My Eurasian dove has blood in its stool again. What should I do?

Hello. Blood in the droppings is not normal. This could signify an serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or reproductive tract since birds have a single common opening for all 3 systems (the cloaca). Other possible causes of blood would be a retained or broken egg, heavy metal toxicity, foreign body, trauma, or a bleeding tumor. Whatever the underlying cause, it is potentially serious and requires a thorough assessment and treatment by a veterinarian. One thing I have seen is birds that have recently eaten red berries or other red food may pass droppings that may resemble blood. If Angel hasn’t recently (within 12-24 hours) eaten anything very red, then i would take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Good luck.

Thanks for your question, and I am so sorry about your loss. It is never easy to lose a member of the family. From the photos that you sent, it looks like your budgie was very sick. In the photo of her before she passed away, she appears very fluffed and sitting low on your head. These both are indicators that a bird doesn’t feel well. Since they are prey animals, they are very good at hiding their illness, even from their family members like you. The blood in the droppings could have originated from numerous areas in her body. These include her intestinal tract, her urinary tract, and her reproductive tract. With an issue in any of these areas, she could have had problems that were severe enough that they could have led to her death. I am so sorry again for your loss - she was a very cute bird.

Sky might be a bit stressed out from the change, but that cage looks pretty nice and roomy! I'd put new paper down on the floor of the cage that is easy to see droppings on so that you can monitor for any more signs of blood in the stool, as well as examine Sky if he'll let you to check for any injury such as a broken feather or break in the skin. If he seems to be acting normal and healthy, and you don't see any more blood in the stool or on the body, wouldn't worry too much. if the blood continues in the stool, a vet checkup to rule out issues such as parasites is always a good idea. If you see an injury on the body, stopping bleeding with styptic powder and then keeping the area clean and free of debris can help, however if you notice a broken blood feather or severe injury that isn't healing, having a vet take a look is best.

Hi and thank you for this question, Blood in the feces can be serious. This could be the result of local lesions in the area of the cloaca, problems of the reproductive duct, gastrointestinal infections and many other causes. Rico needs to be examined by a vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Penny and including pictures. The photos are a bit blurry and a red stain can not be identified. One of the more common causes of red stains, is a broken blood feather and minor bleeding. Most birds will take care of this themselves. If you believe your bird is sick, it is important to take her to a veterinarian. By the time they appear ill, it can be quit advanced. Good luck.

Intestinal parasites, infection, foreign body, tumors or inflammation can all cause bloody droppings. Have him examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds to diagnose the underlying cause. Make sure something in his diet is not being mistaken for bloody droppings.

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.