My pet sparrow has watery poop. Is it from apples or mealworms?

Thanks for reaching out about Phoebe and including a photo. Yes, the higher sugar in fruit could result in a thicker, mucoid stool. Eliminate fruit in the diet for the time being to see if the stool returns to normal. Bacterial enteritis, ingested foreign bodies or other diseases can irritate the bowels resulting in mucoid stool. If it persists, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Meow. Possibly this is not an infectious problem, so antibiotics and anti-fungal might not help. With an all seed or heavy seed diet, fatty liver disease is possible which will not respond to the medications. Increasing protein and vitamins in the diet could help, as could an increase in dietary fiber. An avian veterinary visit is still recommended. Good luck.

Submit a sample to your veterinarian to diagnose parasites or bacterial/fungal overgrowth. Discontinue feeding fruits and vegetables until the stool is normal, then introduce one at a time slowly. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily until his droppings are normal. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible. If he develops lethargy, loss of appetite or if the droppings don't begin to firm up in the next 24 hours, have him examined by your vet or an experienced avian vet.

Thanks for your question about Sara, and thanks for the photos as well. I would agree that the droppings do not appear normal. The feces look to be very dark, and there is extra urine present. If Sara's feces are typically dark, this can be related to diet, but when we see dark feces in birds, we become concerned that it may be digested blood (called melena). The increase in urine may occur if she was drinking a lot, but we also become concerned about stress and how the kidneys are working. This, combined with the vomiting would make me concerned that Sara is sick. Even though the signs have cleared, I would recommend having Sara evaluated by a veterinarian. The medication that you are giving currently is a vitamin supplement, but if there is something more serious going on, it will not be sufficient to treat it. Depending on what your veterinarian finds on examination, they may recommend evaluating a sample of the feces to see whether there is blood in it or not, and may recommend a blood test to evaluate the kidneys. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Sara the best of luck!

Unfortunately, those are symptoms that need to be seen in person by a vet, because they are not possible to diagnose over the internet. If multiple of your birds are having loose stools and are housed together, I would be concerned there is something going on such as a contagious illness, parasites, nutritional issue, or unclean environment. Treating for parasites and making sure all birds have access to fresh food and water and a clean environment may help. Separating out any sick birds until they recover may also help. If the problem continues, your bird(s) worsen, or they do not improve with home treatment, then you will need to find a vet in your area that can take a look at them and determine the problem.

The consistency and appearance of droppings can be affected by diet. It is possible Flint had some fruit or fluids which resulted in looser droppings than normal. If he is behaving normally, keep an eye on what he eats and his droppings. If they remain loose and larger than normal, consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. You may want to submit the droppings to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial/fungal overgrowth. It is never recommended to medicate a pet without the advice of your veterinarian. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying condition which can delay diagnosis. If Flint did have an infection that was not susceptible to the antibiotic used, then there would be no improvement. An exam would be recommended to diagnose and properly treat any infection. Your vet can also take a look at the wing feathers to rule out infection (mites, bacterial, viral, fungal). You can bathe or mist him with warm water to promote preening and healthy plumage.

Discontinue the millet temporarily. If possible, transition him to a pelleted diet. Recommended brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird, KayTee Exact or Roudybush. You can still give seeds, just limit the amount. Once the droppings normalize, supplement with fresh greens, vegetables, cooked grains, pastas and beans. Submit a sample of the droppings to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or persistent loose droppings. Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet if necessary.