Georgia Agriculture Dept. Quarantines

Some Pet Stores Due to Psittacosis

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is quarantining PetSmart stores in the state and a Superpetz store in Martinez due to psittacosis, a bird disease that can be transferred to humans, Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced today.

Psittacosis is a bacterial disease that primarily affects parrots, parakeets and other members of the parrot family. It is treatable but can be fatal to the birds. Only in rare cases does it infect poultry. The disease produces flu-like symptoms in humans, but it does not respond to treatments for the flu. The disease is especially dangerous to the young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or those taking chemotherapy for cancer.

"We have had two confirmed cases of psittacosis at PetSmart stores in Hiram and Woodstock . There have also been confirmed cases at the dealer, Preferred Birds of Milton, Florida, that supplied birds to all the stores we are quarantining," said Commissioner Irvin.

"PetSmart had already begun a quarantine, but the quarantine did not meet all state requirements. We are requiring PetSmart and Superpetz to move the birds away from the public and to begin using medicated feed to treat the birds. The quarantine will last 45 days or until released by our State Veterinarian," said Commissioner Irvin.

The quarantine applies only to birds sold at the stores, not to other animals.

If you purchased a bird from PetSmart or the Martinez Superpetz and have concerns about its health, please contact your veterinarian, or if you have concerns about your health, contact your health care provider or local health department. Source: Kathy Heaton

COCKATIEL SHOW
And Bird Fair
MAY 3, 2008
10:00am to 4:00pm
Kendall Community Church of God
8795 SW 112 St
Miami FL 33176

The Florida Association of Cockatiel Exhibitors
An Affiliate of the American Cockatiel Society

Presents our Spring Cockatiel Show and Bird Fair
ACS Panel Judge
Mr. John Franchak

Come and enter your cockatiel!
Check-in starts at 8:30am
Judging begins at 10:00am

Rare Cockatiel Exhibit
See The
EMERALD COCKATIEL

Bird Supplies, Seed, Baby Cockatiels
Prizes, Grand Raffle, Lotsa Fun!

More Info? Call 305-609-0563

Greedy parrot suffers a death by chocolate

By REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post | Thursday, 20 December 2007 New Zealand

If you thought you had a problem with chocolate, just be glad you're not a parrot.

One kea's binge session on dark chocolate proved deadly, leading international journal New Scientist has reported.

The kea was found dead outside a hotel kitchen in Mt Cook village. It had eaten more than 20 grams of dark chocolate, presumably stolen from a rubbish bin.

When Massey University wildlife pathologist Brett Gartrell opened its stomach, he found it stuffed with "sticky brown gunk".

"He'd really pigged out."

An earlier report on the kea's death in New Zealand Veterinary Journal noted that the bird concerned had previously been involved in behavioural tests of problem-solving ability.

It had been in good shape before its binge session.

The New Scientist article said other veterinary journals are full of tales of animals dropping dead after eating chocolate.

It explains that cocoa beans are rich in caffeine and its chemical relatives, collectively called methylxanthines.

They are highly toxic to some animals. Just 240 grams of dark chocolate could kill a German shepherd-sized dog.

But human beings have less to worry about because of the speed at which our bodies metabolise theobromine - the most common type of methylxanthine in chocolate.

"Based on caffeine toxicity, an average adult would have to gorge on around 50kg of chocolate in a single sitting to get anywhere near a lethal dose."