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We bought a new computer in February and soon after my Nanday started to have respiratory problems (had to spend a week at the vet!). I am starting to wonder if it was the new computer and not just "some infection" like the vet suggested.

Anyone have any similar problems?

I doubt if it was your computer. My nanday is in the same room with my computer and often sits on my shoulder while I use it. While my bird has picked up illness here and there it has always cleared up with medication. Often a bird is carrying something and stress will make it pop out in full blown illness,or a heavy molt or exposure to germs. When you go to a bird show or bird store or breeder you can bring germs home with you.---Yogi

You never really know... I haven't heard of the issue but then again whos to say who's handled that computer and what animals (or birds) they may have... You could try removing the computer and storing it (okay, so this sounds kinda stupid or whichever) somewhere, and cleaning the entire house... taking the bird into the bathroom daily for steam time (i.e. turning on the shower on hot), to see if it helps loosen anything...

You may also want to ask your vet about a possible blockage of the lungs, by food or otherwise. Did the vet do any tests to see if indeed it was repiratory issues?

If that was a brand new computer then the odds of it carrying a transmissible disease are very low- almost nil. Getting into the realm of urban legends! I'm more inclined to agree with Yogi.
Ask your vet if he has pinned down a concrete reason for the respiratory problems.

Shubie

It depends on where the computer came from... even though the computer is new to the household doesn't make it an actual new computer... computers are made both in factories and small businesses. My mother used to work at a personal computer store and there was a petstore next door... because of that they'd occasionally find crickets roaming around the inside of the building... so you never really know.

Gretel started to get sick right after we got the new computer. We used to leave it on all day and plugged in when not turned on. It was horrible – she started sneezing so we took her to the vet who flushed her nose and sent her home with some anti-biotics. Poor thing had to get shots everyday – twice!

Then, about a week later, she got worse with labored breathing and just struggling. Back to the vet who put her in a nebulizer and started a whole battery of tests (including x-rayz and a contrast test). When she came home it was another round of anti-biotic shots.

We changed all of the toys in the cage, the type of food, and the dishes… scrubbed the cage, the walls, and the windows. The only thing left in the cage that was there before she went to the vet was Hansel (and he got a good bath too!). I already had an air purifier running (it is constantly running) and went out and bought a humidifier.

We have no chemical/cleaners in the house, do not wear any perfumes, no candles, we even cook on the grill outside to avoid turning on the oven. It seemed like she would sneeze more at nighttime or during the weekends. We started to think that it might be the computer because she seemed to sneeze after it had been off for a while. So, for the past week we have kept the computer off and unplugged (right now I am at work typing this) unless on it for a few minutes (and only when the doors and windows are open). She seems much better and I have not heard more than four sneezes out of her this week.

I called HP (and after finally finding someone there that understood my question – I think it was getting lost in translation) I found out that they have a lot of new materials that they are using, but nothing he could say for sure. He is going to check with his staff on Friday to see if anyone else had made the same inquiry, and will get back to me next week.

Could it have been just a bad coincidence? She never had any problem before the new computer (the last one was so old it was only one step up from an abacus :-) ) and we have changed every other variable in the house. Any thoughts?

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR BIRDS!

http://www.insiderreports.com/storypage ... D=20015126

Thanks Crockersmum! That not only proves that the computer could very well be causing the respiratory problems, but that there are problems with having new computers (as strange as it may sound).

Read my post again! I said "transmissable" diseases - not environmental causes. If the problem was caused by of-gassing etc then why treat with anti-biotics?

Shubie wrote:If that was a brand new computer then the odds of it carrying a transmissible disease are very low- almost nil. Getting into the realm of urban legends! I'm more inclined to agree with Yogi.
Ask your vet if he has pinned down a concrete reason for the respiratory problems.

Shubie

If I thought the computer was causing distress to the bird my first thought would be to move the computer and bird as far apart as possible and with closed doors between them if feasible. As for air filters--these can cause problems also. I am sure you must keep your filters clean. If you have a higher end filter some people maintain ionizers cause problems with birds (I never had trouble with them but others swear they have) . Also filters with the ozone emitters can cause serious respitory problems for both birds and some people. I agree with Hugh. It is imperative to eliminate things like infections and allergies . They can recurr and you will be back at square one. Just figure what you would do if a person acted this way.Since a bird is very sensitive to pollutants , if you can figure it out, you may be doing a lot of people a faver by finding out----Yogi

After reading that site posted by CrockersMum you may well have some outgassing which could cause a reaction similar to teflon fumes. Be sure and let us know if you solve your problem.----Yogi