Parrot - Airborne Pollutants

Many cases of respiratory disease in parrots are caused by airborne pollutants. This can take different forms:

1. An asthma-like syndrome with sudden attacks of respiratory difficulty. In many cases the airways are simply irritated, but it is also likely that some birds develop genuine allergies.
2. Infections, especially aspergillosis, a fungal infection. An inflamed, irritated respiratory system allows environmental organisms to enter and cause infection.

So, what can cause this?

Essentially any airborne particle has the potential to cause problems. However, the following are particularly important:

1. Cooking fumes – birds kept in kitchen areas are often exposed to many airborne particles especially if food is burnt and smoke is produced. However, the most important compound is PTFE – a gas that is given off when new Teflon pans are used. This is highly toxic to birds and many die each year after exposure. With more and more household items containing Teflon (irons, clothes, etc.) the potential for birds to be exposed to PTFE increases.
2. Air fresheners – these produce many airborne particles and have great potential to cause irritation.
3. Sprays – polishes, cleaners, hairspray, etc.
4. Incense, sandalwood burning and other aromatics.
5. Smoking. This is probably the major problem and many birds have problems due to irritation by tobacco smoke. One study showed that birds belonging to smokers had nicotine metabolites in their blood as if they had smoked the cigarette themselves! Even more scary was the fact that many of these smokers never smoked in the same room as their pet bird. However, they transferred tar from their hands and clothes onto the bird’s plumage and the bird then preened the feathers. Scarier still was the fact that birds belonging to smokers were 11% more likely to visit the vet each year than birds belonging to non-smokers. The solution? Ideally, give up smoking. Otherwise smoke outside in gloves and boiler suit and do not handle your bird until you have changed – smoking and birds do not mix!

Many of these problems are exacerbated by the hot dry atmosphere of centrally heated houses – don’t forget that many parrots come from humid environments. Therefore rooms containing parrots should be humidified or, the bird should be misted at least once a day.

Can airborne pollutants cause other problems?

Yes – some cases of feather plucking appear to be due to skin irritation and secondary infection. Again, hot dry atmospheres do not help but removal of airborne particles has sometimes resolved feather plucking cases.