Brochure: Does My Bird Need a Doctor?

This brochure was created in July, 2004 by Laurel A. Rockefeller. To request a .doc version for non-profit use or to purchase full-color copies for your office, please email White Jade at [email protected] or the author directly at [email protected].

Front Cover:	Does My Bird Need A Doctor? Five Signs Your Bird Needs a Checkup or Emergency Vet Care A sick male cockatiel with ruffled feathers unable to sit on a perch As a rule, vets suggest annual physicals for each bird in your flock. However an annual checkup is no substitute for diligent observation of changes in a parrot's behavior. Here are some subtle signs to watch for:
Inside Text:	Appetite: Changes in a bird's appetite are one of the first, telltale signs that something is wrong. Stress from changes in the environment often results in the lack of appetite. The best remedy is offering your bird her or his favorite foods. Millet sprays are often enticing enough to get a stressed or sick bird to eat. However, if that fails, consult your veterinarian immediately. Posture: With the exception of young chicks who haven't learned how to stand on a perch, a bird who has difficulty standing or sitting in a normal, relaxed position is probably ill. Sick birds avoid high places because they are too weak to safely balance. Look for signs of stress accompanied by difficulty in holding an erect or relaxed posture. If in doubt, phone your avian vet immediately. Egg Laying: The process between copulation and completion of a hen's clutch can be dangerous. Complications during the egg formation and egg laying process can cost your hen her life. Watch for signs of stress or any abnormal behaviors such as heavy breathing or squatting outside of her nest. If you observe anything unusual, call your vet immediately. Egg binding and other reproductive problems can kill your bird. With timely medical care, your hen can survive the process and incubate her clutch into beautiful baby birds. Respiratory Illness: Sneezing, wheezing, signs of stress, nasal discharge, ruffled feathers, and excessive sleeping are all symptoms of a respiratory illness. Birds are experts at hiding colds and other respiratory illnesses. Often by the time you realize your bird has one, it is too late for medical attention to save your bird. Therefore it is critical at the first sign or possible sign of a respiratory illness to consult your veterinarian. With swift medical intervention, a cold, flu, or other respiratory illness does not have to be life threatening. Eye Infections: What starts out as a little redness in the corner of the eye or the inner eyelid can quickly blind your bird for life without antibiotic treatments prescribed by your vet. A healthy bird has bright, clear corneas through which the iris' color is discernable in moderate bright light. Excessive blinking, signs of stress in one eye, redness, scratching around the eye, and/or puss in the corner of the eye are all signs of infection that need immediate antibiotic treatments. Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation manufactures neobacimyx, an ophthalmic ointment used to treat avian eye infections. See your vet for more information. Your bird's sight may depend on it. Preventative Measures: Prevention is the best cure. Egg binding problems can be avoided by supplying hens with high calcium diets. Vegetables like mustard greens and mineral blocks along with dairy foods low in lactose like cheese keep your bird healthy and strong. Preen your bird's facial feathers during molts to help avoid eye infections. High energy, appetizing foods like millet help with illness and stress-related problems eating. Keep your bird warm but not hot to avoid respiratory illnesses. The best medicine is a strong relationship with your avian vet. Know your bird. Know your vet. It's a winning combination
Back Cover:	Copyright 2004 Laurel A. Rockefeller For more information on the neobacimyx ophthalmic ointment for birds referred to in this brochure, please contact: Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation Union, New Jersey 07083