Birds may be exposed to several health problems, such as these bacterial diseases in birds. That’s why as an owner, it is a must to be aware of the symptoms and causes of the diseases, so that your birds can be healthy.
Birds are susceptible to the coccidian parasite. This parasite can be found worldwide. Coccidiosis, or also called intestinal coccidiosis, is caused by the protozoan parasite. Coccidia are commonly found in parrots, canaries, finches, lories and budgerigars.
This parasite is commonly invading part or all of the intestinal tract in birds, however, it has also been found in other organs, such as kidneys and liver. Not only birds, coccidiosis is also listed as one of the diseases in poultry.
There are two types of coccidiosis in birds. The first one refers to a parasitic infection which produces visible symptoms. You can easily notice the symptoms.
On the other hand, there is another type of coccidiosis which is present without any symptom. This is the most common form and is often diagnosed on post mortem.
You may start wondering what causes coccidiosis in birds. While it is mainly caused by the infection caused by the coccidia parasite, there are some other causes, such as infected droppings, contaminated food or water, contaminated soil, dust or litter, and contamination through some carriers, such as human handlers, equipment or clothing.
What are the Symptoms of Coccidiosis in Birds?
Coccidiosis mainly infects the digestive system, so the symptoms are related to the digestive system as well. When the coccidia replicate, the tissue damage can cause disruptions in normal digestive and absorption process. Here are some of the common symptoms of coccidiosis in birds:
- Severe diarrhea – the stools might be watery, bloody or contain greenish mucus (it could be one of the symptoms of liver disease in birds)
- Depression – read more about it in symptoms of stressed birds
- Inactivity
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Decreased thirst
- Decrease growth rate (especially in young birds)
- Ruffled feathers – also read reasons why your bird pets lose their feathers
- Tremors
- Convulsions
- Dehydration
- Decreased egg production
- Depigmentation or pale skin
- Secondary infection (caused by another infectious agent)
- Death
If you find any symptoms experienced by your birds, then contact your vet immediately.
There are some ways to treat coccidiosis in birds and mostly they are under the vet’s control. To treat it, your pet birds need to go through drug administration.
There are some anticoccidial drugs that can treat the invasion of coccidian in many ways. Your vet later will determine what drug is appropriate and the severity of the infection. There might be some risks of using that particular drug.
Besides the drug, your vet will also prescribe some antibiotics that might be used to treat any secondary infections and vitamins (A and K) for boosting the health and recovery of your pet bird.
During the treatment, your bird will also develop its natural immunity. It can develop as a response to a long term infection. Older birds tend to be more resistant than the younger ones. There are also some vaccines that can be given to boost the immunity of your pet bird.
Once your bird is treated, there are some things you need to pay attention to while your bird is recovering. Do these ways to prevent your bird from getting coccidia in the future:
- Add some anticoccidial drugs to feed (this can be done during the first weeks of your bird’s life)
- Provide good sanitation
- Make sure to always provide clean water and feed
- Separate your birds from their droppings
- Get some vaccines for your bird (consult with the vet about what vaccines your pet bird should get)
- Clean the cage regularly
- Check droppings for oocysts regularly
- Quarantine new birds until deemed healthy
- Avoid overcrowding your birds
Vaccination is very important to keep your birds’ immune system work. Not only birds, some animals also need vaccines, such as these vaccines for your dog needs.
Having pet birds is fun, though it is not that easy. If you are a beginner, you may read some tips related to bird keeping, such as the diseases that birds might get and their symptoms.
Salmonella, which can infect any animals and humans, can also infect birds. Get to know more about the symptoms of salmonella in birds and how to treat it.
If you are still thinking about the bird breeds you want to pet at home, consider these recommended pet birds for you who live in apartment and popular bird breeds to pet.