Pets :: Birds |
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All You Need To Know About Disinfecting Your Cockatoo |
| Any new pet should be a welcome addition. To ensure this, it is advisable to put the new acquisition through a period of quarantine. In the case of cockatoos it means keeping the bird in a separate cage, far away from your other pets. The idea is to make certain that the new pet is not a carrier of any communicable diseases or parasites |
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Any new pet should be a welcome addition. To ensure this, it is advisable to put the new acquisition through a period of quarantine. In the case of cockatoos it means keeping the bird in a separate cage, far away from your other pets.
The idea is to make certain that the new pet is not a carrier of any communicable diseases or parasites. The duration of the quarantine could be anywhere between 1 and 3 months.
Ideally, a period of 60 days is enough. Quarantine is not some form of punishment. It’s the only way of making sure that your other pets are not infected because of contagious diseases or parasites that the new addition may be carrying.
When it comes to diseases, birds are innately deceptive. They make themselves look healthier than they really are to deceive predators. They do this to even fool flock-mates who may reject it because of the attention a sick bird may draw to the flock itself.
Because of this behavior often a bird is very sick before one realizes that something is wrong with it. Even experienced avian veterinarians are fooled because of this behavior.
There are eleven different types of infectious viruses. Your new pet could be a carrier of any one of these. The carrier bird may not fall sick. But it has the ability to pass the disease. Most of these diseases are airborne.
And these diseases could be contagious and even deadly. Cockatoos can be brought home from different sources. Some cockatoos might have belonged to single owners. They might have been sole pets for many years.
Such birds might be healthy. But, cockatoos bought from pet stores are likely to have diseases. Whatever be the source a quarantine will e 0sure that even if the new addition is a carrier, it is cleansed of any contagion before it is let to mingle with the other pets or taken into your living room.
Birds live in a particular environment. They are exposed to the germs there. Subsequently, they develop resistance to those germs. When a bird is taken from this environment and placed in a totally different environment it experiences stress.
Stress suppresses its immune system. In such a scenario, when it is suddenly exposed to new and different kinds of germs it might fall sick. Quarantine also helps new cockatoos to adapt to new environments.
How to Go About It
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First, select a room for quarantine. Keep the new bird away from the other birds. Contact an avian veterinarian. Subject it to a "well bird test." Many other different tests, including a blood test, may be required.
Your pet cockatoo has come to spend the rest of its life with you. Ensure its well-being.
Next, wash the cage in which the bird came home. Soak it in bleaching water for at least 10 minutes. Bleach is corrosive. And bleach spews fumes. So, keep your bird away from that room.
Disinfect the toys. Metals and plastic toys can be disinfected. Wood and raw hide toys cannot be disinfected. You will have to discard them and get fresh toys.
Observe the new bird while you are with it. Watch carefully for any signs of sickness. Look for any discharge from the eyes. Notice if it is sneezing. Check the droppings.
There may be multiple birds in quarantine. Each bird should be kept in a separate cage. The birds should not be allowed to share food bowls or toys.
Article Source: www.activehowto.com
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Posted 2007-09-03 06:42:29 By Jessica Harrison
Views: 557
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