How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels: 13 Steps

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How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels: 13 Steps
How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels: 13 Steps

Video: How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels: 13 Steps

Video: How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels: 13 Steps
Video: How to clean bird droppings | FAQ series by ESOTERIC! 2024, March
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It is very important to identify cockatiel diseases immediately, as quick treatment makes a difference in results. This, however, is not so easy with diarrhea, as the droppings of these birds are naturally soft (containing both feces and urine), which makes it difficult to perceive when something is not healthy. By checking them regularly for signs of problems and getting proper veterinary treatment for the bird, you will effectively treat the diarrhea and its causes.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Identifying signs of diarrhea

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 1
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 1

Step 1. Look for signs on the cage floor

If you have the bird for a long time, you should know how the droppings fall and stay at the bottom of the cage; if you notice a change in consistency in them (becoming more liquid), it is likely diarrhea.

  • Cockatiel droppings are usually a combination of clear liquid (urine), white urates (kidney by-products), and pale faeces (color varies depending on the animal's diet).
  • You will need to know how to differentiate urine from feces; if there is no solid waste in the secretion, the bird must have diarrhea.
  • Change the paper at the bottom of the cage weekly to know when there are color changes in the droppings. Once you have a sense of what a healthy secretion looks like, you will quickly notice when the animal is not well.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 2
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 2

Step 2. Identify behavioral signs of illness

Cockatiels are good at hiding that they're sick, but you can still see the signs if you know what you're looking for, such as:

  • Lack of feather straightening;
  • Lethargy;
  • Unusual silence;
  • Reluctance to eat;
  • General nervousness.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 3
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 3

Step 3. Look for signs related to illness

Diarrhea is usually accompanied by a specific condition such as salmonella. If the bird has the symptom, look for other signs of physical illness as well; that way, you will know if she is sick or not. See if there are:

  • Vomiting;
  • Regurgitation;
  • Secretion coming out of the nostrils or eyes;
  • ruffled or tousled feathers;
  • Blood in the waste, which looks black.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 4
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 4

Step 4. Look for causes of illness in the environment

When leaving the cage, cockatiels end up getting into where they shouldn't. If you let her explore the house unsupervised, look for areas that appear upside down and see if there are any dangerous items around, such as:

  • Toxic foods (such as chocolate, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages);
  • Medicines for humans;
  • Toxic metals (such as lead or zinc);
  • Pesticides (such as rat poison);
  • Toxic plants (such as lilies, poinsettia, colocasia and others).

Part 2 of 3: Getting Veterinary Care for Cockatiel

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 5
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 5

Step 1. Have the signs checked by the veterinarian

If you've noticed physical or behavioral changes that indicate an illness, point them out to your veterinarian; he will be able to examine the bird's general health and diagnose specific problems through various tests.

  • The tests that are usually done on cockatiels are mainly blood and X-ray.
  • The most common causes of diarrhea (which will be looked for by the professional) include: viral, bacterial and fungal infections; toxins; dietary changes; and obstruction of the intestinal tract.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 6
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 6

Step 2. Follow the treatment suggestions

Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, the veterinarian will suggest several treatment options, which may include changes in the bird's diet, environment and lifestyle.

  • For a more serious bacterial or fungal infection, he will likely prescribe a drug (usually an antibiotic or antifungal).
  • In the case of viral infections, nothing more can be done than provide supportive care to prevent dehydration and help the bird's immune system to defend itself.
  • The veterinarian may also prescribe temporary or long-term changes to the cockatiel's diet, including changing the seed used or temporarily eliminating fruits and vegetables to harden the stool.
  • In cases of severe bowel obstruction, surgery may be suggested to fix the problem.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 7
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 7

Step 3. Provide heat to help the bird

When caring for him at home, have an extra heat source, as when ill he will lose body heat very quickly; heat it using a bird-safe lamp.

Remember not to leave it on at all times, as the cockatiel must sleep at night. In addition, some common bulbs generate the same toxic fumes as non-stick pans

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 8
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 8

Step 4. Continue to examine the animal's condition

When treating him at home, constantly assess his situation. Don't assume that your veterinarian's treatment suggestions will instantly make cockatiel better. Note if diarrhea continues or other related symptoms develop, and talk to your veterinarian if new complications develop.

If treatment doesn't help her get better, take her back to the veterinarian's office. It is important that the disease is treated effectively

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 9
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 9

Step 5. Leave fresh water and a basic seed mixture for the cockatiel

Change the water frequently so that it is always clean; the seeds may be the same as always, but stop giving the bird fresh fruits and vegetables.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing diarrhea

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 10
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 10

Step 1. Get regular veterinary treatment

Even if cockatiel no longer shows signs of trouble, it's a good idea to have it checked regularly; preventive care will help to find diseases (which would be difficult to identify in other cases) and to extend the life of the animal.

One way the veterinarian can help the bird is by identifying parasitic infections, which often cause diarrhea

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 11
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 11

Step 2. Make dietary changes gradually

After all, more sudden changes can disrupt digestion and cause diarrhea rather than treat it. If making such changes is recommended, proceed little by little.

Add a little of the new seed along with the old seeds, and keep increasing this amount until the bird only eats the new seed

Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 12
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 12

Step 3. Leave the cage clean

Diarrhea is a common symptom of many illnesses, and limiting cockatiel's exposure to them will help with prevention; the most important thing in this process is the cleaning of the cage.

  • Do a quick daily cleaning, including adding fresh food and water (remember to clean the bowls before making such a change); the paper at the bottom of the cage also needs to be changed.
  • Clean more thoroughly on a regular basis. For this, you will need to empty the cage and disinfect it, in addition to sanitizing all the items that are used by the animal.
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 13
Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels Step 13

Step 4. Quarantine new birds

When getting new aviary members into the house, you should keep them separate from the old ones for a while to prevent possible disease from spreading; making sure that the new ones don't have infections and conditions that can spread to the old ones is a key to eliminating diarrhea in the home.

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