CocosMomma
11-20-2008, 09:10 AM
What is quarantine?
Quarantine (http://www.birdbreeders.com/articles.aspx?articleid=11) is a practice, recommended by veterinarians, reputable breeders and bird advocacy and rescue organizations such as The Gabriel Foundation (http://www.thegabrielfoundation.org/), of segregating a new flock member from the existing flock for a period of 30-90 days to ensure that the new bird does not transmit infectious disease (http://www.santaclarapethospital.com/722698.html) to the existing flock.
Is quarantine really necessary if the new bird looks fine?
Birds hide illness exceptionally well as a part of their innate survival mechanism. More often than not, a disease is passed from bird to bird before the infected bird shows any symptoms. In some instances, a bird may be a carrier and never show any symptoms or become ill, but has the ability to shed the virus and transmit it to other birds. Adjusting to a new home and family has its associated stresses, stress reduces immune system function, and conditions are ripe for the development of disease that was previously harbored without symptoms.
Quoting Dr. Ellen Cook, DVM: (http://thebirdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=63323&postcount=7)
"Whenever you introduce a new bird into the flock, you risk bringing in disease. You must calculate the odds of that risk and find out as much as you can about the source of the bird and its original flock's health."
Is it still necessary to quarantine if the pet store gives me a health guarantee?
Yes. Although a vet may certify that the bird has been tested for the major bird diseases (such as psitacossis and, psitaccine beak and feather disease as two examples), this does not mean that the bird is not harboring a respiratory disease or other illness. Psittacosis (http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/psittacosis.htm), a disease transmissible from birds to humans, has been found in birds at three pet store chains. Again, as mentioned above, the stress of adjusting to a new home presents favorable conditions for development of harbored disease.
Article: Psittacosis Found in Birds at Three Pet Store Chains (http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-news/latest-bird-news/petsmart-test-positive-psittacosis.aspx?cm_sp=InternalClicks-_-RelatedArticles-_-bird-news/latest-bird-news/petsmart-test-positive-psittacosis)
Article: Disease Leads PetSmart to Suspend Bird Sales in 46 States (http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2007/12/31/daily20.html)
MS-NBC News Report on Pet Smart (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22796930#22796930)
If I get my bird from a breeder is it still necessary to quarantine?
This would depend upon the breeder's practices. If the breeder has a closed Aviary (http://www.birdbreeders.com/articles.aspx?articleid=12), then it may be safe to not quarantine the new flock member, but it would still be prudent.
Quoting Dr. Ellen Cook, DVM: (http://thebirdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=36694&postcount=9)
" ...I usually recommend quarantine for 60 days...and that is quarantine in a different room, different air flow from the rest of house. Budgies are the worst disease carriers, with lovebirds a close second. Rule of thumb is to never buy birds from pet stores that sell either species. I would avoid buying birds at pet store and bird shows (more chance for contagious disease when you have birds from many sources that are stressed by shipping).
...some birds can carry disease for long periods of time and be asymptomatic. When stressed (like going to a new home), these birds may manifest full-blown disease. Best to get a bird from a private home or rescue that has been polyoma vaccinated and Psittacine Beak and Feathe Disease tested negative; still quarantine before exposing YOUR bird to the newcomer. There are no guarantees, but this is a way to try to make it as safe as possible for your own bird when introducing a new one. Check with your avian doc for recommendations in your particular area."
Ok, you have convinced me...(!) the next time I get a new flock member I am going to quarantine! Nothing is more important to me than my flock's health! So, what are some do's and dont's?
Do plan for and set up quarantine in advance of the new flock member's arrival.
Do place the new flock member in a separate cage, in a separate room as far away from the rest of the flock as possible, and preferably in a room with a separate air conditioning/heating system if at all possible.
Do wash your hands after handling the new bird or any item of the new bird (food dishes, toys, etc.).
Do commit to quarantine for the entire recommended period of time. The health and life of your existing flock rests in the balance. Do not end quarantine early due to inconvenience or impatience.
Do, at the end of quarantine, take your new flock member for a well-bird check up to establish a relationship with your avian vet and receive a complete exam.
Do not use a bathroom as quarantine unless it is the very, very last option. Bathrooms are high traffic areas, moist and breeding grounds for bacteria.
Do not rely on a pet store vet health certificate as proof of health and a reason to not quarantine.
Do not rely on a bird "looking fine" as an assurance of health.
Do not believe that because you have not quarantined in the past, and your flock has never gotten sick, that this will always be the case in the future. It takes only one sick bird to sicken an entire flock.
Do not abandon quarantine early because of an inadvertent breach of quarantine. The longer the exposure to contagious disease, the more likely transmission will occur. Return to the previous quarantine conditions immediately.
=============================
:heart:QUARANTINE ... It Is An Act Of Love.:heart:
Quarantine (http://www.birdbreeders.com/articles.aspx?articleid=11) is a practice, recommended by veterinarians, reputable breeders and bird advocacy and rescue organizations such as The Gabriel Foundation (http://www.thegabrielfoundation.org/), of segregating a new flock member from the existing flock for a period of 30-90 days to ensure that the new bird does not transmit infectious disease (http://www.santaclarapethospital.com/722698.html) to the existing flock.
Is quarantine really necessary if the new bird looks fine?
Birds hide illness exceptionally well as a part of their innate survival mechanism. More often than not, a disease is passed from bird to bird before the infected bird shows any symptoms. In some instances, a bird may be a carrier and never show any symptoms or become ill, but has the ability to shed the virus and transmit it to other birds. Adjusting to a new home and family has its associated stresses, stress reduces immune system function, and conditions are ripe for the development of disease that was previously harbored without symptoms.
Quoting Dr. Ellen Cook, DVM: (http://thebirdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=63323&postcount=7)
"Whenever you introduce a new bird into the flock, you risk bringing in disease. You must calculate the odds of that risk and find out as much as you can about the source of the bird and its original flock's health."
Is it still necessary to quarantine if the pet store gives me a health guarantee?
Yes. Although a vet may certify that the bird has been tested for the major bird diseases (such as psitacossis and, psitaccine beak and feather disease as two examples), this does not mean that the bird is not harboring a respiratory disease or other illness. Psittacosis (http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/psittacosis.htm), a disease transmissible from birds to humans, has been found in birds at three pet store chains. Again, as mentioned above, the stress of adjusting to a new home presents favorable conditions for development of harbored disease.
Article: Psittacosis Found in Birds at Three Pet Store Chains (http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-news/latest-bird-news/petsmart-test-positive-psittacosis.aspx?cm_sp=InternalClicks-_-RelatedArticles-_-bird-news/latest-bird-news/petsmart-test-positive-psittacosis)
Article: Disease Leads PetSmart to Suspend Bird Sales in 46 States (http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2007/12/31/daily20.html)
MS-NBC News Report on Pet Smart (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22796930#22796930)
If I get my bird from a breeder is it still necessary to quarantine?
This would depend upon the breeder's practices. If the breeder has a closed Aviary (http://www.birdbreeders.com/articles.aspx?articleid=12), then it may be safe to not quarantine the new flock member, but it would still be prudent.
Quoting Dr. Ellen Cook, DVM: (http://thebirdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=36694&postcount=9)
" ...I usually recommend quarantine for 60 days...and that is quarantine in a different room, different air flow from the rest of house. Budgies are the worst disease carriers, with lovebirds a close second. Rule of thumb is to never buy birds from pet stores that sell either species. I would avoid buying birds at pet store and bird shows (more chance for contagious disease when you have birds from many sources that are stressed by shipping).
...some birds can carry disease for long periods of time and be asymptomatic. When stressed (like going to a new home), these birds may manifest full-blown disease. Best to get a bird from a private home or rescue that has been polyoma vaccinated and Psittacine Beak and Feathe Disease tested negative; still quarantine before exposing YOUR bird to the newcomer. There are no guarantees, but this is a way to try to make it as safe as possible for your own bird when introducing a new one. Check with your avian doc for recommendations in your particular area."
Ok, you have convinced me...(!) the next time I get a new flock member I am going to quarantine! Nothing is more important to me than my flock's health! So, what are some do's and dont's?
Do plan for and set up quarantine in advance of the new flock member's arrival.
Do place the new flock member in a separate cage, in a separate room as far away from the rest of the flock as possible, and preferably in a room with a separate air conditioning/heating system if at all possible.
Do wash your hands after handling the new bird or any item of the new bird (food dishes, toys, etc.).
Do commit to quarantine for the entire recommended period of time. The health and life of your existing flock rests in the balance. Do not end quarantine early due to inconvenience or impatience.
Do, at the end of quarantine, take your new flock member for a well-bird check up to establish a relationship with your avian vet and receive a complete exam.
Do not use a bathroom as quarantine unless it is the very, very last option. Bathrooms are high traffic areas, moist and breeding grounds for bacteria.
Do not rely on a pet store vet health certificate as proof of health and a reason to not quarantine.
Do not rely on a bird "looking fine" as an assurance of health.
Do not believe that because you have not quarantined in the past, and your flock has never gotten sick, that this will always be the case in the future. It takes only one sick bird to sicken an entire flock.
Do not abandon quarantine early because of an inadvertent breach of quarantine. The longer the exposure to contagious disease, the more likely transmission will occur. Return to the previous quarantine conditions immediately.
=============================
:heart:QUARANTINE ... It Is An Act Of Love.:heart: