Sick Birds Solved!
Just like humans, birds can become sick for a wide variety of reasons. Common problems are infections by bacteria, fungi, yeast or viruses, or attack by parasites such as gut worms or mites and lice, or poor diet. In addition, injury can cause illness in birds. This article concentrates on the nutritional support we can give to all sick birds.
Two symptoms are present in most sick birds. The first is diarrhoea and the second is a loss of appetite. These two either together, or on their own, are more likely to kill the sick bird than the initial cause of the disease.
Diarrhoea
Birds suffer from digestive system upsets quite frequently. They can be caused by infection, stress or just a sudden change in diet. When birds get diarrhoea they lose large quantities of water in the droppings and as a result they dehydrate. The water lost this way also takes with it many soluble mineral salts known as electrolytes. These include potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulphate and chloride. The loss of these electrolytes is life threatening and they must be replaced urgently.
Loss of appetite
Birds have a huge requirement for regular energy intake. As a result they eat about ten times as much food, compared to their body weight, as we do. Also they don't have significant fat reserves. So a bird that loses its appetite soon finds itself using more energy than it is replacing through the little it is eating. To keep its temperature up it starts to metabolise (burn up) its own tissues so it rapidly loses weight. In only a few days a bird can drop to just half of its normal body weight.
Many birds in actual fact die, not of the effects of the bug that is attacking them, but due to dehydration or starvation!
The Birdcare Company sick bird management programmes are designed to counter these two killers and will not interfere with any medication that you or your vet may administer.
Treatment of minor ailments
Both energy and mineral salts can be provided by adding Guardian Angel to the drinking water at a dose of 1 gram per 50 mls of water. Guardian Angel contains the mineral salts essential to prevent dehydration and unique "long chain glucose polymers" (quite different to ordinary sugar or glucose) to provide long lasting energy.
These unique polymers enable the bird to benefit from a prolonged energy source, even if it only drinks twice per day. Other sugar-like energy sources (glucose, dextrose, etc.) can be dangerous for sick birds as they cause "osmotic diarrhoea" and worsen the dehydration that the bird is already suffering.
Equally importantly Guardian Angel will help your bird to fight infections throughout the body by supplying its immune system with extra special nutrients for the job.
Guardian Angel contains the beneficial bacteria and garlic extract from our BioPlus technology. This mixture will often more quickly re-establish a healthy gut flora and so speed the recovery process. Potent Brew could also be added as this unique "live" probiotic is even more powerful.
For more help and advice, call us NOW on 0845 1308600
