Diarrhea In Cockatiels: What To Do? (2023 Guide)

Cockatiels and other domesticated birds are susceptible to a number of digestive disorders, including diarrhea. The majority of the time, diarrhea can be triggered by a sudden change in your cockatiel's diet or by his stressed response to an environmental change.

But, diarrhea can also be a symptom of a more serious sickness, therefore its abrupt start should never be underestimated. In any case, you should contact your veterinarian, particularly if diarrhea persists for more than twenty-four hours.

Thus, if your cockatiel is ill, it is crucial to identify the causes as soon as possible. Due to the high pee content of their stools, it might be difficult to detect diarrhea in birds, as their feces are often fairly watery. Hence, you may not immediately realize that your bird is sick.

By routinely observing its stool, looking for other indicators of pain, and receiving the appropriate veterinarian care, you can effectively manage diarrhea and its underlying causes.

Continue reading "Diarrhea In Cockatiels: What To Do?" by BestForPets (bestforpets.org) to discover what you can do to assist your bird companion in recovering from diarrhea.

What Are Abnormal Droppings in Cockatiels?

Typical bird droppings include three components:

• Feces: solid brown or greenish portion
• Urates: translucent white portion
• Urine: transparent, liquid portion

A cockatiel with diarrhea will generate urate-and-urine-containing watery feces. If your bird’s droppings are loose for only one day, it may be a sign that something in its meal hasn’t settled properly or that it has simply overeaten.

This situation may not constitute an emergency. But, if you observe watery stools for more than 24 hours, you should consult your veterinarian immediately.

Important: a distinction must be made between diarrhea and polyuria, which is characterized by an increase in feces-derived urine. Polyuria is not usually the result of an illness; your cockatiel may just be consuming too many fruits or absorbing excessive amounts of water.

What Causes Diarrhea in Cockatiels?

Diarrhea and constipation in pet birds are not, strictly speaking, diseases; rather, they are indicators of a more general digestive issue that may have psychological, nutritional, or physical causes.

Below are the most prevalent causes of diarrhea in cockatiels:

• Stress
• Abrupt change in diet
• Poor quality of food
• Food allergy
• Viral infection
• Bacterial disease
• Tumor
• Inflammation of the liver of pancreas
• Poisoning
• Parasites (like roundworms, tapeworms, protozoa)

Based on the underlying ailment that affects your cockatiel, your veterinarian may offer a variety of therapies, such as dietary modifications, the prescription of antibiotics and drugs, or changes in lifestyle or environment.

How to Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels

To avoid significant complications for your cockatiel, it is vital to treat diarrhea promptly. After visiting your veterinarian, you will need to ensure that the symptoms do not reappear. To accomplish this, adhere to the following suggestions:

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1. Pay Attention to Your Cockatoo’s Behavior

Closely observe your bird’s behavior for any more signs of illness. For instance, the following symptoms suggest that your cockatiel may be ill:

• Listless and lacking in energy
• No more singsong
• Not preening its feathers
• Does not desire food.
• The feathers are fluffed.
• Vomits or regurgitates
• Discharge from the nose and the eyes
• Blood in his faeces

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2. Avoid Sudden Changes in His Nutrition

Maintain its standard blend of pellets and seeds. If your veterinarian recommends a modification in your cockatiel’s diet, make modest adjustments to give him time to adjust. While he has diarrhea, do not offer him fresh foods such as vegetables and fruit.

According on your veterinarian’s recommendations, you may also want to explore giving your cockatiel probiotics to boost his digestive tract.

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3. Provide Your Cockatiel with Fresh, Clean Water Every Day

Every day, provide your cockatiel with clean, fresh water.
Ensure that your cockatiel is adequately hydrated. This is because diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which, if left untreated, can be quite dangerous.

See your veterinarian immediately if your bird is curled up in the back of its cage, not drinking, and exhibiting significant listlessness.

After performing additional examinations, he will establish a regimen for rehydration and medication therapy.

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4. Eliminate Stress-Inducing Causes

Place your cockatiel in a warm, noise-free room away from the rest of the house.

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5. Do Daily Cleanings of Your Bird’s Cage and Accessories

To avoid bacterial growth, wash the cage and its attachments (toys, bowls, perch, etc.) with hot soapy water. Finally, thoroughly rinse everything with clean water and allow it to air-dry before replacing the accessories.

Is Cockatiel Poop Toxic to Humans?

Your bird’s health is vital to you, but so is your own. Is it possible to acquire an illness transmitted by the cockatiel’s feces? Indeed, but fortunately, this is not a common occurrence; this condition is known as psittacosis.

What is psittacosis?

Psittacosis is an infectious disease caused by the Chlamydia psittaci bacterium; its symptoms resemble those of the flu. Nonetheless, they are mostly harmless.

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What are the indications that birds are infected?

Parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, macaws, canaries, pigeons, chickens, ducks, and turkeys can get the virus. Birds infected with the virus exhibit the following symptoms:

• Drowsiness
• Tremors
• Weightloss
• Difficulty in respiration
• Diarrhea

In domestic birds, the infection may be latent, meaning that an infected bird may appear healthy and have no symptoms for an extended period of time. The bacteria are however released in the droppings or nasal secretions of infected birds, which can transmit the disease for several months.

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What are the symptoms of human infection?

The severity of the infection ranges from a minor flu-like sickness to severe pneumonia. Symptoms often manifest between four and fifteen days after exposure to the pathogen.

Here are the most frequent signs:

• Fevers
• Shivering
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Headache

In rare instances, the sickness can be fatal. In mild situations, the duration of the fever can exceed three weeks.

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How is psittacosis recognized and treated?

Your doctor must know that your cockatiel has been infected with Chlamydia psittaci in order to accurately diagnose psittacosis. Bacteria can be recognized, and laboratory tests can detect infection symptoms. In addition, this condition responds favorably to specialized antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion

In the conclusion of “Diarrhea In Cockatiels: What To Do?” by BestForPets (bestforpets.org), you should be able to prevent recurrent diarrhea if you adhere to the aforementioned suggestions in addition to veterinary care and advice.

Ensure that your cockatiel’s living conditions are optimal. Always keep its habitat clean and provide it with premium food. Minimize rapid changes so as not to excessively stress your pet bird, and remove any potentially dangerous substances from its habitat.