Bird can make bunnies sick?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by SuperBunnyto.

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- 10/14/2017 at 10:36 PM
  SuperBunnyto
  Participant
  61 posts
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  This might be a silly post, but here it goes…
  
  Today I was out and about and I saw a man with a cockatoo. He let me hold it, and it gave me two kisses. It wasn’t until I gave the bird back that the guy mentioned that that the bird had not been feeling well. Since I was out and about, I soon forgot about it.
  
  Once I got home I served my buns their veggies as usual. I washed my hands and the veggies, of course, but I didn’t wash my face, which the bird kissed, or the part of my arm where the bird perched, and then I took a nap on my couch wearing the same clothes I’d been wearing out. Of course, curious that they are, my buns jumped right up to see what I was doing and cuddled up to me for a bit.
  
  It wasn’t until I had petted my buns and given them kisses that I remembered the cockatoo and it occurred to me that I did not know if what the bird had could be passed on to me, or the bunnies. I took all my clothes off and took a shower, but at that point any damage would be done.
  
  Instead of freaking out (which was my first response), I decided to be proactive and find my buns immune system boosters. So I guess my questions are:
  
  Has anyone ever heard or know of instances in which birds have made bunnies sick indirectly? Or am I just overreacting?
  
  Does anyone have any information on echinacea as related to bunnies?
  
  Does anyone know of other immune system boosters for bunnies?
  
  I feel silly and a bit overprotective/ overreactive asking these questions, but I absolutely love my bunnies and I’d hate to make them sick because I did this careless thing.
  
  Thanks Everyone!
- 10/14/2017 at 11:40 PM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  The only thing I can think of that a bird would be likely to pass onto a rabbit is Coccidiosis, which is a protozoan parasite. That being said, a sick bird does not always indicate that they have that. Could have been a respiratory infection, poor diet, unknown injury, beak and feather disease etc.
  
  I have a parrot and rabbits, I never had our parrot tested but she is overall healthy. Sometimes she poops in the bunny’s area and I have to be sure to clean it up quickly, she also walks on the floor in the area where the buns play. I think the chances of infection simply from having held the cockatoo would be quite slim. Try not to beat yourself up about it
  
  Wish I knew regarding the echinancea, I don’t know much about it.
- 10/14/2017 at 11:41 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17259 posts
  There may be a few things that could be passed from bird to rabbit, but they are unlikely scenarios. Salmonella or coccidia, for example. For that to happen through indirect contact though… I really don’t think so. They would have to have contact with their droppings, I would imagine.
- 10/15/2017 at 5:03 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17044 posts
  Here is a thread where echinacea for rabbits is discussed:
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/159147/Default.aspx
  Scroll down to post nr 12 and start reading there.
- 10/15/2017 at 9:28 AM
  SuperBunnyto
  Participant
  61 posts
  Thank you all for your responses!
  
  I guess I know the likelihood of something being passed to my bunnies is minor. I just freaked out for two reasons: I did research online, and I found that people can get bird fever (not to be confused with bird flu) from those “bird kisses” which started me thinking about whether it could be passed on to my bunnies. And two, while I have no problem running to the doctor if I think something is remotely wrong with my bunnies, as prey animals they are just so good at hiding illnesses! Case in point, this summer I took my buns for their annual checkup and told the doctor that I thought my big guy, Elliot, was not feeling so great. Besides a physical and full blood work, she gave him an x-ray to be super sure. I also did a physical and full blood work for my little girl, Aki. Believe or not, Elliot passed with flying colors, while Aki showed elevated white blood cell count! When I say she never appeared even remotely sick, I mean she was eating fine (even wanting doubles), pooping great, and being her normal self (which is to say, she was acting like a cantankerous old man about 75% of the time; she just doesn’t like being fussed over :-p).
  
  I will, however, look into the echinacea (thank you, Bam, for the link!) and try to find some. If nothing else, I don’t think it would hurt to add some to their diet at least once a week.
  
  I really appreciate your input!
  
  These are Elliot (left) and Aki (right)
- 10/15/2017 at 6:30 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I don’t have any additional info but need to comment about how gorgeous your buns are!!!!
- 10/16/2017 at 8:49 PM
  SuperBunnyto
  Participant
  61 posts
  Thank you, LittlePuffyTail! ?
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