Dave
New member
- Jan 30, 2006
- 54
- 0
- Parrots
- 1 pet CAG--1 pet TAG--1 pet YC Macaw--2 pet Quakers--3 prs of breeder greys--not pets
Fecal droppings consisits of 3 parts: the feces, the urates, and the urine. The feces are the dark, solid parts that consist of food waste from the digestive tract. They can vary in colour and consistency depending on the diet. Well formed tubular, dark green feces are usually produced by birds on seed diets. Birds that are fed pellets produce soft, loose brownish feces, while those from a parrot that has eaten beets, berries, or treats containing food dyes may be brightly coloured. The urates are the creamy white portion of the dropping perculiar to birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They are a waste product of the kidneys and often appear suspended in the urine or wrapped around the feces. The urine is the clear, colourless liquid that surrounds the dropping. The amount of urine in the dropping depends on the birds water consumption (including moisture from fruits and vegetables), as well as it's emotional state. All of the body wastes collect in a single area called the cloaca, which means sewer in Latin. The external opening of the cloaca is the vent.
The following changes in your birds dropping should be monitored and your avian vet should be contacted if they continue for more than a few days:
Urates yellowish or greenish in colour instead of cream or white - Indicates illnes such as liver desease.
Urine greenish in colour instead of clear - May indicate liver disease.
Increased urination with properly formed stools - This id polyuria, not diarrhea, and is usually a sign of increased water consumption. A bird that eats lots of fruit and vegetables will naturally produce more urine, but one that consistantly drinks more water than seems normal could have diabetes or liver problems. It is normal for an excited or frightened bird to produce droppings that are mostly urine.
Odorous droppings - Fresh droppings have little or no odour. A change in smell should be brought to your avian vet's atention.
Blood in any part of the droppings - Blood in the droppings may indicate heavy metal poisoning or other serious problems. The bird should be evaluated immediately by an avian vet. Note: Owners have been fooled by coloured dyes in the birds food or coloured ink in the cage papers that can cause the apperance of bloody droppings. It's always a good idea to use black and white newspaper.
Scant, black, sticky droppings - Usually means the bird has not eaten in at least 24 hours and should be seen by an avian vet as soon as possible.
Foamy, bubbly droppings - May indicate gas formed by certain types of bacteria.
Feces have a runny consistency - Diarrhea is an increase in the water content of the feces and could indicate gastrointestinal tract infection or intestinal parasites.
Passing whole seed in droppings - May be a symptom of disease or intestinal parasites.
A pile of droppings in one place - May be an indication that the bird is not as active as usual. Owner should increase observation to be certain that all is well.
A decrease in the total number of droppings - The bird may be eating less. Owner should increase observation.
The following changes in your birds dropping should be monitored and your avian vet should be contacted if they continue for more than a few days:
Urates yellowish or greenish in colour instead of cream or white - Indicates illnes such as liver desease.
Urine greenish in colour instead of clear - May indicate liver disease.
Increased urination with properly formed stools - This id polyuria, not diarrhea, and is usually a sign of increased water consumption. A bird that eats lots of fruit and vegetables will naturally produce more urine, but one that consistantly drinks more water than seems normal could have diabetes or liver problems. It is normal for an excited or frightened bird to produce droppings that are mostly urine.
Odorous droppings - Fresh droppings have little or no odour. A change in smell should be brought to your avian vet's atention.
Blood in any part of the droppings - Blood in the droppings may indicate heavy metal poisoning or other serious problems. The bird should be evaluated immediately by an avian vet. Note: Owners have been fooled by coloured dyes in the birds food or coloured ink in the cage papers that can cause the apperance of bloody droppings. It's always a good idea to use black and white newspaper.
Scant, black, sticky droppings - Usually means the bird has not eaten in at least 24 hours and should be seen by an avian vet as soon as possible.
Foamy, bubbly droppings - May indicate gas formed by certain types of bacteria.
Feces have a runny consistency - Diarrhea is an increase in the water content of the feces and could indicate gastrointestinal tract infection or intestinal parasites.
Passing whole seed in droppings - May be a symptom of disease or intestinal parasites.
A pile of droppings in one place - May be an indication that the bird is not as active as usual. Owner should increase observation to be certain that all is well.
A decrease in the total number of droppings - The bird may be eating less. Owner should increase observation.
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