James Harris, DVM
Bad breath signals bad health
 My Poncho is a 20-year-old greenwing macaw and I am without means to take her to a vet. She has an extreme amount of mucous running out of her mouth all the time and also has an odor, but otherwise seems healthy. I had her on poultry antibiotics that you give chicks. I saltshakered it onto a peanut butter cracker for almost six weeks. She seemed 100 percent better but now she is back to the same condition. I am very worried, please help me.
-- Regina, rboles25@aol.com
 MUCOUS AND ODOR from the mouth are symptoms of a serious health problem. It's a bad idea to give your bird antibiotics without knowing what's causing her problem - and it's impossible to diagnose the underlying cause without a proper physical examination and some laboratory tests.
Please make an appointment for your bird with an avian veterinarian and do not give it any medication for at least five days before the examination. If the veterinarian finds infection, he or she will do a culture to identify the agent and test it against the various medications available for treatment. Antibiotics must be matched to the infection and administered in amounts high enough and long enough to eliminate the infection. Misusing antibiotics can cause resistant strains of bacteria to develop.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
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