VETS Q&A

WHAT are some of the characteristics of an ill budgie? Do budgies catch diseases/ illnesses regularly? BUDGIES hide the signs of being poorly really well, so when owners first notice something is wrong it can already be serious. If you notice any of the following signs, get your budgie to a vet straight away; watery droppings, lack of appetite, increased time spent sleeping, drinking more than usual, limping or loss of feathers. Budgies can get common diseases, just like any other pet, but they are particularly prone to respiratory infections and need very specific husbandry in order to stay healthy. I HAVE a three-year-old male black Labrador and sometimes when he gets up he limps for about 10-15 seconds, but is then fine. My daughter has two Labradors that are related to mine and one has the same symptoms but the other is fine. I’d be grateful for your thoughts on this. ONE possible cause of this is arthritis, but you need to take your dog to your vet to be checked over. If it does turn out to be arthritis, sadly it’s a condition that isn’t currently curable, but there are things that you can do to reduce the pain and discomfort and slow the progression of the disease. If your dog is overweight, it’s important that you help him slim down so there is less pressure on the inflamed joints. Low-impact exercise, such as swimming, hydrotherapy or short, gentle walks, can really help to keep joints active. Many dogs with arthritis take daily anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medicines and your vet may prescribe these. There are also supplements which can be beneficial and your vet will discuss these with you.