Birds
Safe Toys for your Pet Bird
When concerning yourself with your pet bird’s health it is important to understand bird safety. Your bird’s vet can go over basic safety with you concerning your bird, but to truly be safe, it is important for you to learn about bird safety before you ever get a pet bird in the first place. Being in charge of a pet bird is like being in charge of a child—they need constant care and your attention to be safe at all times. When learning about bird safety, make sure that you learn which toys are good for your birds and which could be unsafe.
All birds need toys. Because your bird will be in a cage much of the time, toys provide entertainment and activity. Not having toys could lead to bored, depression, and obesity in your pet bird. However, if you choose the wrong toys, your boy could get hurt. Not all bird toys made are appropriate for every bird.
First, consider the size of the toy. Birds come in many different sizes, as do bird toys. If you get a toy that is too small for your bird, he or she could eat it and choke, like can happen if you give a very young child a small toy. However, toys that are too large could also be a problem. When a toy is too large, not only will your bird not be able to play with it, but he or she may also be scared of it, or it could fall/swing and hurt your bird. Buy toys that your bird can comfortably play with.
When purchasing toys, also read the label to make sure they are dyed with natural things like vegetable dyes, or else they should be untreated completely. Birds will chew on everything, so other materials could be harmful. If your toys include metal parts, talk to your vet, because some metals can make a bird very sick in some cases.
When you purchase a toy, attaching it in your bird’s cage is also an important part of safety. Never use clips not made for this purpose, as they can be made of an unsafe metal or snap off, causing your bird to be hurt when playing. Instead, use string to attach the toy or use clips made for birdcages.
Of course, your vet’s office may sell toys for your bird that are both safe and fun. If your bird is ever injured by playing with a toy, make sure to call the vet right away. Having your vet’s phone number on hand is important to make sure that your bird gets the best care possible.
Psittacosis: The Parrot Fever
When you are dealing with Psittacosis, you are dealing with a sickness that is found in birds but can be transmitted to other animals, as well as to people. It is a disease that is caused by an organism called Chlamydophila psittaci. Psittacosis can be infectious to humans, birds, cows, cats, sheep, goats and pigs. It will also infect all different kinds of birds.
Most of the time, birds get it from one another by inhaling dust from the droppings or from the feathers of the birds that have been infected. When a lot of birds have been together, like in a pet shop or boarding place, it might happen more often.
There are several symptoms that might show that your bird has Psittacosis, even though there aren’t any for sure symptoms. If your bird doesn’t eat or drink, loses weight, is depressed or listless, or has watery green droppings as well as discharge from anywhere, or dies suddenly, it might have Psittacosis. Even if a bird doesn’t show symptoms, it can still be a carrier, and can pass it to its offspring.
If you think your bird has Psittacosis, you have to be sure that it goes to a vet, even though diagnosis is tough. Treatment should begin right away ,and is going to be done by a vet and should only be done by an avian vet. You should also get any birds that have been exposed to your sick bird treated as well.
There are several things that you can do to make sure that you prevent any of your birds from getting Psittacosis. You should always take your new pet birds to the vet, and should isolate them from other birds for at least 6 weeks to make sure that nothing develops. You should also only get your pet birds from a supplier that has a good reputation.
It is possible for humans to get Psittacosis. If you are sick or elderly, or have an immunosuppressing condition, you are gong to be at high risk. If you have lots of exposure to birds, and have developed something that seems like a prolonged flue, you are going to want to talk to your doctor about your exposure to birds and see if this could be the cause of your ailment.
Remember as well that good hygiene plays a role. Be sure to wash your hands carefully after handing your pet bird or anything that comes into contact with your pet bird.
Health Care for your New Pet Bird
When you bring an animal into your home as a pet, no matter what type of animal it is, there are always things that you are going to want to do to make sure that that animal is well taken care of and is going to live a long and happy life. Such is the case with your new pet bird. You are going to want to make sure that you know a few things about how to care for your new pet bird so that he can live a happy life.
First of all it is important to recognize that not all pet birds are the same. This means that not all care is going to be given in the same way for the pet birds, so you have to be sure that you know exactly what you are getting into. This means that before you bring a pet bird home to live in your house, you have to research that exact type and breed of bird. Don’t rely on general pet bird info for each pet bird, and how to care for them. You have to be a responsible pet owner and be sure that you know exactly what your particular pet bird needs.
Next, there are some general pet bird rules that will come into play to help you be sure your pet bird is well taken care of. First, be sure that their cage is located in a spot where the temperature can be easily controlled. This should be spot that never gets too hot or too cold. If it is near a window, you have to be sure that the sun does not shine directly on it, and also that there is no draft that can come in and make your bird chilled. Controlling your bird’s environment is the first step to making sure that they are healthy and happy.
Next, you should set up a schedule to make sure that they are getting the proper food and water often. You always want to be sure that they have fresh food and clean water, so you should be sure to watch them carefully and see how often you are going to have to do this. The cage is something else that you have to be very careful of, you have to be sure that you are cleaning it out regularly so that there isn’t any smell, or any chance for sicknesses to develop.
Birds and Metal Poisoning
When you own a pet bird, you know that there are always going to be things that you should look out for, and things that you have to be careful of so that your bird doesn’t get sick or injured. You always want to be on the lookout for things that will help your bird be happy and healthy, and you never want to be in a situation where you have done anything careless that is going to let your pet bird become sick. Birds and metal poisoning is something that you want to keep in mind when you own pet birds.
Many times, people keep their pet birds in cages that are designed just for them. This is the best way to do this, as the manufacturers of the birdcages are going to be sure to use proper things in the birdcage – things that aren’t going to make your bird sick. You should always keep your pet birds in a cage that is designed for them. First of all, they are going to be less likely to get out, and second of all, you know that the cage has been built and designed to hold pet birds, and therefore is not going to be harmful in any way.
If you keep your pet bird somewhere other than a bird cage, or if you let your pet bird roam in your house without supervising them, you always run the risk of having your bird be poisoned by something. Like any other animal, a bird will explore his surroundings, and might be tempted to nibble on the bars of a cage, or on something in your home. If there are metals that are unhealthy for birds, you might find yourself with a very sick bird.
The best way to avoid metal poisoning in your pet bird is to make sure that you are keeping your bird either in a cage that is designed for him, or that you have gone to the trouble to research your cage’s materials to be sure that they aren’t going to harm your bird. Also, you have to be sure to supervise your pet bird very much when he is out of the cage to be sure that he doesn’t get into anything he shouldn’t. A good way to do this is to bird proof the room that he will be in, and to make sure that nothing in that room is going to harm him. Then, while he is out, be sure to keep a good eye on him so he doesn’t get into trouble.
Code Red: Emergency Illness and Your Bird
When you bird suddenly becomes ill, your very first step should be to call your vet. However, there are things you can do to prevent your bird from dying and to make your bird more comfortable while waiting for your vet or while on the way to the animal hospital. Birds make wonderful pets, but they require lots of work and attention, so if your bird becomes ill suddenly, it is important to provide the best care possible.
First, keep your bird hydrated. Just like humans, a sick bird can easily lose hydration, which can lead to a number of problems. Eating is important as well. If necessary, force-feed your bird. This will provide your bird’s body with the needed energy for fighting the illness. Your vet can instruct you on what to feed your bird and how to do it. In general, you should remove other foods from the cage to ensure that your bird is eating only the healthy foods for sick birds that you are providing.
It is also important that your bird be warm. A heater or light can make your bird uncomfortable, but make sure that your bird’s cage is in a warm room and provide a hot water bottle in the cage for your bird. Sick birds should have an environmental temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius, unless instructed otherwise by your vet.
When your bird is sick, quarantine from other birds or pets is usually recommended. Have an extra, smaller cage on hand use for this purpose and keep the ill bird in a different room. Use disinfecting sprays when handling he sick bird and clean his or her cage often to kill bacteria. To keep the germs low, keep the water levels in the cage as low as possible and replace often in order to stop bacteria from breeding.
If your bird is very ill, do not hesitate to take him or her to the local animal hospital. If possible, have someone else call or announce that you will be coming and get on the road, early treatment is the key to saving your bird’s life in many cases. Sometimes, no matter how well you care for your pet bird, his or her health will simply suffer. Make sure that you are providing the best home possible, and the rest is up to chance. The important thing is to look after your bird when he or she is sick to help your bird heal and become well again as soon as possible.
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