Diarrhea in a parrot: what to do, quick treatment, prevention

Pet parrots, like any other pets, need high-quality, timely and proper care. All kinds of diseases that affect young and adult birds can cause the rapid death of a feathered friend.

At the same time, diarrhea is one of the symptoms signaling the presence of problems associated with the health of the parrot.

Stomach upset is a fairly noticeable disease that does not pose any particular danger to the life of the pet. However, such symptoms should not be underestimated, since they can become the cause and continuation of a serious pathology with much more serious consequences.

Symptoms

Experienced owners of pet parrots know that any atypical and seemingly “wrong” behavior of a bird is a warning factor, a possible signal of impending problems.

A chick suffering from diarrhea sometimes sits on a perch, but more often sinks to the bottom of the cage, assuming a tense, bent and mussed body position.

An upset stomach affects the behavior of the pet - the parrot falls into an apathetic, sleepy state, closes its eyes and does not respond to external stimuli. Sick birds also vomit and refuse to eat, showing an almost complete loss of appetite.

Systematic diarrhea disrupts external cleanliness and hygiene - the parrot's feathers become dirty, including from liquid droppings.

Acute pharyngitis

Acute pharyngitis can occur independently, and can also be accompanied by acute inflammation affecting the upper respiratory tract: rhinitis or inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.

Depending on the cause of development, acute pharyngitis occurs:

Viral – most often caused by rhinovirus;
Bacterial – caused by streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci;
Fungal – source of the inflammatory process – Candida;
Traumatic - caused by damage to the pharynx and larynx: the throat was scratched by a sharp bone or burned by boiling water, severe stress on the ligaments;
Allergic – occurs when inhaling allergens or irritants, such as tobacco, exhaust fumes or dusty air.

Causes

Diarrhea is an extremely common symptom that accompanies many health problems for feathered friends.

In addition to classic gastric diseases, indigestion can occur due to a wide range of different reasons.

In order to make a correct diagnosis and begin proper treatment, the owner must figure out what exactly his chick is suffering from. Before giving simple activated charcoal to a parrot, the owner should conduct a small medical study, or seek the help of an ornithologist.

Eating problems

Almost every case of diarrhea in a pet parrot is associated with poor diet. Organizing a quality diet is the most important stage in caring for your pet. A bird may experience an upset stomach after eating excessively juicy or green food the day before. This phenomenon is called polyuria, and is isolated in nature.

If the animal's stool does not return to normal after a long time: it acquires a liquid consistency, changes color and becomes extremely frequent, we can conclude that there is poisoning.

Poor quality drinking

Each parrot needs a large amount of boiled water, since such liquid is extremely poor in all kinds of useful additives and minerals. The lack of microelements is compensated by drinking plenty and regularly.

In this case, the chick begins to suffer from diarrhea after drinking liquid that has stood in the drinking bowl for 2-3 days. During this time, the water becomes more harmful due to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

An excessive number of deteriorations acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus.

Calcium deficiency

Calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) is a disease associated with a lack of the corresponding mineral in the pet’s body. The symptoms that occur with this disease include diarrhea. Other symptoms include problems with egg laying, muscle innervation, growth retardation, etc.

Drafts

The budgerigar is an extremely fragile pet that needs especially careful care and close attention. The cage with the feathered comrade should be located in a room in which there are no random drafts or cold gusts of air. A random breeze can easily catch an exotic bird with a cold, as a result of which it will develop a whole list of various symptoms, including an esophageal disorder.

Stress

Experienced owners of pet parrots know about one important character trait of these pets - we are talking about their vulnerability. Stress caused by a recent injury, fright, moving or mechanical damage can have a huge negative impact on the health of your feathered friend.

Symptoms of a psychological illness caused by a deterioration in the functioning of the nervous system include profuse diarrhea, expressed in the form of frequent, loose and watery stools.

Drug treatment

At the first signs of digestive upset, adsorbents can be added to poultry feed. Smecta, Filtrum, Enterosgel cope well with pathogenic microflora and stop diarrhea. Regular activated carbon will also help. You need to take 1 tablet, crush it, add half of the powder to water, and the second to the food with a small amount of liquid.

Also, diarrhea in cockatiels is treated with the immunomodulator Gamavit. It is added 0.5 ml per 2 tbsp. l. drinking water. You can drop 5 drops into the beak. Treatment is continued for a week.

Dry bacteria can treat indigestion in birds. The veterinary drug Vetom is given 2 times a day, adding 1 drop to the drinker. The course of treatment is a week. You can add the contents of a Linex capsule to your drink until your condition improves, but not more than 7 days.

Diseases

As mentioned earlier, diarrhea is a symptom indicating the presence of a particular disease. Indigestion rarely occurs “on its own”, almost always as part of some pathology. At the same time, the owner is faced with an important task related to establishing the exact cause of the appearance of the corresponding symptoms.

An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus. In order to begin competent and timely treatment, you need to establish the correct diagnosis.

Ascariasis

Ascariasis is a classic helminthic pathology caused by foreign pests that have entered the esophagus. You can understand that a parrot is suffering from diarrhea, which arose precisely from this disease, by the following symptoms:

loose stools with frequent blood spots;
complete or partial loss of appetite;
poor hygiene, disheveled appearance;
limbs and mucous membranes acquire light shades.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is an extremely dangerous disease that can cause irreparable harm to a pet’s health. The presence of this pathology can be determined by the presence of the following symptoms:

loose bloody stools;
bluish tint to paws;
seizures;
elongated neck;
regular sneezing with mucus discharge from the nasal openings;
refusal of food and excessive fluid intake.

Inflammation of the peritoneum and intestines

Inflammation of the peritoneum and intestines is probably the most common cause of diarrhea. The presence of this pathology is determined by a swollen abdomen of a reddish hue. The copious bowel movements from which the parrot suffers take on dark and dark brown tones. An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus.

Another visual sign of inflammation is the visibility of intestines through the pet's abdomen.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a disease associated with infection of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. You can tell that a bird is suffering from such a pathology by frequent, excessively thin, foul-smelling and foaming yellow-green diarrhea. Another sign is a change in the pet’s mood - the bird is in constant apathy and does not react to external events.

Hepatitis or hepatosis

Hepatitis, as well as hepatosis, are particularly dangerous pathologies that can cause irreparable harm to the health of a feathered friend. The presence of diseases can be determined using symptoms:

visually noticeable bloating;
dark brown and brown stool;
dermatitis.

Flu

Classic influenza is a serious illness with a high risk of all sorts of complications. The intensifying disease spreads to the internal organs, causing serious harm to the health of the pet. The presence of a sore can be determined by the corresponding symptoms:

diarrhea;
feverish condition;
fever or chills;
excessive mucus discharge from the nasal openings;
frequent sneezing;
swelling of the cervical region and head.

Cloacite

Cloacitis is a disease common in young individuals. Pathology is an inflammation that occurs in the area of the mucous membranes located inside and outside the cloaca. The main signs indicating the presence of such problems include:

apathetic behavior;
lack of response to external stimuli;
loss of appetite;
excessive and heavy drinking;
clumping of feathers and a ruffled appearance;
redness in the cloaca area.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a pathology that occurs as a result of damage to the body by all kinds of pathogenic bacteria, which are prokaryotes (protozoan microorganisms). An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus. You can understand that a bird has become ill with coccidiosis by the list of reasons:

diarrhea;
stool takes on a greenish or brownish tint;
discharge of blood during diarrhea;
refusal of food;
apathetic behavior;
tousled look.

Colibacillosis

Colibacillosis is a disease with more than a dozen different forms. Loose and frequent stools are a symptom of an intestinal pathology. In addition to severe diarrhea, a parrot suffering from colibacillosis refuses to feed, loses thirst and suffers from inflammation in the joints.

The occurrence of various disorders in the area of defecation corresponds to the appearance of symptoms of various diseases.

Goiter obstruction

Goiter obstruction is probably the most “harmless” disease, often amenable to immediate treatment. An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus. You can understand what the symptoms of goiter obstruction look like based on the following factors:

refusal to feed;
large and excessively hard goiter;
frequent bowel movements;
the appearance of shortness of breath;
apathy, lack of reaction to external events;
weight loss;
undigested grain in feces;
pungent odor from the mouth.

Gout

Gout is a pathology that occurs as a result of problems associated with protein metabolism disorders. Throughout the course of the disease, a large amount of uric acid salts are deposited in the pet’s body, which causes most of the subsequent symptoms:

weight loss;
lack of appetite;
lameness and dishevelment;
the joints are “decorated” with small yellow nodes;
redness of the mucous membranes in the cloaca area.

Cold

Most colds manifest themselves as a result of weakened immunity or occasional drafts and drops in temperature. When such a pathology appears, the owners begin to think about the question of how to give the parrot medicine. In addition to loose stools, a bird with a cold suffers from symptoms such as:

refusal of food;
secretion of excessive mucus from the nasal openings;
regular sneezes;
increase in body temperature;
neck stretching;
shortness of breath resulting from frequent and prolonged opening of the beak.

Psittacosis

Psittacosis is a pathology that is extremely dangerous to the health of birds and even people. The incubation period of this disease lasts 10-14 days. A bird suffering from psittacosis loses sleep and appetite, plunges into apathy and suffers from rhinitis. The occurrence of various disorders in the area of defecation corresponds to the appearance of symptoms of various diseases.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is another helminthic disease caused by the presence of foreign bacteria in the stomach and intestines of a pet. Symptoms are similar to aspergillosis:

loose stools with frequent blood spots;
complete or partial loss of appetite;
poor hygiene, disheveled appearance;
limbs and mucous membranes acquire light shades.

Diagnosis of pharyngitis

Detection of all types of pharyngitis begins with a visual examination of the larynx using a special device and taking an anamnesis. A throat swab is also taken for examination to test for diphtheria.

Other types of diagnostics:

Cultural examination - inoculation of taken materials on a nutrient medium.
Rapid diagnosis - identification of streptococcal antigen in throat swabs.
Immunoserological diagnosis - the method is used in case of streptococcal infection.

Laboratory research:

Complete blood count – exclusion of blood diseases, infectious mononucleosis;
A general urine test helps rule out kidney disease (glomerulonephritis).

Depending on the symptoms of the disease, as well as the condition of the larynx, the presence or absence of cough, fever, plaque on the tonsils and soreness and increased size of the lymph nodes, additional consultations with other specialists may be necessary: an endocrinologist, a cardiologist, an allergist.

Possible consequences

Almost every “parrot” disease, left unattended and without an appropriate response, can lead to the most dire consequences. An ordinary intestinal disorder, accompanied by frequent and copious bowel movements, becomes the cause of real dehydration. Also, prolonged diarrhea is the main enemy of proper metabolism, the violation of which will lead to the almost immediate death of the pet.

Among other things, diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms that signal the presence of all sorts of dangerous pathologies. Remember that constipation in a budgie is the same disease and unpleasant problem as diarrhea. If any stomach upset occurs, the bird will behave slightly inappropriately, needing the owner's support. If your parrot doesn't poop, try giving him Linex or Smecta. You can read about how to properly give smecta to a parrot in the corresponding article.

Remember that an excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot will affect the condition of its esophagus.

Sore throat and pharyngitis: what is the difference?

The general condition of the patient with acute tonsillitis or tonsillitis can be confused with the symptoms of pharyngitis. If the disease is diagnosed incorrectly, then treatment of pharyngitis in adults will not have any effect. And the acute form of the pathology can develop into a chronic one.

Unfortunately, many patients self-medicate and start using medications without a doctor’s specific prescription. This is extremely contraindicated! It is better to take care of your health in time and seek help from an experienced otolaryngologist.

It is important to remember that during pharyngitis, the larynx becomes inflamed, and during tonsillitis, the tonsils become inflamed. During a sore throat, it is always painful to swallow, and the pain intensifies even more when eating food. With pharyngitis, the opposite happens - while eating warm food or warm drinks, the sore throat decreases.

During the development of a sore throat, there is no cough or sore throat, only a sore throat and sometimes the formation of a white coating. With pharyngitis, there is a sore throat, as well as noise, pain, or congestion in the ears. The difficulty in distinguishing between these two diseases is further complicated by the fact that one patient can simultaneously develop both pathologies, since they are caused by the same pathogen.

Change in litter color

For the most part, the color of the stool depends on what food the parrot ate on the eve of its last bowel movement. The normal state of droppings is considered to be dense and fairly hard, worm-like feces of a brown-green color.

Ornithologists who record the appearance of a bird's stomach disorder first of all pay attention to the change in color in the aftermath of defecation. Based on this or that shade, the doctor can make a specific diagnosis, in some cases without even resorting to additional research - which means you need to contact him as soon as possible.

White droppings on a budgerigar

In a normal state of health, in the parrot's droppings, in addition to the main dark green fecal mass, there is a separate light fraction. It is represented by a thick substance consisting of urea and a small amount of fecal fluid.

If, during defecation, a strong increase in the white fraction is observed in the parrot’s feces, we can conclude that there are disturbances in the field of protein metabolism in the pet’s body. Thus, the light color of stool signals the presence of lesions of the pancreas, as well as possible gout. The occurrence of various disorders in the area of defecation corresponds to the appearance of symptoms of any disease.

An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus.

Black droppings

Blackening of the droppings is an extremely dangerous signal, indicating the presence of major problems in the pet’s health. The dark shade of stool appears due to internal bleeding that occurs in the upper sections of the intestinal tract. Blood released from initially unintended channels mixes with the droppings, gradually coagulates and acquires a black tint.

Another possible reason for darkening of stool is problems with digestion of food. Food that has not been properly processed in the pet’s stomach begins to darken as a result of gradual rotting processes. The main causes of such problems include diseases associated with fecal obstruction, as well as inflammatory pathologies in the intestinal area.

Green droppings

Liquid green droppings in a budgerigar are a signal indicating the presence of disturbances in the functioning of the intestines. Greening of stool occurs as a result of poisoning resulting from poor-quality food or water. Also, the droppings become green in cases where any inedible substances have entered the parrot's intestines.

If your budgie or cockatiel begins to have diarrhea with green feces, the owner should take immediate action or consult a professional. Green poop in a parrot is a real problem, the cause of which only an ornithologist can figure out.

An excessive number of disorders acquired by a parrot affects the condition of its esophagus.

Bloody droppings

It would seem that feces with blood is a visually noticeable signal, the identification of which is not difficult. However, a reddish tint is often caused by food of a corresponding color that is included in the parrot's diet on the eve of defecation. Don't worry if you see "blood" in your pet's droppings after he ate carrots or beets.

You can determine that there is blood in your pet's stool using hydrogen peroxide. If foaming and hissing begins when drops of the composition hit a particle of droppings, we can conclude that the bowel movements are indeed mixed with blood.

Similar problems are typical for feathered friends suffering from worms or infectious diseases of the lower intestine and cloaca.

Watery droppings

Watery droppings are one of the characteristic signs of polyuria. The presence of such a pathology can be determined by the composition of the feces: they should have a dense consistency, but defecation occurs with copious amounts of fluid.

The reasons that influence the occurrence of watery droppings can be: excessive amounts of succulent food, disturbances in the functioning of the renal complex, worms and helminths, stress or lack of vitamin A. An excessive number of disorders acquired by the parrot affects the condition of its esophagus.

DiseasesAllergy to parrots in adults and children

DiseasesWhat to do. when does a parrot lose its feathers

What type of litter should a parrot have?

Birds have a single excretory system: they simultaneously defecate and excrete urine. Therefore, the normal state of excrement is: semi-liquid, interspersed with solid, but not excessively “stony” substance. The color of parrot droppings is brownish, sometimes with a greenish tint. Like other animals, the condition of excrement largely depends on nutrition; if a bird eats a lot of fruits and grains, then the shade of the excrement will be closer to greenish and somewhat softer, and if the diet includes more vegetables and cereals, then the feces will be darker and denser.

Birds eat a lot relative to their own weight; they have increased energy needs, which are spent primarily on flight. Accordingly, defecating up to forty to fifty times a day is the norm for small species of parrot. Large ones empty themselves twenty to thirty times a day.

The process should not cause discomfort to the pet or stain the feathers under the tail, so if the parrot’s droppings stick to the butt, this is a sign of digestive dysfunction. Frequent or infrequent bowel movements also indicate pathologies of the bird’s gastrointestinal tract.