My toucan's droppings are bloody. What does this mean for my bird?

Hello. Blood in the droppings is not normal. This could signify an serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or reproductive tract since birds have a single common opening for all 3 systems (the cloaca). Other possible causes of blood would be a retained or broken egg, heavy metal toxicity, foreign body, trauma, or a bleeding tumor. Whatever the underlying cause, it is potentially serious and requires a thorough assessment and treatment by a veterinarian. One thing I have seen is birds that have recently eaten red berries or other red food may pass droppings that may resemble blood. If Angel hasn’t recently (within 12-24 hours) eaten anything very red, then i would take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Good luck.

This is probably due to bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, this can be caused by various reasons (bacterial, fungal, parasites, toxicity), you must take Angel to an avian vet ASAP in order to get it treated.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly anti-parasite treatment may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Black, tarry, or bloody stool can indicate issues such as a GI bleed, digestive upset, or even parasites. In some cases, adding in too many fruits or veggies, or even different colored pellets within your bird's diet can also change the color of the stool, so if your bird is acting normal except for the stool change, stopping all treats and extras beyond regular food, checking for any pellets in the food that may be a similar color, and seeing if it clears up may help. If your bird is ill in addition to the color change, such as acting listless, not eating or drinking, losing weight, etc, it would be best to have him seen by a vet, so it is a good idea to try and explain this to your parents. If your bird is ill, it is very cruel of them to not provide him with appropriate medical care, or to at least seek a humane euthanasia if he is suffering and they do not wish to treat the issue.

Thanks for reaching out about Luna and including photos. Suspected blood in the feces needs to be assessed by a veterinarian, as soon as possible. Blood in the feces could be an ingested foreign body, infection, cloacal polyps, just to list a few. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort. Good luck.

Thanks for your question, and I am sorry that this is happening to Pete! There are a number of things that can cause blood in the droppings, and many of them are treatable. I saw that Pete is a female - I’m not sure if she has ever laid eggs, but problems with the reproductive system can result in blood. Also, infections in the urinary or gastrointestinal tract can also result in blood. These are treatable, or manageable, for the most part. I would recommend taking Pete to a veterinarian as she is about halfway through her lifespan now, so she may have many years left! After an exam, your vet may recommend blood work to evaluate systemic health or radiographs. They will also make recommendations about treatments, which may include pain medications or antibiotics. Please don’t give Pete any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Red droppings are either a sign of blood or colouring from the food (any red coloured food?), if it's not a food colour then your bird has a serious gastrointestinal condition, most probably an infection, you should take Sylis to an avian vet to be checked and treated ASAP, in some cases a faecal sample can reveal the source of the disease.

Thanks for including pictures. By the pictures, the drops of blood don't seem associated with the stool or urine. Concerns would include a cloacal infection, intestinal bleeding, a broken blood feather or another trauma. Can you restrain your bird, flip it over and have a look? A broken blood feather is rarely a serious problem. A blood feather can be gently pulled out or be left for the bird to extricate. Bleeding from the cloaca (vent) itself is an indication of a deeper concern. If your dove remains alert and eating, monitoring the situation seems plausible. If your dove shows clinical signs of lethargy or not eating, a veterinary visit is recommended.

Hi and thank you for this question, Blood in the feces can be serious. This could be the result of local lesions in the area of the cloaca, problems of the reproductive duct, gastrointestinal infections and many other causes. Rico needs to be examined by a vet.

Black or tarry stool or one with blood in it could indicate an issue such as internal parasites or a GI bleed. It would be best to have your vet take a look at Willow, especially if the problem persists, as birds are very good at hiding illness until it is too late. Sometimes, dyes in treats or certain veggies (such as beets) can color the stool, however removing these items if you have fed them should return the stool to normal after a day or two -- if it doesn't, or you see signs of illness, seeking veterinary care is best.