Psittacosis Treatment for a Parakeet

Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever, doesn't just affect parrots and parakeets. It also can infect cockatiels, lovebirds, canaries, doves, pigeons, poultry--and even humans. A bacteria called Chlamydophila psittaci, which is found commonly in feces and nasal secretions, spreads the disease. Birds stressed by a poor diet, erratic climate, overcrowding or moving to a new home are prime candidates for this infection. So are young birds.

  1. Symptoms

    • Left untreated, psittacosis can cause respiratory problems and death for your bird. Head to the veterinarian for an examination and a blood test if your bird shows any of these symptoms: respiratory problems, such as noisy or labored breathing, or discharge from the beak; discharge from the eyes; loss of appetite; fluffed-up feathers; tremors; unusual head positions; excess urine; or diarrhea.

    Length of Treatment

    • An initial injection of antibiotics will stop the bird from being contagious within two days, but the full course of treatment lasts about six weeks. The bacterium that causes psittacosis has a long life. A bird can reinfect itself simply by breathing an airborne form of the bacteria in its shed feathers or its dried feces. Treating the bird over six weeks eliminates this risk.

    Medication

    • Infected birds usually receive the antibiotic doxycycline. If your bird is eating enough, your veterinarian might opt for weekly injections for the length of treatment or give you instructions on how to medicate the bird at home by dosing its food or water. For parakeets, medicated millet also is an option. If the bird is not eating, it might need to be hospitalized.

    Quarantine

    • It's important to quarantine your sick bird. Birds infected with psittacosis can transmit it to other birds through their plumage, nasal secretions or feces. Keep the ill bird separate from any other birds during the course of treatment--and have your other birds tested for the bacteria immediately, even if they don't exhibit symptoms. Also, be sure to clean and disinfect the cage of your infected bird once a week during the course of treatment to kill any lingering bacteria.

    Mind Your Own Health

    • Psittacosis can be transmitted to humans if the bacteria becomes airborne through dried feces or nasal secretions. Avoid any mouth-to-beak contact with your bird, and visit your doctor if you experience fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, chest pain, headaches and other flu-like symptoms. Psittacosis in humans can cause liver disease and kidney failure, so prompt treatment is key.