Bless them: Birds can catch colds too – here's how you can tell

You can tell your bird has a cold by a sneezing sound or the fact that the bird increasingly rubs its beak against the cage bars. — dpa

It's wet and cold outside, noses are running and throats are sore. Most humans have to deal with colds or viral infections at some point or other. But what about birds – can they catch similar diseases? And what can pet owners to when their feathered friends are feeling under the weather?

It’s true, some birds can actually catch a cold, although they are less prone to it than humans. If they do, they sneeze often and have clear discharge or pus coming out of their nostrils.