Ask Lafeber

altitude sickness

Can I take my pet birds (parrots) on vacation to a cabin that is in the mountains at approx 7000 feet?

Hi Alice,

This is a very interesting question. Because of the type respiratory system they have, birds are probably more equipped to adjust to higher altitudes. And 7K feet is not extreme – it’s about the average elevation of Colorado. I mention that because a very well know parrot sanctuary, The Gabriel Foundation, is located in Colorado. They accept parrots from all over the US, so you might try contacting them and ask if they have ever had parrots experience any problems with adjusting. I can’t find any information about altitude harming pet birds. I would probably just treat the like a person and keep their activity limited for the first few days. We are hosting our Ask the Vet webinar this Friday, and this would be an interesting question to ask if you would like to attend. It’s free – here is the link:

Webinar: Ask The Vet: Q&A With Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian)

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda