Common Conure Diseases

Respiratory Signs, Chronic Depression, WeightlossAspergillosis (fungal disease), bacterial infections / pneumonia, nutritional deficiencies (Hypovitaminosis A), inhaled toxins.

Behavioral Feather Picking :  Often starts as the bird reaches sexual maturity … Feather Plucking / Mutilation

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Erythremic myelosis in conures (Haemorrhagic conure syndrome):  Have been described in Blue-crowned conures, Peach-fronted conures, Orange-fronted conures and Patagonian conures. Even though a viral aetiology (retrovirus) has been suggested, this has not yet been proven. It is believed to be triggered by calcium deficiencies together with dietary lack of vitamin K and other nutrients by possibly altering normal clotting mechanisms. Clinical signs include breathing difficulties, severe weakness, intermittent increase in urination and diarrhoea. Suggessful treatments include injectable vitamin K, vitamin D3, calcium and antibiotics. Administration of calcium can stabilise a bird’s condition.

Conure Information / Conures as Pets

Index of Bird Diseases … Symptoms and Potential Causes … Bird Health Care … Glossary of Avian Medical Terms … Medications Used in Avian and Exotic Medicine and Pharmaceutical Terms … How to administer oral medications to a bird

Pacheco’s Disease:  A systemic herpes infection often carried by asymptomatic conures.  

Polyoma Virus :  A virus thought to be frequently carried by conures. They are highly susceptible to this virus.  

Wasting Syndrome / Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) / Macaw Wasting Syndrome :  Also afflicts conures. Some of the symptoms may include undigested seeds in droppings, progressive weight loss (going light). There is no cure and no testing at present time, except a crop biopsy which detects suggestive lesions in symptomatic parrots. Low contagious factor – with transmission primarily through droppings. Although experiences vary — which may suggest mutated variations of the virus, some more contagious / active than others. With a change in diet and special care infected birds may live for several years.

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