My toucan's droppings are bloody. What does this mean for my bird?

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.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly anti-parasite treatment may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Black, tarry, or bloody stool can indicate issues such as a GI bleed, digestive upset, or even parasites. In some cases, adding in too many fruits or veggies, or even different colored pellets within your bird's diet can also change the color of the stool, so if your bird is acting normal except for the stool change, stopping all treats and extras beyond regular food, checking for any pellets in the food that may be a similar color, and seeing if it clears up may help. If your bird is ill in addition to the color change, such as acting listless, not eating or drinking, losing weight, etc, it would be best to have him seen by a vet, so it is a good idea to try and explain this to your parents. If your bird is ill, it is very cruel of them to not provide him with appropriate medical care, or to at least seek a humane euthanasia if he is suffering and they do not wish to treat the issue.

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.

Thanks for including pictures. By the pictures, the drops of blood don't seem associated with the stool or urine. Concerns would include a cloacal infection, intestinal bleeding, a broken blood feather or another trauma. Can you restrain your bird, flip it over and have a look? A broken blood feather is rarely a serious problem. A blood feather can be gently pulled out or be left for the bird to extricate. Bleeding from the cloaca (vent) itself is an indication of a deeper concern. If your dove remains alert and eating, monitoring the situation seems plausible. If your dove shows clinical signs of lethargy or not eating, a veterinary visit is recommended.

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 your question about Astro. Red in the droppings can be caused by a number of things. The most concerning of these of course is fresh blood. I am not sure if Astro has eaten anything red in the last few hours - this would include any kind of produce, pellets, or human food that is red in color. If not, then I would recommend that you take him in for evaluation. If you have a sample of the dropping that was red in color, I would recommend taking that with you, as your veterinarian can evaluate it under the microscope to look for evidence of blood. They can also perform a thorough physical examination and then make further recommendations depending on what they find. Good luck, and I hope that Astro feels better soon!