Let's Celebrate Pet Birds!
T.J. Lafeber D.V.M.		NetPets®

Birds are Masters at Hiding Signs of Sickness

 

14 SIGNS OF SICKNESS &
EMERGENCY TREATMENT


CAN YOU JUDGE BIRDS' HEALTH BY THEIR APPEARANCE?
NO!

Birds are Masters at Hiding Signs of Sickness

LOOKING GOOD IN THE WILD - IT'S A MATTER OR SURVIVAL

Consider This - If you were a little bird in a whole flock of birds, and if you looked sickly, what do you think would happen to you?

Right, the flock would likely drive you off or kill you.

Now, under these conditions would smart birds ever look sick? No. They would hide any sign of sickness till they could no longer do it-and by that time they probably would be seriously sick or dying.

This is what happens in the wild, and is the reason why birds in captivity, also, cover up signs of sickness. They believe they're doing it for their own welfare.

Bird Owners Must be Particularity Alert to Detect any Signs of Sickness.

Otherwise, sickness can become well advanced before treatment started.


If you talk to bird veterinarians, you'll find their universal plea is that sick birds be brought to them sooner. Their goals are to cure every patient, but they can't always do it when they are brought dying animals.

The question then for pet bird owners is: ''What is ordinarily the fir sign of sickness in birds?''

The Danger of an Appetite Loss
Birds' greatest asset (fast metabolism) can become their greatest liability when eating less than normal. Should the time come when anything happens that birds do not eat-be it a shortage of food, a lack of appetite from disease, injuries which prevent birds from getting to their food, or unfit food-there is an immediate effect upon the metabolism. Birds' bodies burn fuel so rapidly that lack of food quickly causes serious troubles. Shortage of nutrients causes the metabolic rate to falter, heat production to diminish, chilling and possibly shock. This unusual dependence upon a consistent source of fuel leaves birds immediately vulnerable when a shortage occurs.

Only bird owners who know how much their birds eat at each meal will recognize the first sign of sickness. Bird owners who keep dishes full of food rarely know how much or how often their birds eat. In some cases, birds can completely stop eating and the owner never realizes it.

Please read "Let's Celebrate Mealtime", pages 113 to 118.

Veterinarians treating birds at the first sign of illness have outstanding success. Everyone gains-the bird lives-and the owner is happy.

No Frame Index