Diseases and Conditions Frequently Found in Geriatric Birds
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4.1. Percentage of Elderly Birds Suffering From Specific Diseases
In 2009, Zoo/Exotic Pathology Service (ZEPS) released a summary of disease conditions found in older psittacines. The population chosen included commonly kept species. In their report, budgerigars were considered elderly at 6 years; cockatiels at 12 years; and large psittacines, such as Amazons, macaws, cockatoos, and African greys, at 30 years. The table provides the name of each species and the disease conditions most frequently seen in that species. 54 The number of birds studied and the age ranges are:
African greys: 41 studied, 30-53 years
Amazons: 168 studied, 30-86 years
Budgies: 229 studied, 6-15 years
Cockatiels: 383 studied, 12-30 years
Cockatoos 27 studied, 30-45 years
Lovebirds: 206 studied, 6-18 years
Macaws: 66 studied, 30-60 years 54
4.2. Diseases of Old Age in Commonly Kept Species
|
Species |
Tumors |
Liver Disease |
Inflammatory Skin Lesions |
Heart Lesions |
Gonadal Degeneration |
|
Budgerigar |
66.8% |
5.7% |
3.5% |
3% |
4.4% |
|
Lovebird |
34.4% |
10% |
22.8% |
11.2% |
5.3% |
|
Amazon |
35% |
8% |
5.9% |
8.9% |
3% |
|
Cockatiel |
49.6% |
10% |
7.8% |
8.6% |
2.3% |
|
Macaw |
37.8% |
7.5% |
6% |
15% |
0 |
|
Cockatoo |
29.6% |
3.7% |
11% |
7.4% |
0 |
|
African grey |
34% |
7.3% |
2.4% |
19.5% |
0 |
|
Species |
Chronic Kidney Disease |
Systemic Inflammation |
Pneumoconiosis* |
Xanthoma |
|
Budgerigar |
0.9% |
7.9% |
3% |
2.2% |
|
Lovebird |
0 |
8.7% |
1% |
2.4% |
|
Amazon |
0 |
24.4% |
8.9% |
5.3% |
|
Cockatiel |
5.7% |
5.5% |
2.3% |
5.2% |
|
Macaw |
3% |
21.2% |
22.7% |
3% |
|
Cockatoo |
3.7% |
29.6% |
0 |
3.7% |
|
African grey |
2.4% |
19.5% |
9.7% |
0 |
|
*A disease of the lungs due to inhalation of dust, characterized by inflammation, coughing, and fibrosis (chronic scar tissue) (table courtesy Reavill and Dorenstein).54 |
See Appendix A for an excerpt from Susan Clubb’s study of elderly macaws
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