19 year old Cockatiel, is he sick or just old?

Question

I have a 19 - soon to be 20 - year old Cockatiel and he seems to have diarrhea quite frequently. He still eats/drinks normally and is still very happy, active, and singing. I have taken fecal samples into the vet and they have not found anything wrong or of concern. I have had a difficult time finding anyone with a tiel of this age ... is this normal digestive upset for a tiel who is about to turn 20?

Answer 1

Small, scant droppings can also occur with intestinal obstruction, as from a foreign object or a tumor mass.

Diarrhea (loose feces) is actually quite rare. More commonly you will see increased urates or increased liquid urine. (This is nearly impossible to assess on absorbent litters.) True diarrhea can be caused by parasites, bacteria, or fungal infection as well as from certain medications and foods. Changes in the amount of urine can be caused by diabetes, kidney disease, certain drugs, toxins, nervousness, and foods with high water content.

Color is also an important indicator. Feces of birds on seed diets generally have greener droppings, while those on pelleted diets have browner droppings. Pigmented foods (e.g. beets, blueberries, raspberries) can change the color of feces. Clay colored feces may indicate pancreatic disease, maldigestion, or malabsorption. Bright green feces may be found with Chlamydia, other bacterial, or viral diseases that affect the liver. Blood in the feces can be a sign of liver disease, papillomas, intestinal inflammation (infections or dietary), or egg laying problems. A change in the color of the urate to pink, red, or “chocolate milk” can be seen with lead or zinc poisoning. Lime green urates can be seen with chlamydiosis. Starvation may produce bile stained urates. Yellow-green urates can be seen with hemolysis (red cell break down) and liver disease from various causes.

Undigested food in feces can be seen with Proventricular Dilatation Syndrome. (Be sure it is not just food that has fallen onto the droppings.)

go to a differant vet that specializes in birds. Some pet stores can help u also.

Answer 2

I've had 'tiels that have lived to 21 and 22, and some that only made it to 18. Your guy certainly is getting up there - it's good to hear that he's active and happy!

Just to be sure...the vet that is doing the fecal test is an avian vet, right? Was your bird tested for both bacterial and fungal infections? Zinc, or other metal toxicity? Is there a chance that your bird is eating plants, or something else in your house, that is causing his diarrhea?

None of my birdie senior citizens developed diarrhea late in life, so that's all I have to offer. Sorry, I wish I had more suggestions regarding the cause of his diarrhea.

Hope all turns out well!

Answer 3

I meet a 'tiel once that was 28, but I'm sorry I don't remember anything about his droppings. If your vet is okay with it, I'd relax and just chalk it up to getting older...!

Answer 4

It means the bird has an upper respiratory infection and needs to see an avian vet asap. The nasal passages are clogged and expelling the secretions on top of the cere. This then drains down the back of the cloaca and can cause pneumonia and can cause death in your bird. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Wow
I've never heard of one that old.
When pets (and people) get older changes in the digestive tract lead to not being able to digest the same foods anymore.
Call a breeder. Ask what they feed baby birds and try that.
Bland and simple foods are best when pets get older, I just don't know what would be a bland bird food.

Answer 6

umm im not sure, but i do know that if the vet said its ok, its probably ok, but your vet could be only for dogs and cats and might not know anything about birds, but i would say the vet is right. i dont think its anything to worry about

Answer 7

I think he`s just old
good luck!

Answer 8

He is just old.