What are some of the signs and symptoms of PDD?
A bird carrying PDD may or may not show outward signs before the disease becomes critical. Dr. Hannis Stoddard cites reports of incubation lasting as long as eight years before clinical signs are exhibited, but some cases of acute outbreaks suggest that a shorter incubation period may be at play. The fact that some exposed birds remain normal is good news for the avicultural community. This suggests that continued research efforts could provide effective control measures to prevent disease. – Proventricular Dilatation Disease There are several common signs of PDD in a bird. Your veterinarian will be looking for signs of weight loss despite normal or excessive appetite, the passage of undigested food, vomiting, feather loss, abdominal distention, and impaction of the crop. The doctor will also look for neurological signs such as erratic and unusual head movements, spasms and seizures, lack of balance/excessive falling, and unusual apathy or sleepiness. Note that clinical signs like thes
