of physical disease. Food allergies would be much less likely to cause these symptoms, so I would allow your birds to have wheat again. A varied diet with a base of at least 70% pellets is best for parrots. Frequent bathing is essential for birds with feather issues, as this encourages normal preening. I recommend bathing or misting daily with plain, lukewarm water. I also advocate supplementation of the diet with omega-3,-6 fatty acids and natural sunlight at least three times weekly, plus a program of positive reinforcement to teach behaviors (such as tricks) to refocus the bird from self-injurious behavior.

Your avian veterinarian has wisely ruled out external parasites. I also recommend checking for internal parasites (such as Giardia), a complete blood count and chemistry profile and possibly a viral panel.

Good luck with your 'tiel!

filed under: Health and Nutrition

We have a mold problem in our bathroom in our home We been advised to uses a product called Sporicidin to treat the wood sub-floor. The main ingredient is phenol. The birds we be relocated while the product is being used. Our question is can the Sporicidin out gas in the future can be any harm to our birds once the product is dried. If phenol is not safe to use around our birds, what product do you recommend if the Sporicidin isn't safe to use?

Thanks.
Lori A. Buch

Answered by Ellen K. Cook, D.V.M.:

Hi Lori- Phenol is an excellent disinfectant, but the fumes from it can be quite harmful to our companion parrots. While using this compound, I recommend removing the birds from the premises for several hours. When the Sporicidin is completely dry, ventilate the house well (fans/open windows) before returning the birds. Good luck!

Ellen K. Cook, DVM

filed under: Health and Nutrition

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