Causes and Treatment of Neck Twisting in Parrots

Parrot with a twisted neck.

On April 8, 2023, the vet doctors in charge of house call went to attend to “KUKI” a five-months-old parrot that presented with the clinical signs below: abnormal twisting of the neck, anorexia, and greenish diarrhea.

RESULTS FROM PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Cloacal temperature of 40.3°C, heart rate of 280 bpm, respiratory rate of 33 bpm, pale mucous membranes, excessive lacrimation, ruffled feathers, soiled vent.

CAUSES OF NECK TWISTING IN PARROTS: Involuntary movement of the neck is due to brain, muscle, and nerve impairment. Disease(s) or condition(s) that affect the brain, muscles of the neck, and nerves can lead to twisting of the neck. These include:

Vitamin E, magnesium, thiamine, and selenium deficiency

Newcastle disease,

Intoxication

Bacterial and viral encephalitis

Cerebellar hypoplasia

Ear canal infections

Trauma to the brain, muscles, and nerves

Genetic disorder

Avian botulism

Pasteurellosis

Aspergillosis

Avian listeriosis

Marek’s

Toxoplasmosis.

What does neck twisting look like in parrots?

The parrot performs uncontrolled movement of the neck either sideways, up, or downwards. However, torticollis in parrots should be differentiated from normal movement of the neck.

The differences between neck twisting and normal movement of the neck are:

Abnormal movement of the neck( twisting of the neck)	Normal movement of the neck
Unpurposeful	Purposeful for feeding, grooming, pecking, or responding to stimuli
Involuntary	Voluntary
Involves vigorous shaking of the head	Head is moved gently
Performed at irregular intervals	Performed at specific intervals depending on the need.
The parrot does not respond to any other stimuli unless the movement is ended.	The movement can be stopped when other stimuli are received

How to prevent neck twisting in parrots

Proper feed rationing

Vaccinate against vaccinatable diseases.

Proper sanitation.

Avoid inbreeding.

Ensure environmental enrichment.

Avoid mixing parrots of the same sex.

Avoid mixing parrots of different ages and sizes.

Proper stocking density, mostly for parrot breeders

How can I treat neck twisting in my parrot?

First, establish the primary cause to select the right treatment protocol.

Give antibiotics with small molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier.