Red, Swollen Parrot Eyes and Lack of Energy: What to Do

When a parrot's eyes become red and swollen, making them unable to open, it could be a simple bacterial infection. This might occur if the parrot has been scratched or pecked by another bird during a fight, or if the cage environment is particularly dirty, leading to foreign objects like feathers or sand entering the eyes and causing irritation and conjunctivitis.

However, if the parrot shows signs of listlessness, decreased appetite, and other symptoms, it may indicate a viral infection, with the common example being the parrot's singleeye cold.

Parrot's SingleEye Cold Symptoms

The symptoms of a parrot's singleeye cold may not be immediately apparent. As the infection worsens, you might notice the affected eye watering, becoming red and swollen, and producing more discharge. Over time, the discharge can become more粘稠, causing the eyelids to stick together and making it difficult for the parrot to open its eyes.

Besides the inability to open eyes due to swelling, other symptoms may include lethargy, decreased appetite, fluffedup feathers, hair loss, shivering, and difficulty standing on their feet.

How to Treat Red and Swollen Eyes in Parrots?

If the parrot's symptoms are limited to red, swollen eyes and lack of energy, you can initially treat the symptoms with medication. This includes chloramphenicol eye drops, erythromycin ointment, and hydrocortisone eye drops, alternating their use to help control the progression of the disease. For a simple bacterial infection, this treatment can often lead to a quick recovery. However, if the parrot has additional symptoms, eye drops alone may only provide temporary relief, and other antibiotics will be necessary.

Oral treatment can include mixing tetracycline with the food at a concentration of 0.02% to 0.04%, while terramycin can be effective against chlamydiosis and can also be mixed into the food at a ratio of 12g/kg. It's crucial not to increase the dosage unnecessarily, as parrots are small and fragile, and excessive medication can be fatal.

Precautions and Hygiene

Parrot's singleeye cold is a zoonotic disease with a strong potential to spread to other birds. Therefore, it's essential to take proper precautions during treatment. Wear masks and gloves when feeding and administering medication to the parrot. If the parrot's immune system is weak and it does not survive, the body should be cremated to prevent the spread of the disease to other people or animals.

For more information on parrot eye swelling, you can refer to "Causes and Treatments for Red and Swollen Eyes in Parrots."