Last Updated: 28/05/2025
Find out the most common illnesses seen in pet birds and learn about their symptoms diagnosis and treatment in our Vet written guide.
Author: Dr Nicole Wynne BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets)
Reading Time: 48 minutes - long read
Although birds are a common pet, there is a misconception that they do not require veterinary care like dogs and cats. Although they don’t receive regular vaccinations, it is still important for them to get regular checkups from an avian veterinarian. These checkups can catch illness early, an important thing to do with birds as they tend to hide signs of illness until they are unable to, at which point they are often very unwell. Avian veterinarians will also be able to advise on diet, husbandry, and training, making a 6-12 monthly visit well worth your time and money.
It is also important not to delay veterinary treatment by trying home remedies or over the counter solutions, as many of these are not effective, and at worst, may make your pet worse. Treatment needs to be targeted to a particular illness, and many illnesses that birds get do not have symptoms that are specific to that illness. For example, the “sick bird look” where a bird is fluffed up and quiet can be caused by almost any disease. Tail bobbing is also not a specific symptom, and is an indicator of increased respiratory effort, which can be caused by several illnesses, or even pain.
For example, the table below shows how non-specific these symptoms can be.
Out of the several illnesses that birds can get, psittacosis, or avian chlamydia, is particularly important as it is a zoonosis, which means that it can be transmitted to humans. It is important that this disease is diagnosed and treated appropriately. Unfortunately, the symptoms are non-specific and can apply to several respiratory illnesses, and further testing is often required to make a definitive diagnosis.
Swollen eyelids
Sneezing and coughing
Green droppings
Increased respiratory effort
Weight loss
Lethargy
Diarrhoea
The severity of this disease is highly variable and can range from asymptomatic carrier individuals through to severe illness and death. Asymptomatic carrier birds will shed the infectious agent, but will not show symptoms, or may only get sick if they are stressed or unwell for other reasons. A good method of ensuring that any new birds are not bringing in this disease to a household is to get them tested for avian chlamydia before introduction. Fortunately, several veterinary laboratories in Australia have accurate and cost effective testing available for avian chlamydia, and samples can be taken and submitted by a vet. Suitable samples include blood and faeces.
The success of treatment is also variable, depending on how severely affected the bird is, their nutritional status, age, general immunity, and stress levels. There are generally two types of antibiotics that can be used, as well as symptomatic treatments to make the bird feel better while the antibiotics are taking effect. Treatment may be oral or via injection, and your vet will have you visit the clinic so that they can administer the injections.
Although any course of antibiotics should always be finished, even if symptoms fully resolve, it is even more important when treating psittacosis, as it is easy for this disease to recur.
Abnormal feathers in shape, colour, size, and development
Loss of powder down
Beak and nail deformities
Loss of feathers
Secondary infections
Sudden death in young birds
Sadly, there is no vaccine or treatment for PBFD at this stage, but it is still important to diagnose as an infected bird is a risk to other birds, and they also require the best nutrition and frequent vet visits due to their risk of getting secondary infections.
Gastroenteritis refers to anything that may cause inflammation and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system, and in birds, it is commonly infection. Ingluvitis refers to inflammation of the crop, and these two conditions often occur together. There are several types of infections birds can get, and so an antibiotic may not always be the right course of treatment. Other than bacterial infections, infections with fungal, protozoal, or parasitic organisms can also cause gastroenteritis.
Your vet will likely take a crop sample and a faecal sample to examine under the microscope to determine what kind of organisms are causing the issue, and that will help them choose the right treatment for your pet.
Regurgitation
Inappetance
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
Change in dropping colour
Lethargy
Soiled vent or tail
It is important to seek veterinary attention as soon as any concerning symptoms develop, as it is easy to miss weight loss in birds, which can quickly become life threatening. It is also important to avoid over the counter in water treatments, as they may not be the right treatment for your bird, as well as difficult to dose appropriately. Plus, in water treatments may reduce how much your bird drinks, contributing to dehydration.
Your vet will likely prescribe oral medication(s) for your bird, and they will show you how to administer them. Oral medication is not as daunting as it sounds like, and with an appropriately sized towel, all birds can be handled safely. It is important to go back for your revisit appointment at the recommended time, as this issue can commonly recur.
Pet birds are prone to all sorts of injuries, ranging from fractures to impact injuries from crashing. Other pets in the household also commonly injure pet birds. If you suspect your bird has sustained an injury, you must visit a vet ASAP, and if you are unable to get in with an avian vet on the same day, go to an emergency veterinary hospital. The bare minimum for any injury is to provide pain relief, and general practice or emergency veterinarians will be able to provide that.
It may not always be apparent what kind of injury the bird has, and so your vet may discuss further diagnostics like x-rays. They may also discuss hospitalisation to stabilise the bird if they are suffering from shock. In the worst cases, surgery may be required to provide the best outcome. If surgery is required, your vet will discuss all the risks and benefits associated with the procedure, and advise you on ongoing care, when to come back for a revisit, and any issues you may face with recovery.
Never try to bandage or treat your bird without veterinary advice, as bandages are easy to apply incorrectly, and when so, will cause much more harm than good. For example, bandages can cut off blood supply, cause improper healing or stop wound healing, and act as a source for infection.
Beak malocclusion occurs when the top and bottom halves of the beak don’t come together properly, and so start to grow too long. The excessive beak growth may also be of poor quality. This can lead to weight loss as the bird is less able to eat, and it can also lead to accidents and injury as it can get caught on objects.
Beak malocclusion can be congenital, where the bird is born with an abnormal beak, or it can also occur as a result of injury or malnutrition. Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) will also cause beak deformities. It is important to get an idea of the cause, especially if an older bird develops it after having a normal beak.
Beak malocclusion is usually treated by using a burr to shape the beak back to as normal a conformation as possible. This cannot be done at home, as improper burring can cause the beak to get worse, or even stop the beak from growing out again. It is also a very skilled job to correct a beak on a conscious parrot! Never use clippers like nail clippers or pliers, as the concussive force can crack the beak lengthways. Most birds with beak malocclusion will need correction every 2-4 months.
Liver disease is an insidious issue that is difficult to pick up as the symptoms can be very subtle. Liver disease encompasses a number of diseases including fatty liver, bacterial infection, viruses, parasites, heavy metal toxicity, and other toxins. However, the most common type of liver disease is fatty liver, and the predominant factor is an inappropriate diet high in seed.
We now know that parrots should not eat a diet that is mostly seed, and their diet should comprise of mostly pellets and fresh food like fruit and vegetables, with seed being 50% or less. Have a look at our article on parrot diets for more information, including feeding guidelines based on your parrot’s species. If your parrot has been on a high seed diet for some time, it is best to consult an avian veterinarian to help your parrot transition to a healthy diet.
Heavy metal toxicity is another cause that is preventable. This is caused by ingestion of metallic objects containing toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, zinc, or nickel. Cheap metallic toys or cages may contain these heavy metals, and so it is best to stick with high quality cages made from stainless steel, as well as natural toys made from materials like coconut shell, jute fibre, paper, and wood. Some older houses and properties may also contain lead in the soil, paint, and building materials. If you are concerned about exposure, speak to your vet about it and they will be able to help you with testing.
While symptoms of liver disease can vary depending on the cause, generalized symptoms include poor feather condition or abnormal feather colouring, feather plucking, an enlarged coelom (tummy), neurological abnormalities like seizures or tremors, inappetance, change in dropping colour, watery droppings, regurgitation, or weight loss.
Reproductive issues can be confusing and challenging to manage, and the symptoms may even look like a different disease! Common problems that affect the avian reproductive tract include excessive or abnormal egg laying, egg binding, infections or inflammation of the oviduct, testicular tumours, hormonal imbalances, overstimulation, and calcium deficiency.
Although female birds have more obvious signs of reproductive disease, male birds also suffer from reproductive issues, and both genders can display severe behavioural issues with reproductive disease. There are several factors that influence the risk of some reproductive diseases developing. Inappropriate human contact can upregulate the reproductive system, and patting or stroking the back of your bird is not recommended. Touch should centre around the head, such as head and neck scratches, or petting the top of the head. Contact to the back of the bird can mimic mating behaviours and stimulate the reproductive system. Daylength is also an important factor in governing the avian reproductive cycle. The longer the daylength, the more reproductive stimulation the bird receives. In our artificially lighted worlds, it is common that pet birds receive 16 hours or more of light a day. To maintain reproductive balance, ensure that they are exposed to no more than 12 hours a day. Items in the enclosure such as nest boxes and mirrors may also stimulate excessive reproductive activity.
Inappropriate diet is also a common factor that influences reproductive disease. Diets that are too high in calories and fat can cause obesity, which can not only complicate egg laying, but also upregulate it. Seed-only diets are the most common inappropriate diet fed to birds, and you can learn more about avian diets in our article on parrot diets. These diets are also deficient in vitamins and minerals important for reproductive health.
Symptoms of reproductive disease are varied. Egg-associated symptoms include droppings accumulating on the tail or vent, swelling of the coelom (tummy), inability to fly or climb, straining, weight loss, and lethargy. Behavioural symptoms of overstimulation include aggression, biting, increased vocalisation, feather plucking or overpreening, and increased destructiveness.
Also known as bumblefoot, pododermatitis is an inflammatory disease of the feet caused by obesity, poor perch choice, gout, chronic injury, or abrasive flooring. While reversible in the early stages, it causes permanent injury in the later stages, especially as infection starts to set in. The good news is that this disease is simple to prevent. Ensuring that your bird is on a good diet, and providing appropriate perches and other enclosure items can greatly reduce the risk of pododermatitis.
Perches should not be abrasive, and avoid grit or sandpaper perches. Abrasive or rough perches are ineffective for blunting nails, but can also injure the skin on the feet, causing cell damage and potentially infection. Perches that are too narrow are also an issue as it creates more pressure on the feet. Perches that are wide enough to allow the tips of the nails to touch the sides not only are more effective for blunting nails, but also more comfortable and creates fewer pressure points. Natural branches are the best options, and having a range of appropriate sizes is also beneficial for their feet.
An appropriate diet will reduce the risk of obesity and gout. Seed-only diets unfortunately are high in fat and low in everything else, and heavier birds place more pressure on their feet when perching. Pressure points in the feet create reperfusion injury as blood supply is cut off, then returned, over and over again as the bird perches and adjusts itself. When the blood supply is reduced, cells are damaged. Over time, this causes increased cell damage and leads to inflammation, creating more cell damage and eventually infection.
Symptoms of pododermatitis most commonly include lameness, swelling, and redness of the feet. A central necrotic area of black, dead tissue may be surrounded by a ring of inflamed and swollen tissue. Other symptoms include inappetance and weight loss.
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