As with most birds, lovebirds are true experts in hiding their diseases, and it is that after all, this is their survival mechanism, since the sick and the weak are the first to be noticed by the predators of nature. By the time your lovebird has obvious symptoms of illness, you should see a vet immediately, as your pet will be seriously ill and likely to deteriorate rapidly unless proper treatment is given as soon as possible.

By observing your lovebird daily, you will learn its normal behavior and you will be able to notice anything out of the ordinary. Below we will show you a list of things to consider as possible indicators of disease, as well as some of the most common diseases in them. Keep reading!

The most common health problems in lovebirds

These are the most common diseases that occur in lovebirds:

  • Malnutrition: Vitamin A and calcium deficiencies are the most common health difficulties seen in these cute little birds. Since seeds are higher in fat than many other foods, many of these seed addicts are also often overweight. Vitamin A promotes appetite, digestion, and also increases resistance to infections from some parasites.
  • Overweight birds are more susceptible to: arthritis and fatty liver disease.
  • Other very common diseases are: conjunctivitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, constipation

Many others can develop from these health problems, so it is worth paying attention to the symptoms of disease that we present in the next section.

Some signs of disease in lovebirds

Severe symptoms

  • Breathing problems or abnormal breathing.
  • Tail constantly moving up and down.
  • Discharge from the beak, eyes or nostrils
  • Feathers on face and head covered with mucus and semi-digested seeds.
  • Abnormal droppings
  • Abnormal molts, PBFD, polyomavirus.
  • Bleeding
  • Head, tail or wings drooping.
  • Puffy or dull eyes.
  • Falls.
  • Certain hunched posture.
  • Lumps or swellings in the body.
  • Get away, stay at the bottom of the cage.
  • Vomiting.
  • Considerable weight loss.

Mild symptoms

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Plucked appearance, ruffled feathers.
  • Abnormal droppings.
  • Pecking or excessively plucking their own body feathers.
  • Abnormal sleep pattern (usually lovebirds sleep with one foot bent up, the head tucked under the wing, or the head turned toward the wing and with the eyes only partially closed).
  • Any change in normal activities (talking or whistling, playing with toys, grooming, cessation of interaction with other birds or humans, very different energy levels, discomfort when standing in one place).
  • Disorientation.
  • Drink much more water than usual.
  • Cage too dirty despite having been recently cleaned.
  • Head, tail, or wings drooping

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is best that you do not hesitate and take your pet to be examined by a veterinary professional as soon as possible.