Is my cold contagious to my parrot?

[BlueToast]

I got a cold should I be staying away from Pepper cause i don't think she understands that I'm sick.

 

[AndrewH]

It is likely that the cold virus you have can be transmitted to your bird. They are also susceptible to bacterial infections that we humans commonly get or carry, such as strep (often deadly to birds).

 

[BlueToast]

yeah Pepper is just going to have to tough it out in the cage for a few days which isn't so bad cause I keep her cage pretty well hooked up. just hope I haven't already passed it on to her. what do you do for a parrot with a cold?

 

[nofearengineer]

A good rule of thumb, barring any contrary advice you get from your vet, is what works for us humans as well.

Raise the temperature in the room a little, peace and quiet, and drink plenty of fluids. (Of course, the parrot might not play along with the "peace and quiet" thing. )

 

[BlueToast]

you mean like Theraflu?

 

[Bobby34231]

Birds cannot catch the common cold from humans, nor many other viral maladies that we are susceptible to, but as Andrew stated they are suscepible to many of a bacterial nature that also effect us and vice versa.

 

[antoinette]

Bobby is 100% correct, high five Champ
Yet we must always be careful around our feathered friends
Interesting link below, read on guys

Best Way - Natural Cold Remedy for Parrots | eHow.com

 

[AndrewH]

Consider me caught! The cold things I was passing along based on what I'd heard before. I aplogize for spreading folk lore. However, symptoms or no (feeling sick or healthy), my vet has recommended sanitizing hands before handling birds (he must be referring preventing the spread of bacteria).

As I think on it, it would be unusual for viruses to be transmitted easily between birds and humans, but I would say that it MUST be a possiblity in some instances. After all, animals are the vectors for influenza in humans (bird and swine). So, I suppose you would have to be the lucky victim of a viral mutation from a sick bird get a viral infection froma bird (or vice versa?).

 

[Bobby34231]

Some really good info in that piece Ant, thanks for the link, I always feel better when I can use natural vs chemical remedies

 

[Spiritbird]

Everyone should remember to wash wash hands. I know it may be trite but so so important. Even when you are not with a cold or other illness. I have a habbit now of washing my hands before touching Rosie.

 

[Bobby34231]

Absolutly SB, I remember a number of years ago taking a class on communicable diseaes from a clinical nurse, she had us scrub our hands with an anti-bacterial soap, we then held our hands under a light that showed the bacteria left on our hands, it showed small areas here and there of some bacteria still left, she then said, ok, don't touch anything for 5 minutes, after the 5 minutes were up we re-examined our hands and were amazed that our hands were fully covered once again with bacteria, they reproduce at alarming rates... it shows you can never wash your hands enough

 

[Spiritbird]

Right on Bobby. As a nurse I have trained other nurses the same way.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

There are always bacteria everywhere. What we think of as 'our' bodies are made up of VASTLY more bacterial cells than 'human' cells. If you eliminated all the bacteria in your body in an instant you would fall down dead in the next instant.

Viruses can go from bird to human or vice versa, but this is so rare that it is more likely that your bird will be hit by lightening on a sunny day. So unless you strap a lightening rod to your bird to wear 24/7 then worrying about your cold or flu being transmitted to your bird would be a bit foolish.

 

[nofearengineer]

Personally, I am far more worried about chemicals on my hands than germs. Stuff from working on the lawn, my boat, truck, etc.

I am also always worried about the so-called "super bugs" created by continual use of hand sanitizer and antibiotics.

Life stinks.....either way you go, it's something to worry about.