This has got to stop

Okay, so first -- the wayward banner ad disappeared. Weird.

I got a phone call this week from one of the transplant nurses about a guy in the transplant support group. He got a kidney in Albany and his team told him that he had to get rid of his bird, no ifs, ands, or buts. She told him they tell their patients the same thing but that I've "managed" to stay healthy with three birds. So, the guy emailed me and I felt so sorry for him. He had a Moluccan cockatoo named Pumpkin that he loves dearly and misses to no end. I told him to get Pumpkin to a certified avian vet and get her checked for anything that can cross species. Then I advised him the common sense stuff: Outside is fine, but not running around on the ground, keep her away from other parrots unless it's an open-air environment, and change the cage papers often.

I'm just livid that the medical community is still so far behind the eight ball on this!!!! If the bird doesn't have psittacosis, you can't catch psittacosis from it! You know, I was in the hospital last year for a UTI and caught pneumonia WHILE I was in the hospital. They were testing me for psittacosis! GET OVER IT ALREADY!!! But yet, it's okay for a patient to have a dog that rolls around in heaven-knows-what and then jumps on you and licks you. It's okay to have a cat that'll bite with it's germy mouth and claw you after it uses the litter box. It's just ridiculous. I wonder how many other poor folks had to "get rid of" their birds, and how many poor birds are missing their humans.   

It really is a shame but I hear this a lot. Unfortunately they see them as a health threat even though there are precautions. So sad knowing how therapeutic our feathered friends are.

*Andrea scritches her therapy bird in support*

The guy emailed me back and was positively giddy with hope. My only concern is that he says the bird isn't banded. Granted, Barney and Tiki weren't either. I realize some breeders choose not to for whatever reason, but he's the bird's second owner and the bird was purchased around 14 years ago in a Texas pet store. Alarms bells are ringing loudly in my ears, but I don't think cockatoos have been imported in a long time, even illegally. Anyone know the statistics? I mean, as long as the bird gets regular testing and check-ups, and the guy uses gloves to clean the cage and doesn't wet-kiss the bird, I don't think it should be a problem. But at the same time, I don't want this guy to end up with aspergillosis, either!

Not sure what aspergillosis is, but would the vet be able to check for risk factors?

Aspergillosis is known as psittacosis in veterinarian medicine. Same bug. But even if she was wild caught, the test (I hope) should show positive or negative. I'm trying to find information on false negatives, which would be a disaster. I never worried about getting sick from mine because I knew all the breeders and where they came from. This is a little different and I don't know what to tell the poor guy.

All I know is if the bird has been exposed to smoke or unsanitary conditions they are more apt to get aspergillosis. the best way to try to avoid it is to provide a clean environment for them and avoid using things like corn cob bedding. This is caused by a fungus that is everywhere in our environment and not so healthy birds are at risk. Cockatoos are not high on the list for contracting it. But testing should still be done on a regular basis. Unfortunately Chris I do not know how likely a false negative is for this. Usually its a respiratory issue so always watch for mouth breathing and voice change and tail bobbing while breathing.