Do cockatoo parrots contract certain diseases?
Some diseases that might concern pet cockatoo owners include aspergillosis, a fungal disease that often affects the respiratory system, and sarcosporidiosis, an emaciating disease contracted through the droppings of wild animals such as opossums. Both can be avoided by keeping birds indoors. Another disease that can strike is Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), which is caused by a circovirus that attacks the cells of the immune system and cells that produce the beak and feathers. You can ward off most diseases by following prevention measures. Quarantine new pet birds for five weeks or more, feed a good diet, reduce stress and keep your pet bird’s cage clean.
