Post traumatic stress

[casperbabys]

I have a few dogs who decided to gang up on my 1 yr old cockatiel today. I do not see any serious damage to him just looks like a few lost feathers. He is really shook up though. Very nervous and quiet, which is very unusual for him, but I'm sure to be expected at first. Do birds experience post traumatic stress and is there anything we can do to help him get over the experience? And wilI he ever go back to his normal behavior? I have been keeping the dogs away from his cage, but other than that I am not sure what else I can do and I feel terrible as he is loved so dearly.

[casperbabys]

Thank you for your response. We are keeping them seperated since he does seem to get unsettled when they near his cage, but he is very safe as his cage is a towering 6'x3'x2' castle! Fiji has been getting better with each day. He received a lot of attention before, but now it is ten fold. I am sure with the amount of love he receives from a family of five, he will be back to his usual singing self in no time. Thanks again!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Birds do feel stress.  I don't know how long your bird will be suffering since every bird is an individual.  Fear and stress are part of all animals make up and defense system.  In the wild,  birds need a long memory to avoid repetition of an undesirable or dangerous occurrence.  Your bird may also be very afraid of your dogs for a long time or forever.  It is best to keep them separated at all times and to provide extra attention and behavioral nourishment to try to help your bird get over the traumatic experience.