Common Health Issues of Lovebirds

One should know the signs of healthy love birds only then he or she will understand the health signs and the health issues of love birds. Here are the signs of healthy love birds. The love bird should be active, alert, vocal and social. The eyes should be dry so also the nostrils. The love birds should drink water and eat the food regularly through out the day. The love birds should have well groomed, smooth and colourful feathers. The love bird should fly as and when the chance is provided if it is healthy. The love birds that are not well will refuse to fly even if there is a chance. Let us discuss here few common health issues of love birds.

Diarrhoea- if there is no faecal formation in the stool then you can confirm that the love bird has diarrhoea. The causes for diarrhoea in love bird may be parasite infestation and too much of fruit in the diet. One can think of reducing the fruit quantity in the diet if there is diarrhoea. But it is always better to consult the opinion of avian specialist if the love birds are found to have diarrhoea.

Feather plucking and mutilation- the love birds start plucking if there is extreme boredom. The feather plucking happens if the love birds are provided unhealthy diet. The love birds pluck the feather in an attempt to clean the feather as they are not allowed to bathe very often.

Proventicular dilatation disease- the affected love birds will show signs of depression, lose weight abruptly and there will undigested food particles in the stool. The avian specialist should be consulted at the earliest in order to save the birds.

Obesity- the causes of obesity are unhealthy diet, lack of proper exercise, poor feeding etc. The fat content of the food should be minimized. The food provided should have sufficient protein, vitamins, minerals etc. The love bird should be active as much as possible. The in house flight training is the best option as it will take care of the exercise option.

Red flags-The affected love birds will have the following signs. They will be swelling of the beak, soiled feather, coughing, wheezing, discoloured stools etc. such birds should be rushed to the avian specialist for treatment at the earliest.

Psittacosis in Lovebirds

Once you made up your mind to purchase a pair of lovebirds to your home, equip yourself with enough knowledge about lovebirds care. Do you know lovebirds are prone for Psittacosis? Yes!!! It is a respiratory infection that will affect human beings also!

So, you should seek an appointment with your vet for a check-up some-time within the first week of purchase. He will do aoutine testing for psittacosis. It is always good to discuss this matter with your vet shortly after purchase. Fortunately, this is uncommon in lovebirds.

Symptoms

The psittacosis is technically called as Chlamydiosis. The common symptoms include

• Weakness
• "Fluffed up" appearance
• Lethargy
• Loss of Appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Laboured breathing
• Eye discharge or swelling

Treatment

The best drug of choice for this condition is antibiotic doxycycline, however some newer drugs are also proving of value. But it is mandatory to discuss this matter with your vet to get final opinion about thsis dreadful disease. Although it is uncommon in lovebirds, there is every possibility of outbreak of psittacosis among your flock of lovebirds. Hence the lovebirds care against psittacosis is mandatory.