How to Treat Polyoma Virus in Conures

Polyoma virus is a deadly illness that infects many species of birds, including conures. Young birds are the main casualties of this disease, but older birds can also die from it. However, some adult birds develop immunity and then become carriers of the disease. There is no known treatment for the illness, but infected birds should be isolated and made as comfortable as possible. Prevention methods include buying birds from a reputable source, disinfecting cages to prevent transmission of the virus, and getting your birds vaccinated.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Identifying the Symptoms

  1. Anorexia, loss of appetite, and weight loss are all symptoms of polyoma virus in birds, but these are also general indications of poor health in birds. Keep track of your conure's eating habits by checking your pet's food bowl every day when you change it. Take note of how much food has spilled out onto the bottom of the cage to make sure that your observation is accurate.
  2. Observe your conure's movement and activity for signs of the polyoma virus. Listlessness and paralysis are both symptoms of the illness, which require careful observation to identify. Conures are generally very playful and active birds, so it should be easy to note if your pet is moving less than usual. [1]
    • Difficulty breathing is another symptom of polyoma that might restrict your conure's mobility.
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  3. Check the liner of your bird's cage for signs of excessive urination or diarrhea. The liner will appear more wet or soiled than usual if this is the case. Both these symptoms can be attributed to polyoma virus, but are cause for concern either way and are reason to contact your veterinarian. [2]
  4. Observe your bird everyday for physical signs of polyoma. Note that once the disease has become visible, it has already progressed extensively and your pet is in danger. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately if you see: [3]
    • A swollen abdomen.
    • Bleeding (hemorrhages) below the skin.
    • Feather abnormalities (e.g., lacing or flying feathers).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Dealing with an Infected Bird

  1. Confirm that your bird is infected with polyoma virus by visiting your veterinarian, preferably an avian veterinarian. The vet can conduct tests and determine right away whether your conure is suffering from the illness. Though there is no known cure for the virus, ask your veterinarian for advice about how to care for your conure after the diagnosis. [4]
  2. If you have multiple birds, quarantine your infected bird right away in its own cage. Remove your other birds from their shared cage and disinfect it with an oxidizer, as well as everything in it. Bring all the other birds to the veterinarian to be tested for polyoma, and return them to the cage once their tests are confirmed to be negative.
  3. While some infected birds do recover from polyoma virus, most die from the condition. Do your best to keep your conure comfortable by giving it soft toys or blankets to rest under. Ask your veterinarian if any of the symptoms can be eased with supplements. [5]
    • For instance, your veterinarian may administer vitamin K injections to your conure to deal treat mild hemorrhages.
    • Large birds like conures may live up to 140 days with the illness, but young birds may pass away as early as 2-15 days after contracting it.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing the Disease

  1. When purchasing a conure, choose a reputable store or breeder. Ask whether polyoma virus testing and vaccination are performed on the birds as well as their parents, which should always be done as part of a responsible breeding process. Never buy a conure that is not yet weaned from its mother, and do not trust any merchant who tries to sell birds that prematurely. [6]
  2. Many disinfectants are not strong enough to kill all traces of the polyoma virus. Use an oxidizer (such as chlorine bleach) to clean your bird's cage, food bowls, toys, perches, and anything else it comes in direct contact with. Dilute half a cup (125 ml) of chlorine bleach with a gallon (approximately 3.8 L) of water to make a cleaning solution. [7]
    • This process should also be completed if your conure is treated for polyoma.
    • Keep your bird in another cage in a separate room while disinfecting its cage.
    • Make sure to keep the bird’s cage as clean as possible as well and remove any feathers that the bird loses since the virus can spread through feathers.
  3. There is an anti-polyoma vaccine available for young birds but its effectiveness is not yet proven. Ask your veterinarian if your conure should be vaccinated. Note the treatment costs $40-60 per bird, and requires annual booster shots.
    • The vaccine is administered in a double dose. The first is given to birds at four weeks of age, the second at six to eight weeks of age. [8]
    • Adult birds can also be given the vaccination, although polyoma is more common in younger birds.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/neurological/c_bd_Polyomavirus
      2. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/neurological/c_bd_Polyomavirus
      3. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/neurological/c_bd_Polyomavirus
      4. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/neurological/c_bd_Polyomavirus?page=2
      5. ↑ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/polyoma-virus-infection-in-birds
      6. ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/pet-birds/viral-diseases-of-pet-birds
      7. ↑ https://www.petco.com/content/content-hub/home/articlePages/01/bird-cage-cleaning-daily-weekly-and-monthly-bird-cage-maint.html
      8. ↑ http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/neurological/c_bd_Polyomavirus?page=2

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      If you suspect that your conure may have polyoma virus, look for symptoms such as loss of appetite, listlessness or paralysis, and diarrhea. You may also notice that your bird has a swollen abdomen, unexplained bruising, or missing feathers. If you notice these symptoms, take your conure to the vet for testing. While your conure is sick, keep it quarantined away from other birds. Unfortunately, most conures do not survive a polyoma virus infection, so do your best to keep your bird comfortable while it is ill. For example, give it soft toys to cuddle with and a blanket to rest under. Scroll down for more advice from our Veterinary Medicine co-author, including how to prevent polyoma virus infections.

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