When your pet bird falls sick...

All these days, we have been featuring mostly dogs and cats. However, we haven't forgotten the fact that some of our little friends keep birds as pets. The most common pet bird is the parrot.

Do you have a talking parrot? If you do, then it must be really interesting. The writer once had a parrot, but had to let it go as her family was against keeping a parrot in a cage.

You love your pet bird a lot, don't you? Would you like it if it became sick and died without you even knowing it? Definitely not! So, it's very important to know whether your pet is sick or not. Here, we provide you with a guide which would help you in this regard. As bird owners, you bear the responsibility of making sure your pets stay healthy.

In order to fulfil this duty, you must learn to identify common signs and symptoms of illness. Protect your bird by learning to recognize when it's time to go to the vet. When a bird gets sick, it could often turn serious.

Although birds can be very effective at hiding signs of illness from their owners, there are a few tell-tale symptoms that owners should be on the lookout for in order to have the best chance of saving their pets. If your bird exhibits any of these symptoms, it needs to be taken to a vet immediately.

* Unusual droppings: The colour of your bird's droppings will vary slightly, depending on what you feed it with. However, you should watch out for droppings that are yellow, rusty brown or tarry black.

These can be indicators of internal bleeding among other serious problems. You should also notice if there is a major change in the consistency of your bird's droppings. If they are too runny or too firm, it could mean complications for your pet.

* Messy feathers: Birds that sit with their feathers messed up for a long period of time are often affected by respiratory problems or other disorders. Messy feathers are also good at hiding weight loss, which can be life threatening for a bird. If you observe this behaviour in your pet for more than a day or so, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.

* Cloudy eyes: If your bird's eyes look cloudy or have a discharge coming from them, it may be affected by a respiratory, nervous or muscular disorder. You should rush to the vet as soon as possible as your bird needs immediate treatment.

* Reduced appetite: Birds have extremely high metabolisms, so it is vital that they receive enough nutrition every day. If your bird stops eating and begins to lose weight, it may be a sign of an intestinal blockage or impaction (pressing together), in which case it could die very quickly without medical attention.

Make sure to clean out the bottom of your bird's cage every day before you feed it. This provides an easy way to monitor food consumption, not to mention changes in droppings.

Next week, we'll tell you about some more danger signs that you should be aware of, to ensure that your pet bird is in the prime of health.

Compiled by Janani Amarasekara