Amazon parrot

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsFat bulges on both sides of the breast, swollen abdomen, overgrown brittle beak and nails, reluctance to move, change in feather color

PreventionDo not feed sunflower seeds or peanuts routinely. Pellets as the staple plus vegetables, weigh every morning. Several hours out of the cage daily for exercise

Atherosclerosis

SignsSudden collapse after out-of-cage time or when excited, dragging a leg, open-mouth breathing, one-sided paralysis, sudden death

PreventionCaused by high-fat diet and lack of exercise. Pellet-based diet and exercise habits from a young age. Annual blood work and imaging for middle-aged and older birds

Vitamin A deficiency

SignsWhite spots in the mouth or on the tongue, swelling around the nostrils or nasal discharge, sneezing, sores on the soles of the feet, dull feathers

PreventionCaused by seed-only diets. Daily dark-green and orange vegetables such as carrot, pumpkin and komatsuna. Switch to pellets

Chronic hormonal behavior / egg binding

SignsFemales: swollen abdomen, straining, crouching on the cage floor. Males: more biting, screaming and regurgitation

PreventionLimit daylight to 10–12 hours and do not stroke the back or rump. Give no nest boxes or dark spaces and cut high-fat foods

Aspergillosis

SignsVoice change or loss, audible breathing, open-mouth breathing, tail bobbing with each breath, loss of energy and weight

PreventionVentilated, dry, clean environment. Discard old seed and moldy food. Do not leave damp bedding in place

Feather plucking / screaming

SignsPulls feathers from the breast or legs, chews skin, screams for long periods. Triggered by boredom, loneliness or hormones

PreventionDaily play with foraging toys and chewable wood. Keep owner interaction time consistent and do not rush over in response to screaming

Bite injury (to people)

PreventionDo not reach in when you see threat displays during breeding season. Do not let the bird on your shoulder; keep it at arm or hand height. Do not bring it near your face

First aidRinse under running water for 5 minutes or more and apply pressure. Deep wounds, deformed fingers or bleeding that will not stop: go to a hospital. Face or eye wounds: go to the emergency room

Wing or leg fracture

PreventionClose curtains and windows and turn off ceiling fans during out-of-cage time. Check bar spacing so legs cannot get caught in cage gaps

First aidIf a wing droops or a leg cannot be used, do not splint; put the bird in a small box to limit movement and keep warm. See the vet the same day

Beak damage / chip

PreventionDo not provide overly hard metal toys or chewable electrical cords. Choose a cage design where the beak cannot catch on the bars

First aidApply light pressure to bleeding with clean gauze. For a chipped tip, switch to soft food and see the vet the same day. A crack at the base means the emergency (after-hours) animal hospital

Burns / scalds

PreventionDo not cook during out-of-cage time; put away stoves, pots and hot drinks. Do not place incandescent bulbs or heaters near the cage

First aidCool the area with room-temperature water for 10 minutes; do not apply oil or ointment. Burns on the feet or mouth affect eating and walking, so see the vet the same day

Psittacosis

RouteInhaling dust from dried droppings or feathers, mouth-to-mouth feeding

PreventionDampen droppings before they dry and clean them up. Wear a mask when cleaning. If a person develops fever or cough, tell the doctor you keep a bird

Salmonellosis

RouteHands, food dishes and water dishes contaminated with droppings

PreventionWash hands after handling. Wash food and water dishes daily; if washing in the kitchen, keep them separate from tableware

Bacterial infection from bites

RouteBacteria entering deep wounds from a strong bite

PreventionRinse under running water immediately after a bite. Swelling, heat or pus: go to a hospital. People with diabetes need particular care

Bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis

RouteLong-term inhalation of feather dust and dropping powder

PreventionAir purifier and frequent ventilation. Anyone with persistent cough or shortness of breath should tell the doctor they keep birds and get tested

Food

• Pellets as the staple (about 10% of body weight, morning and evening)
• Dark-green and orange vegetables (komatsuna, carrot, bell pepper) every day
• Fruit and nuts only as treats. Do not feed sunflower seeds routinely

Water

• Replace with fresh water daily. Change during the day too if fouled by food
• Use both a bottle and a dish; change at least twice a day in summer

Toys & play

• Replace destructible wooden blocks and coconut toys daily
• Prevent boredom with foraging toys that hide food
• Do not give toys that trigger hormones, such as mirrors or nest boxes

Nest, bed & hideout

• Do not keep a nest box or dark hideaway, as they encourage hormonal behavior
• Cover with a cloth at night to ensure around 12 hours of darkness

Bedding & litter

• Line under the grate with newspaper or paper towels and change daily
• Wood chips and sand are unsuitable; they cause dust and accidental ingestion
• White or plain paper is preferable so droppings are easy to check

Cage / housing material

Stainless steel or heavy iron that withstands a strong beak. Any coating must be non-toxic

Size & space

At least 80 cm wide, with room to spare even with wings spread. Bar spacing around 2 cm

Layout

• Two or three natural-wood perches of different thicknesses at different heights
• Place food and water dishes away from directly under perches to keep droppings out
• Arrange toys leaving space to hop between them; do not overcrowd

Placement notes

• Place in the living room where the bird senses the family; avoid the kitchen and bedroom
• Put it against a wall out of direct sunlight and away from direct heating or air-conditioning drafts

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Allow 2–3 hours out of the cage daily for walking, climbing and flapping exercise
• Before letting the bird out, close windows and doors and put away pots, houseplants and electrical cords
• Do not let it on your shoulder. Handle below chest height to prevent face bites

Temperature & humidity

Temperature20–28°C. Keep sick or elderly birds at 28–30°C

Humidity50–60%. Dry air harms the airways and feathers

Summer & winter

• In summer, avoid direct sunlight and keep below 28°C with air conditioning. Watch for heatstroke
• In winter, keep above 20°C with a pet heater and thermometer, and use a cover

Nail trimming

Let natural-wood perches wear them down. Have the vet trim them if overgrown. The quick is thick and cutting too short bleeds heavily

Brushing, skin & coat care

Mist 2–3 times a week or offer a shallow bathing dish to control feather dust and dryness. Increase nutrition and warmth during molt

Other care

Let the beak wear naturally by chewing hard wood or bone. Overgrowth or asymmetry suggests liver disease; see the vet

Protection from predators

• Never let the bird out in the same room as dogs or cats. Cat claws and saliva are a lethal source of infection
• Do not take it onto the balcony or outdoors. Crows and raptors will target it
• Mosquitoes transmit avian pox, so check window screens in summer

Foreign-body ingestion

Chews up and swallows metal pieces, electrical cords and houseplants. Zinc or lead poisoning is life-threatening. Vomiting or green droppings: see the vet the same day

Being stepped on

The bird habitually walks on the floor, so always check your feet during out-of-cage time. If stepped on, suspect a fracture, limit movement and see the vet the same day

Getting pinched

Fingers or tail get caught when doors open and close. Do not leave doors open during out-of-cage time, and say the bird's location out loud before closing

Falls

Obese or clipped birds hit the keel or beak when they fall. If the bird does not move or is bleeding after a fall, keep warm and see the vet now

Escape

Strong flier that shoots straight out of a window. Make locking up before out-of-cage time a habit. If it escapes, call its name, put the cage and food outside, and notify the police and the public health center

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving and say "let go" in a calm, low voice
2. Gently rock the bird's body, or offer a perch or toy with your other hand
3. Bring the bird close to the floor or a perch; once its feet touch down, the beak usually releases
4. Once released, return it to the cage and avoid contact for a while to let it calm down

After the release

Rinse the wound under running water for 5 minutes or more and apply pressure. Deep finger wounds, face or eye wounds, or bleeding that will not stop: go to a hospital

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Daily morning weight log, paper with droppings, diet details, registration certificate or proof of purchase, time of onset and circumstances

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and watch for eye and foot responses. Count breaths by tail movement
• Normal is about 20–40 breaths/min; heart rate is fast at 150–300 beats/min
• Put your ear to the chest or rest a finger lightly on the keel to feel the heartbeat

Stopping bleeding

• For nail or beak bleeding, press with clean gauze for several minutes and use styptic powder
• For wing or skin bleeding, apply pressure; do not pull out blood feathers, see the vet
• If bleeding will not stop or the bird is limp, see the vet now

Transport

• Cover the carrier with a cloth; wrap heat packs in cloth so they never touch the bird directly
• Remove the perch, lay a towel to reduce jolting, and carry without talking to the bird