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Conure Healthcare
Healthy conures live for a fairly long time—as many as 15–45 years (depending on the species) with proper care—but many succumb at an early age to easily preventable illnesses. By learning to recognize the signs of illness in your bird, creating a safe household environment for him, and choosing a good avian veterinarian, you can make your conure less likely to become ill and more likely to recover in the event that he does.
Finding a Vet
An avian veterinarian has experience with recognizing and treating illnesses particular to birds, whose bodily systems are far different from those of other pets. You can locate an avian vet in your area by contacting the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) or the American Federation of Aviculture (AFA). You can also ask for a recommendation from the store or breeder from whom you purchased your bird.
What to Look for in a Vet
When researching a potential veterinarian, visit the office to determine if you would be comfortable taking your conure there. The following are some steps to take when considering a veterinarian.
- Find out the office hours and what the office’s policy is in the event of a medical emergency.
- Make sure that the office is clean, and talk to the staff members to see if they are friendly and efficient.
- Determine whether the vet is open to your questions and concerns, and find out if she has a great deal of experience with birds. It’s an especially good sign if she owns a bird herself.
Checkups
Once you acquire your conure, make an appointment within the first three days to see an avian vet near you. This well-bird checkup will ensure that your bird is healthy and will also begin your relationship with the vet. Following that first visit, take your conure to the vet at least once a year, around the same time each year. This will enable the doctor to weigh the bird and perform some routine tests that will show any changes and indicate potential problems.
Signs of Illness
Like most birds, conures often hide their illnesses until the effects are quite advanced. This is because a bird in the wild who shows signs of illness is vulnerable to predators and so tries to behave as normally as possible for as long as possible. Your conure still has that same instinct.
Knowing what to look for in an ailing conure will help you recognize an illness early, which is key to successful treatment and a speedy recovery. If you see any of the following symptoms in your bird, contact your veterinarian so that she can decide on the best course of action.
- Change in attitude: A health problem could be present if your conure seems listless and is not behaving in his usual manner.
- Change in droppings: If the droppings are discolored, and there has been no change in diet (such as feeding beets or blueberries), this can be a sign of illness. Also, if there’s a pungent odor, or if the droppings seem far more liquid than usual, call your veterinarian immediately.
- Debris around the face or feathers: This indicates poor grooming or regurgitation, both of which are potential signs of illness.
- Discharge: If you notice runniness or discharge from the eyes, nostrils, or vent, illness may be present.
- Excessive sleeping: An ill conure may sleep too much, especially during the day. Sleeping with his feathers fluffed up on the bottom of the cage is particularly significant.
- Fluffed-up appearance: If you notice that your conure is fluffy, he may be trying to maintain his body temperature in an attempt to fight off an illness.
- Lameness: If your conure can’t use his feet or hold up his head, there’s definitely something wrong. If you notice lameness in your conure, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Loss of appetite: You should know how much and what types of food your conure is consuming each day. If you notice that he is not eating or is eating less than usual, he could be ill.
- Panting or labored breathing: These symptoms may signify a respiratory illness or overheating.
- Seizures: If your conure is flailing in his cage, and there is no sign that he is caught in parts of it or in a toy, place him in a safe carrier and take him to your veterinarian immediately.
- Severe change in feather quality or quantity: If your conure starts to lose feathers in patches, or you notice him shredding feathers or picking them out, contact your vet.
Stress
Just like humans, conures can suffer from stress, which can lead to health problems. For example, a conure in a tiny cage that’s placed in a drafty area will undergo a great deal of stress due to his environment. A lack of exercise can also stress your bird or cause him to become obese. Provide spacious living quarters so that your bird can fly, and make sure that his environmental conditions are ideal to keep him less stressed, healthier, and happier.
If you notice that your bird has started shaking, screaming, pulling his feathers, or sleeping poorly, he may be stressed. Others signs include diarrhea, a loss of appetite, and sitting up as tall as he can on his perch to appear thin (an instinctual behavior that protects him from predators in
the wild).
Household Dangers
The average home can be extremely dangerous for a curious conure allowed out of his cage. Without proper precautions, your pet will manage to find his way into things you never imagined with potentially serious consequences. The following are some of the most common household dangers and what you can do to protect your pet from them.
Common Household Products
Keep all household cleaning items, such as soaps, drain cleaners, laundry detergents, and floor and bathroom cleansers, away from your conure. Items commonly kept in a garage (fertilizers, pesticides, and barbecue products, for example) are also dangerous for your pet. Refrain from using air fresheners, fabric fresheners, or scented candles around him as well because these and other substances sprayed into the air can cause severe respiratory distress or even death.
If you notice that your conure is in distress for no
apparent reason, check for gas leaks or other fume-causing agents, such as scented candles, incense, fireplaces, or heated nonstick surfaces.
Other Pets
For the safety of all animals in your home, supervise your pets whenever your conure is out of his cage. Also, alert other family members when he’s out of the cage in case other pets are in the house. Don’t allow your conure to run around the floor of your home because another pet might think that he’s a toy.
A dog can pose a huge threat to a conure. A small nip from a dog, even in play, can be enough to kill your bird. A cat is an even bigger danger and should never be trusted, even for a moment, around your bird. A cat doesn’t even have to bite to kill a conure. Cats have bacteria on their claws and in their mouths that are extremely toxic to birds. One scratch from a cat can kill a bird within hours unless you seek immediate veterinary treatment.
Nonstick Cookware and Appliances
A home with birds in it, no matter where they live in the home, shouldn’t contain nonstick cookware. All nonstick cookware, even when heated on low levels, emits an odorless fume that can kill a bird within a matter of moments.
Many items other than pots and pans can have a nonstick surface: heat lamps, portable heaters, irons, ironing board covers, stovetop burners, broiler pans, cooking utensils, Crock-Pots, coffeemakers, curling irons, and many other common objects can pose a danger. Even a well-ventilated room isn’t safe when nonstick items are used. For the sake of your bird’s health, get rid of any items in your home that have a nonstick surface.
Standing Water
Standing water is a strong temptation for a bird because he may want to drink from it. However, he can fall into water that is too deep for his size. A conure can easily drown in a toilet, a fish tank or bowl, a fountain, a full tub or sink, a large water glass, or even a pot of water boiling on the stove. Keep all exposed water covered at all times when you allow your conure out of his cage, even if you think he can’t get to the water.
Toxic Houseplants
Even one bite of a toxic plant can have serious consequences for your conure. Research any plants you currently have or plan to add to your home, and make sure that they are safe for your conure to nibble on.
| Text & Photos Copyright © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
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