This virus shows resistance to a number of disinfectants, heat and even environmental conditions. Chlorine can kill the polyoma (but remember to let your vet handle it). An overgrown beak calls for a vet's assistance. There could be an underlying disease, and diagnosing and treating it can be very important for your budgie's health. Control Beak overgrowth Health Care 6 reasons for beak over-growth Lower levels of activity leading to lesser wear When the upper and lower beaks do not meet properly (malocclusion) Upon mite infestation Inadequate nutrition ( such as vitamins A or D deficiency) A local cancer or a liver disease Metabolic bone disease or PBFD = = = = = = Complications Diagnosis Treatment Broken blood feather The bird has difficulty in eating, and this can lead to malnutrition or starvation. Scrapings are useful in identifying mites, cytology or biopsy carried out, if cancer is suspected, and other blood tests confirm the presence of liver diseases. Treated as per the disease or cause diagnosed. But whatever be the cause, the beak must be trimmed, and kept in shape. This is a common problem that every budgie- owner may encounter. Now, a blood feather, as mentioned before, is a new feather, and has its shaft full of blood. It could happen that this feather is broken - when your Health Care Polyomavirus in budgies causes the budgerigar fledgling disease. bird gets caught in the cage, or has a bad fall or under other circumstances. In such cases, the bird loses a lot of blood - something budgies cannot afford to. So, the blood feather must be pulled out and the bleeding stopped. You will need another person to help you out with this - so that one of you can hold the bird and the other person can pull out the feather. The person, who holds the bird, can wrap the budgie in a towel and have control on the head (so that nobody gets bitten). The bird can be held and supported, as needed. Then, using a pair of forceps or pliers, the feather should be gripped at the base, (if it is a flight feather, then the wings need support). Once held securely, the feather must be pulled hard and fast, and in its own direction. This should work. Pressure should be applied on the follicle, until the Health Care bleeding stops. (You can use some gauze swabs, for this purpose). The affected area should later be cleaned, with some antibacterial scrub. If the bleeding does not stop, call in your vet; your bird may be put on fluid therapy. An attempt has been made in this section to discuss some of the infections and diseases that can make you budgie sick, or sometimes, even prove fatal. However, to describe each and every other disease, the budgie is prone to, is simply beyond the scope of this chapter and book. This section is mainly intended to help you keep your bird safe and clean, and guide you on what you can do to help and save your pet and that is only until a vet can take a look at it. Don't try treating the bird yourself, and never take the health of your bird, lightly. |