My 17-year-old cockatiel falls off perch. Is it old age or illness?

There is no way for us to tell you how long Pepper has to live. No one can really predict that. To get the best idea of his health you would need to have him examined by an avian vet and have some blood testing done. There are reports of cockatiels living as long as 32 years, the oldest confirmed specimen reported being 36 years old. Proper diet and exercise are major determining factors in how long a bird will live.

Pretty boy is very sick, but i couldn't tell you what is wrong based on these very general symptoms, you will need to take him to an avian vet urgently where a blood test and faecal exam will be done to determine what is the cause of the disease, then it will be possible to treat him accordingly.

Piper is definitely showing symptoms of sickness, it's hard to say what it might be as the symptoms are very general but I would strongly recommend taking him to an avian vet ASAP in order to get it checked and treated.

You really should get him to your vet for an exam. Gout is a very strong possibility. Gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in body tissues, especially the joints. Gout can cause difficulty perching due to painful swollen joints. It is a common problem in pet birds, although it is different than the disease in people. In birds, gout is often associated with kidney failure and treatment aims to address both the painful joints and the underlying disease. Other conditions can also cause a bird to have a weakened grip. Arthritis can affect the toes. Many birds develop a foot infection called pododermatitis or “bumble foot”. Nutritional deficiencies will play a role in the development of many of these conditions. Make sure your bird has no exposure to lead or zinc. Some neurologic problems cause similar signs and should be ruled out. In addition, older birds may develop tumors that will impact the ability to walk or stand. As you can see, any number of conditions can result in his difficulty with his feet. I would recommend that you start by having a physical examination performed by a veterinarian experienced with treating birds. Your veterinarian will evaluate him and make treatment recommendations based on the diagnosis.

Poko is probably ill, but i couldn't tell you what is wrong based on these very general symptoms, you will need to take him to an avian vet where a blood test and faecal exam will be done to determine what is the cause of the disease before it can be treated. i recommend having it done ASAP.

Unfortunately, without an in-person exam, it would be impossible to say. Birds are extremely good at hiding illnesses, and by the time they do show symptoms, it's usually pretty serious. I would try to schedule an appointment with a vet that can see birds ASAP. In the meantime, keeping your bird in a separated hospital cage with low perches, plenty of food and water, and kept warm can help make them comfortable and may help.

Thanks for your question, and I am sorry that this is happening to Pete! There are a number of things that can cause blood in the droppings, and many of them are treatable. I saw that Pete is a female - I’m not sure if she has ever laid eggs, but problems with the reproductive system can result in blood. Also, infections in the urinary or gastrointestinal tract can also result in blood. These are treatable, or manageable, for the most part. I would recommend taking Pete to a veterinarian as she is about halfway through her lifespan now, so she may have many years left! After an exam, your vet may recommend blood work to evaluate systemic health or radiographs. They will also make recommendations about treatments, which may include pain medications or antibiotics. Please don’t give Pete any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.