Like all pet lovers, bird lovers are no exception. Birds offer entertainment and companionship and can quickly become like a member of your family. Just like you take special care of your human family members, you need to take care of your bird family members. Be attentive and notice any behavior changes in your birds. Here are some symptoms that you need to be on the look out for that indicates sickness:

Diarrhea - This can be the symptom of a slight illness in your bird or more serious illnesses like Psittacosis. Your bird may have an infection and need antibiotics. Give your bird extra fluids and if the diarrhea continues be sure and take him to the vet.

Eye Discharge - There can be several reasons for your bird having a discharge from his eyes. The most serious one is an infection called Psittacosis. This disease is contagious and all birds and humans who have come in contact with the bird need to be treated. Your bird needs to be seen by an Avian vet as this infection can cause death in birds quickly.

Lethargy - There are many reasons your bird may have become lethargic - infection, liver or kidney problems, infection, heart problems, and liver or kidney problems. None of these is good and are potentially life threatening. You need to take your bird to the vet as soon as possible.

Loss of Appetite - This is a serious indication of sickness and you need to take your bird to the vet immediately. Usually by the time a bird stops eating, he has been sick for a while so whatever is causing is loss of appetite could have progressed to a serious level.

Nasal Discharge - A colored discharged is what you need to look for. Clear, occasional nasal discharge is normal. This is caused by the same things that cause it in humans - allergies, dust, and dander. However, if your bird has a constant dark or colored discharge, he probably has an infection.

If you suspect your bird has an infection, take him to the vet to get an antibiotic. Even though a clear discharge doesn't indicate sickness, it does indicate that your bird possibly has allergies or there is something in your house that is bothering him and causing a discharge. The best thing to do is get an air purifier. It will clean up the air for your bird and your entire family.

Puffed Up Feathers - This isn't a sign of sickness in and of itself. Birds will often puff themselves up for different reasons such as trying to appear larger when feeling threatened or when they're cold. If your bird stays puffed up for a short period of time, he probably isn't sick. But if you find your bird staying puffed up all day or for long periods of time, you might have a problem.

Vomiting - This isn't always a sure sign that your bird is sick. Some species of birds will vomit during mating season. To be sure, check with your Avian vet and give him the details of your birds behavior.

By being attentive to your birds and interacting with them every day, you will soon recognize each of their individual personalities. When you see something out of the ordinary, watch to see if this behavior continues. If it does, you may need to take your bird to the vet for immediate attention.