Can Birds Have Down Syndrome?

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You may have noticed that your bird doesn’t behave in the way you might expect and so you might be wondering if they have a condition such as Down Syndrome.

You will obviously want to give your pet bird the care it needs and so it would be in your best interests to learn all you can about what conditions they can have.

Otherwise, you may just be curious about whether this condition appears in birds. So, within this article, we will let you know whether birds can have down syndrome and what exactly that means.

Down Syndrome in Birds

No, birds cannot have Down Syndrome. If you have noticed that your bird behaves differently, you can be sure that your pet does not have Down Syndrome. The reason for this is simple, Down Syndrome is a uniquely human condition. Whilst animals can show symptoms that are somewhat consistent with what someone with Down Syndrome might have, in the case of birds calling it Down Syndrome would be simply false.

Why can’t birds have Down Syndrome?

Birds cannot have Down Syndrome as they have a genetic makeup that differs greatly from humans. Where humans have a total of 46 chromosomes, birds have 80 chromosomes and as Down Syndrome is a condition that is caused by a defect in the chromosomes of humans, birds cannot be affected in the same way.

Down Syndrome in humans is when a person has a defect in the way their cells divide and end up with an extra copy of chromosome 21.

As birds have a different number of chromosomes, this change would not be the same, even if they did have the same amount, the genetic makeup of birds is so different that it would have a different effect altogether.

Decreased cognitive function, digestive issues, and weak muscle tone are symptoms of Down Syndrome in humans that may also be something that your bird might have, but the cause of these symptoms for your bird would be different.

If you think that your bird may have any kind of condition, it is highly recommended that you take your pet to a vet to make sure that you can give them the best possible care and make sure they live their best life.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Down Syndrome is not something that can be had in birds, whilst they can be prone to other genetic conditions that may be similar to Down Syndrome, they cannot actually have it themselves.

Hopefully, this article has been useful in explaining to you that birds cannot have Down Syndrome and why they cannot have it.

As with anything concerns about your pet, if you think your bird may have any kind of condition please take them to a vet for a check-up.

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