Parrotfever?

[fusion200]

Ok, so I don't actually have a bird, but in the future I might get one, and I also looked at some birds in a pet store, and I wonder, ince parrotfever seems to be so common, is it only contagious to humans and birds, or can it infect rodents, cats and dogs and more? Can a human bee a carrier of the bacteria without any signs?

 

[RavensGryf]

At first I thought you meant "Parrot Fever" as in someone who loves birds and wants many LOL.
The disease called Parrot Fever is Psittacosis (Ornithosis if in non-parrot birds). I'm not sure where in the world you live, but in many countries it is not AS common as it probably once was. The GOOD news is that it is a treatable disease if caught early enough, and so it doesn't always mean a death sentence. It is considered zoonotic (can spread between species) and humans can get it and can get very ill, which is why it's taken so seriously as one of the "bad" diseases. It is said that dogs, sheep, goats, cats, horses, etc can get the disease, but can not pass it on as 'end-stage hosts'.

While Parrot Fever and the scarier viral diseases ARE out there and we hear about birds getting it, it is not SO common that you need to worry if you're taking necessary precautions.
Any time you get a new bird, especially when you don't know much about it's origins, it's a good practice to get a new bird exam from an avian vet. Some ill birds look beautiful and completely well on the outside, so getting your blood tests for diseases is good for your peace of mind, and especially if you have (or think you will get other birds).

What species of parrot are you considering? Do you have one in mind yet?

 

[fusion200]

At first I thought you meant "Parrot Fever" as in someone who loves birds and wants many LOL.
The disease called Parrot Fever is Psittacosis (Ornithosis if in non-parrot birds). I'm not sure where in the world you live, but in many countries it is not AS common as it probably once was. The GOOD news is that it is a treatable disease if caught early enough, and so it doesn't always mean a death sentence. It is considered zoonotic (can spread between species) and humans can get it and can get very ill, which is why it's taken so seriously as one of the "bad" diseases. It is said that dogs, sheep, goats, cats, horses, etc can get the disease, but can not pass it on as 'end-stage hosts'.

While Parrot Fever and the scarier viral diseases ARE out there and we hear about birds getting it, it is not SO common that you need to worry if you're taking necessary precautions.
Any time you get a new bird, especially when you don't know much about it's origins, it's a good practice to get a new bird exam from an avian vet. Some ill birds look beautiful and completely well on the outside, so getting your blood tests for diseases is good for your peace of mind, and especially if you have (or think you will get other birds).

What species of parrot are you considering? Do you have one in mind yet?

Not really a parrot, but a budgie, and I live in Europe, Sweden. Can they actually check for the parrot fever at the vets? I've heard itäs hard to diagnosise? Do humans spread it to other pets?

 

[RavensGryf]

Budgies are considered parrots .
Yes, your avian vet can order a blood test for it. Don't worry. An avian vet will know exactly what to do.

In the mean time until test results come back, just take a 'reasonable' amount of precaution such as keeping the cage and surrounding area clean daily, and washing your hands right after, and you have no other birds to quarantine from. You'll be fine.

Let me try to put it in perspective... IF this disease was so rampant and in such epidemic proportions where everyone needed to actively worry, your department of agriculture (or governing body who controls this) would surely at least put a temporary quarantine and ban on selling pet birds until the problem was managed. It would be in the newspaper and on the tv news. Trust me, a zoonotic (transfers between species) disease which can affect humans would be taken very seriously if it was popping up all over the place! As it is, it is only about as much of a risk as many other things we're faced with in daily life... For example, people do get in car crashes and die (but not enough to worry and stop driving), people do get cancer (despite trying to lower risk, but why obsess about it?), people who work certain "dangerous" jobs can lose their life (but they take precautions as best they can). There is ALWAYS a risk as these things do happen, I don't think Psittacosis is any more of a risk out there than any of these other examples. Besides, remember worst case scenario - it IS treatable with antibiotics!

Although we do hear of isolated stories of birds with Psittacosis, and other bad news diseases, it is not SO common in developed countries (such as Sweden) that you need to actively worry. Be informed about it and cautious yes, but not worry. keep us posted on your new baby when you find him/her!

 

[fusion200]

Budgies are considered parrots .
Yes, your avian vet can order a blood test for it. Don't worry. An avian vet will know exactly what to do.

In the mean time until test results come back, just take a 'reasonable' amount of precaution such as keeping the cage and surrounding area clean daily, and washing your hands right after, and you have no other birds to quarantine from. You'll be fine.

Let me try to put it in perspective... IF this disease was so rampant and in such epidemic proportions where everyone needed to actively worry, your department of agriculture (or governing body who controls this) would surely at least put a temporary quarantine and ban on selling pet birds until the problem was managed. It would be in the newspaper and on the tv news. Trust me, a zoonotic (transfers between species) disease which can affect humans would be taken very seriously if it was popping up all over the place! As it is, it is only about as much of a risk as many other things we're faced with in daily life... For example, people do get in car crashes and die (but not enough to worry and stop driving), people do get cancer (despite trying to lower risk, but why obsess about it?), people who work certain "dangerous" jobs can lose their life (but they take precautions as best they can). There is ALWAYS a risk as these things do happen, I don't think Psittacosis is any more of a risk out there than any of these other examples. Besides, remember worst case scenario - it IS treatable with antibiotics!

Although we do hear of isolated stories of birds with Psittacosis, and other bad news diseases, it is not SO common in developed countries (such as Sweden) that you need to actively worry. Be informed about it and cautious yes, but not worry. keep us posted on your new baby when you find him/her!

Planning to get them sometime the next year, we have cats, and I want to have them in the living room because havign them in the same rom as rodents isn't very good, is this possible?

 

[RavensGryf]

You can have them in the same room as rodents sure! Why not? Only thing I read about that was the rodents could escape their enclosures and attack and eat small birds? I don't think I would worry with small rodents

 

[fusion200]

You can have them in the same room as rodents sure! Why not? Only thing I read about that was the rodents could escape their enclosures and attack and eat small birds? I don't think I would worry with small rodents

I've heard it's illegal in Sweden because the sounds bothers the rodents, escpacily since I want chinchillas and those need quiet during the day, and I don't wanna risk them getting parrotfever so I wouldn't move them into my room untill I know if they have it or not, rodents are sensitive.