How to Tell When a Parakeet is Sick

To be a responsible parakeet owner means you must pay extremely close attention to any changes in your bird, no matter how subtle. Most parakeets become sick from stress or poor nutrition, but it's often difficult to tell when your bird is sick. Most birds mask their illnesses as an inherent survival instinct. Follow these steps to tell when your parakeet is sick.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Look for any changes in his behavior, such as inactivity, lethargy, changes in routine, equilibrium problems, vocal changes, inability to perch, weakness or staying at the bottom of his cage.
2. Notice sneezing, discharge from her eyes or nose, changes in eye color, swelling around her eyes or abnormal eye closing.
3. Spot signs of changes in feeding habits, such as loss of appetite, eating in excess or weight loss.
4. Note feathering problems such as discoloration, soiling of feathers or puffed up feathers for extended periods of time.
5. Pay close attention to any signs of wheezing, vomiting or open mouthed breathing while your parakeet rests. Other signs include tail bobbing with each breath or head shaking accompanied by spraying seeds.
6. Determine changes in her droppings. These include seeds in droppings, color changes or loose droppings.
7. Note any other physical changes, such as bleeding, swollen feet or joints or lumps in his body.

Tips & Warnings

• If you notice any of these symptoms, take him to the vet as soon as possible.