ANOREXIA AND LETHARGY
General information
Anorexia (a loss of appetite), and lethargy (a feeling of listlessness and
general inactivity), are commonly seen in sick pet birds. While not diagnostic
for any specific disease, they do indicate a severely ill bird that requires
immediate medical attention.
What are the causes of anorexia and lethargy in birds?
There are many causes of anorexia and lethargy in pet birds. These include
cancer, viral or bacterial infections, fungal or yeast infections, parasites,
endocrine or hormonal diseases, and organ specific problems such as liver, heart
or kidney failure. Some diseases such as proventricular dilatation do not have
a known cause but can produce the signs of anorexia and lethargy. Anorexia and
lethargy are not diseases themselves but indicate a serious underlying medical
problem.
Do I have to take my bird to the vet immediately, or can I just "wait
and watch" and see if he improves?
Unlike dogs and cats, birds are still "wild" pets. This means that
they still retain their preservation response. The preservation response is
something unique to wild animals. In the wild, an animal can't "act sick"
every time he feels bad. If it did, it might be killed by a predator or even
a member of his own group. The preservation response assures that a sick animal
will not "act sick" until it is really sick, and literally dying.
Birds rarely get sick overnight. Because of their preservation response, they
don't usually act sick until they are really sick. Therefore, a bird with anorexia
and lethargy is EXTREMELY ILL and requires IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Waiting
and watching will only make things worse; you may actually wait and watch as
your bird dies.
How will the vet determine what's wrong with my bird?
Because many diseases can cause the signs of anorexia and lethargy, many diagnostic
tests will need to be run. These can include blood tests, gram stains and cultures,
fecal tests for parasites, yeast, and bacteria, radiographs (X-rays), and a
psittacosis test among others. There is no one test to diagnose the many causes
of anorexia and lethargy.
The vet recommended hospitalization for my bird. Is that really necessary?
By the time many birds are seen by the vet, they are literally dying. If your
vet recommends hospitalization, it is because your bird requires the type of
critical care that cannot be given at home.
How are birds with anorexia and lethargy treated?
Treatment obviously varies with the cause of the anorexia and lethargy. In
general, many of these birds are extremely ill. Hospitalization in an incubator,
fluid therapy, force feeding, and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy are usually
indicated. If the specific cause of the illness is determined, then medications
used to treat the specific cause will be given as well.
Can I prevent any of the causes of anorexia and lethargy?
Yes! First, make sure you feed your bird properly. An all-seed diet, predisposes
birds to many of the causes of anorexia and lethargy. Second, all birds need
an annual examination and laboratory tests. Often, abnormalities are discovered
during these "routine" visits. When discovered early, treatment is
usually easy and inexpensive. There's no need to wait until your bird is on
death's door before he sees the vet. By spending just a little money each year,
you can detect diseases early and prolong your bird's life.
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