There may be many illnesses that could come along in your parrot’s life, and some of those illnesses can be life threatening. However, before you jump to grab those antibiotics every time your bird gets sick, you need to keep in mind a few things.

Antibiotics are not the cure all solution for all bird illnesses, just as they are not for humans. Antibiotics are only helpful with infections. If your parrot does have an infection, however, there can be a great deal of help from antibiotics. You just need to know how to properly treat the bird.

The first thing that you will notice is that an avian veterinarian will not immediately prescribe an antibiotic to the bird. This is because birds are much like humans in that they can build up a resistance to the medications if they are over prescribed. Because of this, the medications should only be prescribed when they actually need them.

Suspect Your Parrot is Sick?

If you suspect that your bird is ill, start by looking over it. Do you see any discharge from the nasal passages? Does its skin look pink and healthy? Are its feathers in good repair? Is it eating, drinking and eliminating properly? If you have looked over the bird and it seems healthy, then chances are there is nothing wrong. However, since a bird cannot tell you its symptoms, if you notice anything off about its health and behavior, then you will need to take it to the veterinarian.

If the veterinarian does prescribe antibiotics, then there is something very important you must remember. You will need to give the bird the medication exactly as prescribed. No matter what, you should never alter the way the veterinarian told you to give the bird the medication. This is for very important reasons. Antibiotics work in a certain way, and if you do not give the bird the full course of the medication, then it could actually become even more ill than it was in the first place.

Another good thing to remember is that birds can become dehydrated when they are sick, especially if they are on antibiotics. It is important that you make sure your bird is getting enough hydration. You may wish to speak to your veterinarian about mixing the antibiotics with a hydration liquid like Infalyte or apple juice. By doing this, you can make sure your parrot is getting its medication as well as getting its hydration.

Antibiotics can be very helpful for your bird if it has an infection. However, it is important to make sure you never over medicate your bird. This is because their bodies can build up a resistance to the medication and they may not receive the help from the antibiotics that they need should they fall ill later. When you suspect your bird is ill, be sure to take it to the veterinarian and ask about medications. No matter what, always give the bird the antibiotics just as the vet prescribed in order to make sure that the medication works effectively.