AN increase in the number of pets with the 'winter bug' has prompted a warning from veterinarians urging owners to be vigilant with their pet's health.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Exotics veterinarian at Sydney's Animal Referral Hospital Dr Jayne Weller said exotic pets, such as birds, rabbits and reptiles, had been particularly impacted by the wet weather.
"Because we had so much cold and wet weather, we've been seeing more animals coughing and sneezing from respiratory disease and other infections," she said.
"Pet owners need to keep their animals healthy by learning how to prevent diseases from starting, and how to spot the signs of illness and act quickly before the illness develops into something more serious."
During cold snaps, birds tend to acclimatise well, but when the weather suddenly turns cold and wet, our feathered friends suffer a lot more from infections because their immune systems are lower as they use their energy to keep warm, Dr Weller said.
"I see problems when owners forget to cover the cage or leave their birds outside for long periods of time," Dr Weller said.
"Also, wet newspaper at the bottom of the cage begins to grow bacteria and birds inhale it, causing fungal or bacterial infections."
Birds can also develop psittacosis, an infectious bacterial infection causing flu-like symptoms - runny nose, swollen and runny eyes - and become lethargic.
"Cleaning the cage regularly and keeping it dry, and changing the food and water every day will help to keep your bird healthy during the winter months," she said.
Dr Weller said during the winter, vets seemed to be presented with an increased number of rabbits with Gastrointestinal (Gut) Statis - when the gut stops moving and there is overgrowth of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
She said when a rabbit stopped eating and pooing for 12 hours, it was a very serious problem and could cause death. "When the weather is cooler and we get a lot of rain, we tend to see a rush of rabbits with Gut Statis. It's a strange phenomenon. It might be to do with new grass growing quickly and rabbits eating more, and changes to hay from the moisture," she said.
Signs of Gut Statis include not eating or pooing, lethargy, not moving around or having a bloated stomach.
Rabbits require hospitalisation and possibly surgery to remove massive hairballs mixed with food material which cause blockage.
As winter approaches, reptiles - such as lizards, turtles, frogs and snakes - prepare to spend the colder months in a dormant state, referred to as 'brumation' (they wake up and eat intermittently).
"But if reptiles are not in perfect health before brumation, they will often come out with horrible respiratory and skin infections," Dr Weller said.
"I advise getting your reptile health-checked by a reptile vet before allowing them to go into their winter sleep."