Enteritis

Enteritis is inflammation of the intestines. It is not a single disease but a general term for a condition that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi or spoiled food. The main sign is altered, loose droppings. Small birds have few reserves, so diarrhoea very quickly leads to dehydration and exhaustion.

• Bacteria: for example Escherichia coli, salmonella or clostridia, often due to dirty water and food.
• Viruses: some viral diseases, such as paramyxovirus in pigeons, also damage the intestines.
• Parasites: coccidia, trichomonas, giardia and intestinal worms.
• Fungi: candida, especially after long-term use of antibiotics.
• Food: mouldy or spoiled food, fruit left out too long, a sudden change of diet, unsuitable food such as bread or dairy products.
• Poisons: heavy metals, poisonous plants, cleaning products.

Stress, cold and poor husbandry make it easier for the disease to develop.

Normal bird droppings have three parts: formed faeces (green, brown or darker, depending on the food), white urates and a little clear urine. Diarrhoea means the faeces themselves are unformed, mushy or watery.

Not every wet dropping is diarrhoea. If the faeces are formed but surrounded by a lot of clear liquid, that is increased urination. This happens after eating fruit, due to stress, or with kidney disease and diabetes.

What to look out for:

• yellow or lime-green faeces and urates may indicate liver disease or a severe infection,
• dark green, scanty droppings often mean the bird is not eating,
• black, tarry droppings may mean bleeding in the upper digestive tract,
• fresh blood in the droppings points to bleeding in the intestines or cloaca,
• frothy or very smelly droppings, or undigested seeds in the droppings, are also a reason for a check-up.

Bear in mind that food can also change the colour, for example beetroot, blueberries or coloured food.

Diarrhoea is usually accompanied by a fluffed-up appearance, drowsiness, loss of appetite, soiled feathers around the vent and untidy plumage. The bird often drinks more.

Signs of dehydration:

• sunken, dull eyes,
• wrinkled, dry skin, especially on the legs,
• sticky mucus in the beak,
• weakness and inability to stay on the perch.

If, alongside diarrhoea, the bird is sneezing, has a nasal discharge or is breathing with difficulty, it is probably a systemic infection affecting several organs.

• The diarrhoea lasts more than a day, or the bird is small, young or old.
• There is blood in the droppings, or the droppings are black and tarry.
• The bird is not eating, sits fluffed up or cannot stand.
• There are visible signs of dehydration.
• Besides diarrhoea, it is vomiting, breathing with difficulty or showing neurological problems.
• Several birds fall ill at once.

The vet examines the bird and a fresh droppings sample under the microscope and, if necessary, also does a bacteriological test, blood tests or an X-ray. For the examination, bring fresh droppings in a clean container or on the paper from the cage floor.

Treatment depends on the cause and is prescribed by the vet: antibiotics for bacterial inflammation, antiparasitic drugs, antifungals for candida. Supportive care is very important: fluid replacement, electrolytes, warmth and feeding with a special formula. Antibiotics given on your own do not help against parasites or viruses and can encourage candida.

• Separate the bird from the others and put it in a warm, dark and quiet box or cage, away from draughts.
• Offer a shallow dish of fresh water and its usual food on the floor of the cage.
• Never pour water into the beak or force-feed the bird, as it can choke.
• Remove fruit, vegetables and any food that might have gone off.
• Line the cage floor with white paper so you can monitor the droppings.
• Hand a wild bird with diarrhoea over to a vet or a wildlife rescue centre, as keeping wild birds at home for a long time is prohibited.

• Change the water and wash the bowls every day.
• Keep food dry, and do not leave fruit and vegetables in the cage for more than a few hours.
• Change the diet gradually.
• Keep new birds separate for a few weeks.
• Clean the cage and feeders regularly.

Some causes of enteritis, such as salmonella, can also be passed on to people. So clean up droppings wearing gloves, without stirring up dust, and wash your hands after handling the bird.

Enteritis has many causes, but they all share the risk of rapid dehydration. Keep an eye on your bird's droppings, give it warmth and quiet at the first signs of diarrhoea, and see a vet in good time.