Parrot Health Concerns
Parrots can have specific health concerns that should be kept in mind if choosing to bring one into your family. Birds are more susceptible to health issues, due to their bodily functions, compared to other animals often kept as pets. Most health concerns in parrots are from diet or environmental causes, but some are genetic. It's important to understand the risks and signs of all potential issues. Only a few are listed here.
Avian Bornavirus
Avian bornavirus is single strand RNA virus that targets the nervous system. Many birds with this virus don't show any signs and live normal, healthy lives. If a parrot does have this virus and it happens to cause illness, some signs might include difficulty perching, walking, flying, or abnormal behaviors and movements. Because this virus affects the nervous system, it can present differently in each bird. A large concern in birds with bronavirus is the development of Proventricular Dilation Disease (PDD), which is a fatal disease caused by bornavirus. Signs of PDD include undigested food in feces, excessive regurgitation, diarrhea and weight loss. There is no known cure for boravirus, and no "usual" treatment. Managing symptoms with your vet will be the best course of action if your bird tests positive for this virus. Prevention is our best hope with our current understanding of this virus. To prevent bornavirus in your birds, make sure to ask any breeders/rescuers if their birds have been tested for the virus, as it is thought to be transmissible. When bringing home new birds, make sure to quarantine them and have them visit an avian vet for an exam and any other necessary medical care before allowing them to interact with other birds or other animals. Click Here to learn more about Avian bornavirus from The Schubot Center for Avian Health.
Pacheco’s Disease
This disease is caused by a herpes virus and is usually fatal for parrots. Although this virus does not usually present itself in captive bred parrots, it is good to be aware of it as it is highly transmissible from bird to bird. All it takes is one bird to carry this disease into a large facility - every bird would then be exposed and at risk of death. This disease is not associated with many signs of illness which can make it hard to treat. It is not common for this disease to be diagnosed prior to the birds death, however, some oral medications can be administered to other birds in the same facility if another has died of Pacheco's. Because of its' transmissibility, sanitation of everything an infected bird has had contact with and all surrounding areas is critical.
Psittacosis
Nuts and seeds should be a very minimal part of your birds total daily diet. When they do get nuts and seeds, keep in mind the size of your bird. All birds have strong beaks but the larger the bird, the stronger their beak (in-shell walnuts and brazil nuts are for large macaws, not love birds). Most birds should have some type of in-shell nut offered to them that they can crack open on their own, as in the wild, parrots spend a lot of their day searching and working to get their food. Some popular nuts and seeds include: walnuts, pine nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, and more!
Sources
Birchard, S. J., & Sherding, R. G. (2006). Avian Infectious Disease. In Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice (3rd ed.). essay. Retrieved 2025, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/pachecos-disease.
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​Mencio, C. (2023, January). Avian Bornavirus Frequently Asked Questions: The ABV FAQ. Schubot Center for Avian Health. ​
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The Parrot Society UK. (2020, October). Common diseases of parrots. https://theparrotsocietyuk.org/site/index.php/parrot-information/veterinary-advice/common-diseases-of-parrots/
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Rich, G. (2022). Pacheco’s virus infection in birds: VCA Animal Hospitals. VCA Animal Hospital. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pachecos-virus-infection-in-birds
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Starks. (2014, March). Avian Bornavirus. Lone Mountain Animal Hospital. June 13, 2025, https://lmah.net/avian-bornavirus/