Common Signs of Stress in Birds

While it is often difficult for bird owners to tell whether their pet is sick, as birds commonly hide signs of illness, it is even harder for most bird owners to tell if their pets are unhappy or stressed. Birds can certainly feel these emotions and hide them until these feelings become so extreme that they are manifested either physically or through behavioral changes. Birds can express unhappiness and stress in several different ways.

How can a bird owner tell that their bird is stressed or unhappy? Here are some common signs of stress and unhappiness in their pet birds:

1 - Biting

While many bird owners misinterpret birds’ biting as an act of aggression, this behavior is often a sign of stress and fear. Birds will frequently bite and lunge to try to protect themselves when they are afraid. Since biting also may be a sign of pain or discomfort in birds, a bird that suddenly starts biting a lot should have a complete veterinary examination to ensure there is no underlying medical problem for this new behavior.

2 - Screaming

Depending on their species, a bird will make loud noises. However, a sudden increase in screaming and screeching may indicate that a bird is stressed, unhappy, or bored. Just as biting can be indicative of pain or discomfort, so can screaming. Thus, any bird that suddenly starts screaming should be checked out by a veterinarian to ensure there is no underlying medical issue for this behavior.

3 - Decreased vocalization

While screaming can indicate underlying stress or unhappiness in birds, so can decreased vocalization. Birds that suddenly start to vocalize less may be stressed, unhappy, bored, or ill. It is imperative that any bird who suddenly vocalizes less be examined as soon as possible to make sure that there is no medical cause for this change in behavior.

4 - Feather picking

Feather picking is a very common outward manifestation of stress and boredom, particularly in larger species, such as Eclectus parrots, cockatoos, and African gray parrots, but this is also seen in smaller birds, including Quakers parrots and lovebirds. Some birds will start picking as a result of an initiating cause, such as loud noise or the occurrence of construction in the house. They may even continue to pick even when that initiating stimulus is gone. Feather-picking birds should have a thorough medical examination by a veterinarian that includes blood work to help rule out other causes of illness.

5 - Self-mutilation

Some very stressed or unhappy birds will go beyond feather-picking to the more extreme manifestation of chewing on their skin or even dig deeper into muscle and bone, causing severe trauma. These birds must not only be examined by a veterinarian immediately, but also be started on anti-psychotic medication and/or fitted with an Elizabethan collar (the “cones” that dogs wear) to prevent them from doing further damage while the owner and veterinarian try to figure out what’s going on.

6 - Stereotypical behaviors

Some species, but especially cockatoos, manifest stress as stereotypical behaviors such as pacing, toe-tapping, and head swinging. Often, birds perform these behaviors to stimulate themselves because they are bored. While these behaviors may be harmless, they can be a sign that the bird is unhappy, and owners should pay attention to these actions before they progress to more destructive activities such as feather-picking or self-mutilation.

7 - Decreased appetite

Birds that are so stressed that they are depressed may eat less and ultimately may lose weight. Since decreased appetite can also be a sign of medical disease, birds whose appetites change should be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian to make sure they aren’t hiding an underlying illness.

Related articles: 5 Steps to a Better Bird Welfare for ideas

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5 Steps to Better Bird Welfare

#1 Fresh Food

Provide a healthy and varied diet—not just seeds, but grains, beans, vegetables (cooked and raw), formulated pellets, and some fruit. Harmful foods for birds include chocolate, avocado, highly processed or overly salted foods, human junk food, and caffeine.

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#2 Flight

Think outside the cage. Provide your bird with daily exercise and ample out-of-cage time, preferably in a safe, supervised environment. For day-to-day life, give your bird the largest enclosure possible.

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#3 Fun

Provide toys and enriching activities. No more boring, barren cages. Birds love toys that can be chewed up, so this means buying or making bird toys frequently.

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#4 Flock

Provide plenty of socialization with other birds and/or human caretakers. Birds are social flock animals. In the wild, they are rarely—if ever— alone.

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#5 Freshen Up

Birds need access to water for bathing. Some birds prefer to bathe in a shallow dish while others will enjoy being misted with a water bottle. There are also some that may enjoy perching in a cool human shower.

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Can Pet Insurance Help Fight Pet Cancer?

Is pet insurance worth it?

This is a very common question from pet owners, and there is no “right” answer. It really is a family decision. But consider another question that may help you get to that answer:

If your pet experienced a medical emergency tomorrow,

do you have the financial means to treat them?

As a veterinary cancer care provider, we often see uninsured pet owners struggling with this very question. It is not uncommon for pet owners with the desire to treat their pet’s cancer forced to make medical decisions based not on what is best for their pet – but on what they can or can’t afford. In the most tragic of situations, euthanasia may be the only financially viable option. This can be a truly heartbreaking decision for any family.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in older dogs and cats. The sad reality is that there is a 50/50 chance that your beloved dog or cat may develop cancer.

In many cases, however, cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Cancer care for pets is evolving with new medical advancements presented every year. New treatments such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are opening doors to treat cancers that were previously untreatable. Therefore, just like in human medicine, there is a need to prepare financially for your pet’s veterinary care. With pet insurance on your side, you will be able to focus your decision on what’s best for your pet without carrying the burden of finances on your shoulders. Pet insurance can provide the freedom of not having to choose between your pet and your wallet.

Is pet insurance worth it? If your pets are cherished members of the family, you want to be able to provide the best care for them, and you don’t have the financial means to cover treatment – then yes, pet insurance is absolutely worth it.

How much does cancer care for pets cost?

Similar to human health care, the veterinary profession has doctors that have chosen to undergo additional education and training to be board-certified specialists in a specific field of medicine. Veterinary oncologists, who are specialists in diagnosing, staging, and treating cancer in pets, provide veterinary cancer care. Veterinary radiation oncologists specialize in the use of radiation therapy to treat cancerous tumors.

Specialty care requires board-certified specialists and advanced equipment to perform the latest procedures. And as medicine continues to advance, pets are receiving better care and living longer. However, with a higher level of care comes at higher costs—making it all the more important for pet owners to carry insurance for their pets.

The costs of treating pet cancer vary depending on each individual patient’s treatment plan. Some patients may only need SRS to treat a cancerous tumor. Other patients might need a combination of treatment options like surgery and ongoing chemotherapy. As such, costs vary widely but can easily add up to $10,000 or more.

Does pet insurance cover cancer care?

• As long as your pet is covered by pet insurance before a cancer diagnosis is made, most pet insurance will cover cancer care. If your pet has already been diagnosed, the cancer is considered a pre-existing condition. No pet insurance covers pre-existing conditions. Therefore, the earlier you can ensure your pets – before they develop an illness or condition – the better.

• Most major pet insurance providers offer a variety of coverage plans. Cancer is often included in a specific plan or can be added as a rider. Most carriers cover even the most advanced treatments, subject to their individual exclusions for things like pre-existing conditions. Contact the insurance provider to ask which plans include cancer care. Make sure to check whether they cover diagnostics and testing and get a list of which cancer treatment options are covered.

Which pet insurance is right for my pet?

• This will depend on the amount of coverage you want. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want your pet insurance to include wellness care?

• Do you want coverage for integrative medicine like acupuncture or rehabilitation?

• Does the provider offer a multiple pet discount?

• Does the pet insurance company cover older pets?

• Does the plan cover diagnostic testing needed to diagnose cancer?

• Does your pet have a hereditary or congenital condition that must be covered?

• Is your pet prone to a specific condition or illness?

(E.g. Golden retrievers are genetically prone to developing cancer. German shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia. Chihuahuas are prone to patellar luxation. As we know, just because a breed is prone to a certain condition does not mean it’s exclusive to the breed. Cancer can and does affect all breeds.)

Finding the right pet insurance plan for your pet is not as difficult as it may seem, but it does require some comparison shopping. Most insurance providers are available to speak on the phone to guide you to a coverage plan that is right for your pet.

As a starting point, contact your primary care veterinarian to get more information about your pet’s health, breed (for genetic conditions) and current conditions. Your veterinarian may be able to give you more information about your pet that can help you ask the insurance providers the right questions.

My pet has cancer, but I don’t have pet insurance. What can I do?

Here are some resources you can look into.

Crowdfunding

Use crowdfunding to ask friends and family for their support. Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe are a great way to share your story, provide updates, and collect financial support. Ask your veterinarian whether you can include his or her information so people can verify that your situation is real.

Host a Fundraising Event

Plan a fundraising event. A fun way is to plan a party at your home or a nearby park. Invite friends and family and have multiple ways people can donate. Love baking? Bake small desserts people can purchase. Are you a talented Martha Stewart type? Create some crafts that people can purchase.

Look for an Organization

There are organizations and programs that provide financial aid to pet owners struggling to pay their veterinarian bills. Some organizations focus on specific breeds or pet conditions. Ask your veterinarian or your state veterinary medical association whether it can point you to an organization that might be able to help.

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Rescuing a Sick or Injured Wild Bird & Bird Safety While Fishing

You may encounter wild birds displaced by the latest bout of blistery, wet weather. As an overview, here are a quick list of temporary care instructions:

Temporary Care Instructions

• Find a medium/large-sized box and place a folded towel at the bottom.

• Ensure there are holes in the box big enough for airflow.

• Place the bird in the box and keep in a dark, quiet place.

• Keep the bird warm.

• Please don’t feed the bird.

• Leave the bird alone; don’t handle or bother it and always keep children and pets away.

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Pelican & Bird Safety While Fishing

Catch fish, not pelicans! With just a little extra attention to your surroundings, you and your pelican friends can both have a great day out on the water.

Brown Pelicans are now the most commonly sighted bird on the coasts. Pelicans eat smaller fish that are not preferred by recreational fishermen and that are not commercially important. Pelicans are protected by both federal and state laws.

With their keen eyesight, brown pelicans will spot a fish from high in the air and dive-in. It’s their specialty, after all. After surfacing, they drain the water from their pouch and swallow their catch.

Entanglement in fishing gear may be their number one enemy, leading to a slow death from dehydration and starvation. Bony fish scraps are also a killer, tearing the pouch or lodging in the throat. Feeding pelicans draws them to fishing areas and puts them in danger. Shorebirds, storks, herons, terns, and gulls are also casualties. We can all help keep our pelican friends alive and healthy.

Casting near any bird only increases the chances of hooking one.

Birds focus on the injured fish in a school, which is your lure or baited fish. Pelicans dive for fish on the surface of the water or just below it. When fishing, never cast towards any bird.

Don’t feed the filleted boney carcasses to the birds, even if they are begging for them.

Pelicans and other fish-eating birds such as herons and egrets easily digest the bones of small fish, but can be severely injured by the stronger, sharp bones of the bigger fish you have caught. Carcass bones may puncture the pouch, throat, or intestines, leading to infection and a slow, painful death.

Don’t feed your extra bait fish to the birds.

Feeding attracts birds to fishing areas, where they are more likely to become hooked. It is also illegal to feed wildlife in all state parks.

Always discard your old or tangled fishing line in recycling bins or covered trash cans.

Birds and other wildlife become entangled leading to entrapment, strangulation, starvation, loss of limb, or subject to easy predation.

Lead or zinc weighted jigs, lures, and tackle are deadly toxic.

Instead, opt for stainless steel, tin, tungsten, copper, pewter, or brass, porcelain, or stone fishing gear.

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Common Illnesses Found in Pet Turtles

What are some of the common diseases of pet turtles?

Common conditions of pet turtles include Vitamin A deficiency, respiratory diseases, abscesses, shell infections and fractures, and parasites.

What are the signs of these diseases?

Vitamin A deficiency occurs as a result of feeding turtles an inappropriate diet. The all-meat diet, or the "cricket and fruit cocktail" diet, or the "lettuce and carrots" diets are all deficient. Lack of Vitamin A produces signs seen with changes in the epidermis (outer layer of skin and mucus membranes), including lack of appetite, lethargy, swelling of the eyes and eyelids (often with a pus-type discharge), swelling of the ear (actually an ear abscess), and respiratory infections.

Most respiratory infections are caused by bacteria, and in turtles are often secondary to Vitamin A deficiency. Turtles with respiratory infections may have excess mucus in their oral cavities, nasal discharges, lethargy and loss of appetite, and possibly open-mouth breathing and wheezing.

Abscesses, commonly seen in pet turtles, appear as hard tumor-like swellings anywhere on the pet's body. Abscesses often are located on the opening of the ear in turtles. Abscesses in turtles are often related to Vitamin A deficiency.

Shell problems are often encountered in turtles. These can be infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses, or more commonly are the result of fractures of the shells. Fractured shells can result from trauma from vehicles (being run over by a motor vehicle) or from dog bites (turtle housing should be constructed to prevent access from predators such as dogs.)

Parasites, such as roundworms, are common in pet turtles. They often cause no clinical signs and are detected on an annual fecal examination. They may, however, cause diarrhea or weight loss.

How can I tell if my turtle is sick?

Signs of disease in turtles may be specific for a certain disease, such as nasal discharge in the case of a respiratory infection, or non-specific, such as a turtle with anorexia (lack of appetite) and lethargy, which can be seen with many diseases. Any deviation from normal should be a cause for concern and requires immediate evaluation by your veterinarian.

How are turtle diseases treated?

Vitamin A deficiency is treated with either oral or injectable Vitamin A. Treatment should only be done under veterinary supervision, as hypervitaminosis A, a condition resulting from the incorrect usage and over-dosage of Vitamin A, can occur. Speak with your veterinarian on how to further prevent vitamin A deficiency.

Respiratory infections are most often caused by bacteria; many of these turtles also have Vitamin A deficiency that requires treatment as well. Your veterinarian may want to do radiographs (X-rays), blood tests, and cultures to determine the cause of the infection. Occasionally, allergies can cause nasal discharge as well. Treatment for true infections involves antibiotics given orally or as injections, and possibly nose drops. Sick turtles require intensive care, including fluid therapy and force feeding, in the hospital.

Abscesses are treated surgically; the abscess is opened and flushed with a medicated solution. A culture of the abscess may be needed to determine the type of infection that caused the abscess. Topical medication and injectable antibiotics may also be used.

Shell fractures can usually be repaired by your veterinarian. Severe shell fractures may not be able to be repaired. Infections are more difficult to treat but usually involve identifying what type of organism (virus, bacterium, or fungus) is causing the problem, thoroughly cleaning the shell, and using appropriate anti-microbial therapy.

Parasites are treated with the appropriate deworming medication. The type of parasite identified on the microscopic fecal examination will determine which drug is needed.

Any disease in turtles can be severe enough to cause a loss of appetite and lethargy. When seen, these signs indicate a guarded prognosis and the need for hospitalization and intensive care, which can include fluid therapy and force-feeding.

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