Proventricular Dilation Disease PDD

PDD (Proventricular Dilation disease)

PDS (Proventricular Dilation Syndrome)

Psittacine Wasting Disease

Macaw Wasting disease

These are some of the names used for this devastating disease, fortunately its still rare in aviaries, and rarer still in single bird homes. The incubation period for the spread of this disease between birds is still not clear and reports of between a few months to a few years has been indicated. Thought to be a virus that attacks the Proventricular, central nervous system and sometimes the intestinal tract, its very difficult to make a 100% diagnosis without exploratory surgery. It can also be confused with other ailments as symptoms are similar, such as mega bacteria, heavy metal poisoning, E. coli, and Candida to name a few, as said before usually surgery (biopsy) of the Proventriculus is required.

This disease mainly infects psittacines, mostly Greys and Macaws but any psittacine is susceptible, symptoms of PDD is usually commenced with regurgitation/vomiting, a lethargic bird, looks generally unwell and passes whole seed in faeces, rapid weight loss, seizures, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite are also indicative.

Treatment of various types have been tried, but has so far only prolonged the life of the bird for a while with the inevitable happening in the end. Good bio security must take place in aviaries with extended quarantine periods for new additions to prevent this fatal disease entering the aviary.