Health Concerns
Bleeding
This could be from trimming a nail back too far, a cut, or a broken blood feather. Remain calm. Getting excited will only make your 'too anxious and bleed more. If the cause is unknown, calmly attempt to have a look. Broken blood feathers are somewhat common and can tend to bleed a bit. If you can, put something such a qwik stop on it to stop the bleeding and let your cockatoo settle to slow the bleeding. This works fine for minor problems, but for serious wounds or bleeding you should call the vet. Birds can't lose a lot of blood. Just remember to stay calm.
Broken Beak, Bones
Accidents inevitably happen. A hard landing can result in a cracked beak. A small split may not require going to the vet, but a bad one certainly will, and any split will cause your 'too pain. It's sort of the equivalent to a tooth ache. You can hardly stand to eat and it constantly hurts. Offer your 'too plenty of soft foods, and talk to the vet if it seems too bad.
For broken bones, restrain the break as best you can, keep your 'too calm as possible, call your vet to let them know your coming and the nature of your emergency so they can be ready, then go. For wing breaks, take gauze and gently wrap it around your 'too to keep the wings from moving. Your vet should be able to advise you on what to do until you reach the hospital.
Illness
Signs of illness can be very subtle in us, toos. Here's a few clues to look for:
*Change of Attitude- Sick cockatoos are sometimes quiet, reserved, and may not want handled
*Stool looks different- A very green, runny stool isn't good
*'Too sits all fluffed up and seems generally disinterested in playing
*'Too suddenly drops weight- This is usually the first tip off, and it can be very sudden. Every cockatoo owner should have a good scale for their feathered friend and routinely check their weight.
Any sudden change in your 'too that lasts more than a day should be looked into. If you suspect your 'too is under the weather, make sure to keep them nice and warm with something like an infa-red light, and let them get plenty of rest. If they're around other birds, separate them to avoid spreading germs. Call the vet and get them in quickly to avoid it possibly getting worse.
Diseases/ Ailments
Bumblefoot:
Causes lameness, swelling of the foot and lesions that discharge a milky ooze. Caused by unsanitary conditions and or poor nutrition. If left untreated bird can lose toes or foot.
Cure: Vitamin A, correction of conditions
Coccidiosis
One-celled intestinal parasites that live in the mucus membranes of the intestinal tract. Causes sever inflammation of the intestinal tract, often causing bleeding, diarrhea, and weight loss. Caused by unclean housing and general poor condition
Cure: See an AVIAN veterinarian
Fatty Liver Disease:
Often seen in obese birds. Liver stores energy as fat, replaces normal liver cells. Can cause liver failure
Cure: Change of diet to pellets, plenty of rigorous exercise to lose weight
Feather Picking/ Self Mutilation:
Bird plucks out feathers. Bad cases the bird even chews it's own flesh. Can be caused by stress, boredom, sexual frustration, lack of exercise or entertainment. Often there's a root cause such as bacterial or viral infections, infestations of worms or lice, or PBFD.
Cure: Correcting any possible causes.
Lipomas:
Benign fatty tumors usually on lower abdomen. May ulcerate. Not usually fatal but may cause discomfort.
Cure: Surgery and diet restrictions to reduce tumor's size.
Obesity:
High-fat diets and lack of exercise can cause obesity. This can cause breathing and joint problems, bone stress, diabetes and heart disease.
Cure: Change of diet to pellets, plenty of rigorous exercise
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD):
Caused by a circovirus that attack the cells of the immune system and cells that produce the beak and feathers. Beak may become fragile and not repair itself, feather growth is poor and feathers don't replace themselves when they fall out. Seem to 'rot' before they fledge. Birds generally die from lack of an immune system, like aids, within months to a year of initial onset. Usually effects young birds.
Cure: Currently there is no cure for PBFD, but there is a vaccine.
Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)
A highly contagious infection that is hard to diagnose. Sleepiness, weight loss, diarrhea, inflammation of the eyes, lack of appetite. A bird diagnosed with this must reported and quarantined by order of public health. This can also spread to humans, and can become life threatening. Symptoms of a persistent flu or cold, high fever, respiratory infection. If such symptoms occur, inform your doctor that you are around a bird.
Cure: See your vet for antibiotics