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• Part 1 of 3: Recognizing signs of diarrhea
• Part 2 of 3: Go to the vet with your cockatiel
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing diarrhea

If your cockatiel is sick, it is important to identify the disease right away. However, diarrhea can be difficult to see in birds. Their feces are naturally somewhat runny as it contains both faeces and urine, so it can be difficult to tell when the feces indicate a problem. By checking feces regularly, looking for other signs of illness, and giving them proper care, you can usually quickly and effectively treat diarrhea and its underlying causes in cockatiels.

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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing signs of diarrhea

1. Watch for signs of diarrhea at the bottom of your bird's cage. If you've had the bird for a while, then you know what its feces normally look like. If its consistency changes and becomes more fluid, your bird is likely to have diarrhea.
   • A cockatiel's feces is usually a combination of clear liquid, the bird's urine, white urates (a byproduct of the kidneys), and light-colored feces. The color of the faeces can be different depending on what the bird is eating.
   • You must be able to distinguish between the urine and the faeces. If your bird's feces don't have solid faeces, your bird may have diarrhea.
   • The paper at the bottom of the bird cage should be changed at least once a week. When replacing, take the time to see what your bird's droppings look like. Knowing what healthy feces looks like can help you determine if your bird is sick.
2. Identify behavioral signs of illness. Cockatiels can often hide signs of illness well, but you may be able to spot the signs if you know what to look for. Watch for changes in behavior, such as:
   • Not taking care of the feathers.
   • Lethargy.
   • Lack of normal vocal behavior.
   • Reluctance to eat.
   • General discomfort.
3. Watch for related signs of illness. Diarrhea is usually a symptom of a specific disease, such as salmonella. If your cockatiel has diarrhea, look for other signs of physical illness. This can help you determine if your bird is sick. Some signs to look out for include:
   • Throwing up.
   • Regurgitation.
   • Discharge from the nostrils or eyes.
   • Unkempt and frayed feathers.
   • Blood in the feces, this looks black.
4. Look for possible causes of illness in your area. In some cases, cockatiels can get to things they shouldn't, if they are allowed to fly outside their cage. If you let your cockatiel fly around unsupervised, look for areas that have been visibly touched and evaluate whether certain things in that area could be harmful to your bird. Some possible dangers and poisons are:
   • Toxic foods, such as chocolate, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol.
   • Medication for humans.
   • Toxic metals, such as lead and zinc.
   • Pest control products, such as rat poison.
   • Poisonous plants, such as lilies, poinsettia, elephant ear and others.

Part 2 of 3: Go to the vet with your cockatiel

1. Have the vet evaluate the signs of illness. If you have identified physical and behavioral signs of illness in your bird, take it to the vet. A vet can determine the bird's general health and diagnose any specific problems through medical tests.
   • Tests typically performed on cockatiels are blood analysis and X-rays.
   • Common causes of diarrhea that your vet will look for include: bacterial infections, viral infections, fungal infections, toxins, dietary changes, and intestinal blockage.
2. Follow the vet's directions for treatment. Depending on the underlying disease, your vet may suggest different treatments. This can be, for example, a change in the diet, the application of medication or a change in the living environment.
   • For a severe bacterial or fungal infection, your vet will likely prescribe medication to give to your bird. This is usually an antibiotic or anti-fungal medication.
   • If your bird has a virus infection, the only way to provide supportive care is to prevent dehydration and help the immune system fight the virus.
   • Your vet may also suggest short- or long-term diet changes. You may need to change the seed feed or temporarily stop feeding your bird fruits and vegetables to get the feces back to normal.
   • In cases of severe intestinal blockage, the vet may suggest surgery to remove the blockage.
3. Provides your bird with extra warmth. When you take care of your bird at home, provide it with an extra source of heat. Sick birds lose their heat quickly. Use a heat lamp suitable for birds to help your bird stay warm.
   • Do not use a regular lamp. It cannot be used at night without disturbing the bird's sleep. In addition, certain pears produce the same toxic substances as pans with a non-stick coating.
4. Continue to monitor your cockatiel's condition. Since you are treating the bird at home, you should continue to monitor the situation. Don't expect the vet's treatment plan to fix all problems right away. Keep an eye on if the diarrhea persists and if there are any other symptoms, contact the vet if symptoms get worse.
   • If your cockatiel's situation doesn't improve during treatment, don't hesitate to take the bird back to the vet. It is important for his health that illness is treated effectively.
5. Provides clean water with a basic seed mix. Change the water often and make sure it is as clean as possible. You can give your bird the seeds you normally feed it, but do not feed it fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing diarrhea

1. Get your cockatiel checked by the vet regularly. Even if your bird is not showing any signs of illness, it should be checked regularly by the vet. Preventive care can prevent diseases that are difficult to identify, such as those that cause diarrhea, and can extend your pet's life.
   • One of the ways veterinarians can help preventively is through the identification and treatment of parasitic infections. Such infections are a common cause of diarrhea.
2. Make dietary changes gradually. Sudden diet changes are a common cause of diarrhea in cockatiels, as it messes up the bird's digestion. If you need to change your bird's diet, do it gradually.
   • Add some of the new food to the food you used to feed your bird before. Gradually increase the amount of new food over a period of several weeks until your bird is only eating the new food.
3. Keep the bird cage clean. Diarrhea can be a symptom of a variety of illnesses, so minimizing exposure to disease sources will help prevent your bird from getting sick. The most important way to keep your bird healthy is to keep its cage clean.
   • You should give the cage a quick clean daily. This involves cleaning the bird's food and water bowls and changing their contents. It is also good to change the paper at the bottom of the cage daily.
   • Your bird's cage should be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. For this you have to take out the bird and all objects in the cage. Clean all objects your bird uses and sanitize the entire cage.
4. Quarantine new birds. To prevent the spread of disease, new birds should be kept separate from the birds you already have in the beginning. Ensuring that the new bird has no disease that can spread to the other birds is very important to keeping your birds healthy.
   • New birds should be kept in a separate room for 30 days. Also keep care products, such as cleaning products and food containers, well separated during this time.