Umbrella cockatoo dust?

[Melissa2010B]

Umbrella cockatoos are the dustiest of birds, right?

Here's what I'm wondering. Someone is 62 years old and over half their lung capacity is used up. They've had heart problems, one silent heart attack with a little damage, and a heart stent, and another partially blocked artery in the heart. They see a cardiologist and the doctor is concerned that maybe they're developing high blood pressure in the lungs. They didn't even know it was possible to get that, when their BP is ok generally, but the doctor says it is.

The question is, can umbrella cockatoo dust either cause that or be a serious contributor to it? Is that a danger to the person?

 

[HRH Di]

I honestly don't know for sure, however....We just rescued a 10 yo U2 from a couple who had to give him up due to the wife's respitory disease. Granted she's been a heavy smoker for decades, but her doctor said Popcorn's dust was aggrevating her condition, it didn't give her the disease.

There are diseases that breeders or people with a lot of birds can get, but I think that has more to do with the droppings than the dust.

 

[greycloud]

The dust can definitely exacerbate lung problems! I would definitely run an air filter and limit the person to exposure to the bird. The persons health is most important and rehoming may have to be done.

 

[Birdamor]

Actually, the disease that breeders, bird rescuers, zoo workers and petstores employees get is caused by the dust or dander. It's called bird breeders lung (it has a lot of other names but this one is the most common) but it doesn't happen with just one bird because you need continuous exposure to a lot of dust for it to happen.

On the other hand, anybody who has a limited lung capacity should be very careful of the air quality they breathe and old people usually have reduced pulmonary function so I agree with Greycloud that a good air purification system is in order. And, in reality, anybody who has a bird should have one for the bird's sake so this will benefit both the old person and the bird.

 

[Melissa2010B]

The cardiologist is concerned about high blood pressure in the lungs, though this person keeps their house below 70 all year around and this seems to really limit the dust that the too generates.

 

[Mel]

High blood pressure in the lungs is called pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) pressure in the lung arteries can become elevated usually from constriction or hardening of the arteries or due to diseases such as emphysema which can make it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the lungs to oxygenate it.


I recently adopted a sulfur crested and I'm quite amazed how much dust she generates - I'm not sure if Umbrellas produce the same amount but if they do you need to be careful. As suggested get an air filter, I find daily spraying my too with warm water seems to help also vacum daily and if need be wear a face mask when cleaning & if neccesary when handling the too may help as well.


I think ultimately the owner of the bird will need to decide if the too is exasperating the problem & if so what steps to take next

 

[Caroline]

My umbrellas do produce an extreme amount of dander and can share my personal experience.

I got two babie umbrellas and within 3 years I was diagnosed with asthma as a result of being allergic to thier dander. If I am away from the birds, the asthma goes away. Long story short, for 12 years I have battled this; and the ups and downs of medications, crazy cleaning routines and feeling guilty that I cannot interact with the birds as much as they need.

I am now working to rehome them in the best interest of all of our health.

 

[Mel]

My umbrellas do produce an extreme amount of dander and can share my personal experience.

I got two babie umbrellas and within 3 years I was diagnosed with asthma as a result of being allergic to thier dander. If I am away from the birds, the asthma goes away. Long story short, for 12 years I have battled this; and the ups and downs of medications, crazy cleaning routines and feeling guilty that I cannot interact with the birds as much as they need.

I am now working to rehome them in the best interest of all of our health.

Such a tough & heartbreaking situation for you to be in. Good luck finding them a home, after 12years no one can say you didn't try.

 

[Caroline]

Thanks Mel...That was good to hear

 

[AndrewH]

My Umbrella produces dander, but not not as much as I've seen in other birds. It could be that bathing her keeps the dander in check (she gets completely soaked every 1-2 weeks).

 

[Bobby34231]

I see Caroline hasn't been on in a couple weeks, anyone know how she made out in re-homing her two Too's?

 

[Larrythebirdman]

The Truth Cockatoo Dust vs Macaw?
I am a professional trainer, Certified Avian Spe******t, ex-Breeder, and behaviorist. What I say here is with knolwedge and experience.
Hello My Parrot loving friends. I have to post some knowledge here to try to KILL the runaway Rumor before it gets any worse! I am sad to see these comments about Cockatoo Dust. Most are misleading and without merit. One sign of a healthy Cockatoo is good dust. They do have dust and some have more than others. The Dust is NOT Poison to other birds. The rumor that a Macaw will die if it is in the same room with a Cockatoo is NOT TRUE! I can tell you that if these birds are in the same room and the dust is heavy, they SNEEZE!! That is the normal reaction and it clears their nares! (nostris). Now, there is a problem in some birds that comes through the dust. It is called psittacosis. it is transferred through the nares in nasal discharges or through other bodily fluid that becomes atomized and airborne. It can be spread in this way and the birds that have it usually have lime green stools and nasal wetness and sneezing. It can be fatal to very young birds. Young as in not feathered yet or possibly just feathered. It can rarely be transferred to humans. Personally, I have worked with thousands of birds and have had it twice. I made me have a low-grade fever, weakness and will not go away on it's own. I had it the first time for about a month before I found out what I had. You have to be given an antibiotic to kill it. It is almost impossible to figure out which bird has it. (unless you have one). It will not clog up your lungs with dust! It will not clog up your nostrils! It certainly will not make your Macaw die because of the dust! Get yourself an Ionizer, it will knock the dust from the air. I do not mean the junk that is advertised on TV. Look at an Alpine or other air pro like natures way. Please help stop the rumor? I hope you find my knowledge helpful!
Larry

 

[braswell]

thanks to all . I have a U cockatoo named Sunny . The love of my life. The family is trying to blame her for my breathing problems but the doctor says years of farm dust, second hand smoke ,and general pollution are as bad if not worse . He recommends a good dust collector for all homes . also everyone should check if their immune system is low on selenium which will aggravate lung conditions too . (The humans not the birds) I use baby wipes on Sunny every day and she loves it and it keeps her feathers in good condition too . Thanks again Larry for your post I am taking it to my doctor too .

 

[Mare Miller]

Mi Amigo, produces so much dust that it was affecting HIM! I use an air purifier, clean cage daily and vacuumed daily. He sneezed a lot and had a watery discharge coming from his nares, not constant but one to two days a week. I took him to the vet, around March, and she wanted me to give him saline drops in his nose, twice a day. He didn't like it but I did it.

The weather was warming up about this time, so he was outdoors more and by early May, not even in at night. His sinus issues disappeared! I swear it was caused by his dander!

I would imagine someone with respiratory issues would suffer from cockatoo dust, also!