AVIAN FIRST AID

By David Hannon, DVM

Signs of illness

• bleeding
• change in droppings
• changes in routine and habits
• changes in water consumption
• decreased activity
• decrease in preening activity
• dehydration
• diarrhea
• difficulty breathing
• discharge from nose
• eyes closed
• feather destructive behaviors
• feathers fluffed
• feathers lost and not replaced
• frequent flicking of the head
• frequent sneezing
• inactivity
• lameness
• low or horizontal posture on perch
• noisy breathing
• not eating or drinking
• not talking or vocalizing
• perching with neck extended and beak grasping wire of cage
• polyuria
• regression/pediatric behavior
• remaining at bottom of cage
• seizures
• self mutilation
• soiled or pasted vent
• swelling
• tail bobbing with each breath
• vomiting/regurgitation (matted feathers on top of head)
• weakness/lethargy
• weight loss
• wounds
• wing droop
• no signs at all