*Need Help* Strange breathing

hey people, haven't posted here in a while and I wish it was under better circumstances because I'm very worried about my female tiel Kaila.

About 10 minutes ago and for a few minutes, she had strange breathing. It's hard to explain, it wasn't like panting or wheezing. She made a little sound while breathing, kind of like a little `hec` (closest sound I can think of). And she had her mouth slightly open for some of that time. Now she doesn't do it anymore but it scares me because it's the first time she does that.

Other than that, she seems okay, she was eating just before it started and shes not puffed up or exhibiting any other ''sick bird'' behaviors, but I'm still very worried... As it is I foresee a sleepless night of watching over her and a vet visit in the morning if I notice anything worrying or if the strange sound comes back but if any of you might know what the problem could be, please tell me because the ''avian vet'' here doesn't seem to have any idea what she's doing, the last time I brought a bird to them, they managed to break quite a few blood feathers and barely even looked at him before declaring him ''fine'' so I paid to have my bird hurt more than he already was

Which means if you guys also think this warrants a vet visit, I'll be going to the place I went before I moved which is 2 hours away but I don't want to give her the stress of such a long ride if more experienced people think it might just be circumstantial and not a sign of illness.

Aspergillosis, is a breathing problem that affects many birds.
One sure way to tell, it will "wheez, make a wheezing sound.
If your bird is flighted, it will have a difficult time trying to fly.

Check for blockage of the nostrils. Where it can harden and make
it hard to breath through nose.

if a bird has breathing alignment, it will usually show some form of swelling
around the eyes.

Being that in most parts, it's winter time, dust can irritate the nasal passage
and a bird will sneeze. This is no alarm. but can be irritating to a bird.

So....check for these.
( Quote from wife, former vet)

Ok, her flying seems fine, there's no blockage in the nostrils and no swelling around the eyes or sneezing. Been watching her closely since the first post and so far she hasn't had another bout of weird breathing. I'll still be keeping an eye on her for the next hours, I just couldn't live with myself if something happens to her while I'm sleeping...

My lovebird did exactly that about a year ago, I rushed to the vet and he, naturally, didn't do it for her. She met me at the door and rushed him under the oxygen tent thing, but he was just all sort of baffled (and offended) at all the fuss. She theorized that he probably inhaled a seed or chip of food of some sort and "choked" momentarily and then cleared it. She did put him on a week of antibiotic and some Metacam for any residual inflammation but he was just fine. I was fine, too, other than the $200 scare bill. I hope your baby will be just fine.

Kiryon said:

Ok, her flying seems fine, there's no blockage in the nostrils and no swelling around the eyes or sneezing. Been watching her closely since the first post and so far she hasn't had another bout of weird breathing. I'll still be keeping an eye on her for the next hours, I just couldn't live with myself if something happens to her while I'm sleeping...

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That's a good sign, and your doing right by keeping an eye on her. When in
doubt a Vet visit always helps. I know many people prefer home remedies as vet bills can be expensive, I know, I've spent 4000 in in past year alone.
with surgery on 2 of my dogs. And annual blood draw for all my birds.

Without really knowing much about your bird, your environment, your daily
routine in feeding and cleaning, I can only offer suggestions.

Things such as poor ventilation in room where bird is can be a factor over looked. I use an air purifier in my bird room. Keeps dust and dander down.
Humidity and dryness plays a part. For example, 2 people with the same species of bird , one on the east coast and one on the west coast. A person on the east coast or Midwest will have greater chance of respiratory issues with their bird than someone on the west coast with dryer climate.

Birds can smell things long before we do, so a strong odor from cooking spices for example may seem mild to you, but strong for a bird. In other words sometime breathing alignments are a temporary thing till the air clears. If your able and there's not a drastic change in temperature, try moving the bird to fresh air for a bit to see if there is any change in the breathing.

Hope this helps and good thoughts for your bird.

( Glenda- Hawk's wife-Former Vet)

Kiryon said:

Ok, her flying seems fine, there's no blockage in the nostrils and no swelling around the eyes or sneezing. Been watching her closely since the first post and so far she hasn't had another bout of weird breathing. I'll still be keeping an eye on her for the next hours, I just couldn't live with myself if something happens to her while I'm sleeping...

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The only other thing I can think of is was there anything potentially toxic being used in the area?

Teflon coated objects? Air fresheners? Scented candles? Something that may not have been strong enough to kill your bird, but was strong enough to interfere with breathing.

First priority for me when I see stuff like this is to get the bird outside in fresh air. Just roll the cage outside if you have to. And see if that clears it up. In which case, you know it's some sort of toxic event.

@Oowl I'm thinking that might be it, she was eating just before it started and did a weird head shake and it started. It stopped within minutes and I kept an eye on her until 6 am (so for about 6 and a half hours) and she showed no sign that anything was wrong and did no more of those sounds.


@ Hawk I'm in Canada, so unfortunately, I couldn't take the cage outside since the temperature was well bellow -20 celsius. I think investing in an air purifier could be a good thing for both me and the birds since they stay in my room and I can't leave the window open in the winter

@ Birdman666 About a week ago, the family repainted something in the living room while I was sleeping, I was very mad about that since that means I couldn't move the birds as far away from that as possible and I threw away the air fresheners my mom had put in the bathroom. I keep telling them those things are toxic but it's like they don't believe me ''It's ok, it wasn't in your room, I'm sure they won't smell it''. It really makes me worry about possibly having to leave the birds here while I go to university in another town (which is the whole reason I want an apartment and not dorms, but that may not be possible)

Kiryon, check into rent houses near your college of choice. I had a cockatiel when I headed off to college and took him with me, living in a very small, ancient rent house. The good news was the landlord was totally fine with birds and dogs, and it was actually cheaper than the dorms. Glad she's feeling okay. Hope she stays that way.

Hawk said:

......
Hope this helps and good thoughts for your bird.

( Glenda- Hawk's wife-Former Vet)

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Glenda, looks like your husband hasn't always given you due credit.

Hawk said:

Hello Wannabe,

I asked my wife whom is a Vet assistance, and she said it appears to be a "mite", Chickens are prone to this as well. Mix some cream antibiotics with some baby oil, even Vaseline will sooth the scales and likely suffocate the mites which get under the skin.
Not saying that's what it is, but what it looks like.

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JerseyWendy said:

Hawk said:

......
Hope this helps and good thoughts for your bird.

( Glenda- Hawk's wife-Former Vet)

Click to expand...

Glenda, looks like your husband hasn't always given you due credit.

Hawk said:

Hello Wannabe,

I asked my wife whom is a Vet assistance, and she said it appears to be a "mite", Chickens are prone to this as well. Mix some cream antibiotics with some baby oil, even Vaseline will sooth the scales and likely suffocate the mites which get under the skin.
Not saying that's what it is, but what it looks like.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Why thank you Jersywendy,

I'm not on here much, usually I sit down after all the animals are in bed and relax reading. We have a
large farm and along with our parrots and dogs, we have farm animals so we are always on the move.

Sometimes I sit with Michael on the couch as we have a 65 inch computer
monitor remote wireless and voice activated, and read the parrot forums
together. Sometimes the Vet experience in me makes me want to comment and help where I can.

I spent 28 years as a Vet in 3 different locations before calling it quits
and moving on working for the county offices. I mainly dealt with cats, dogs and farm animals.
Every now and then people brought a parrot in and basically because at the time there were not
a lot of avian vets around in the mid 80's to 2000's. Seems to be a lot more now then back in those days.

Michael is a swell guy when it comes to animals, He recently put up a reward ( 2500) to find the person that threw a dog out the car window.
He spent nearly 5000 on a dog that wasn't his which was shot for it's surgery and recovery. He spends nearly 4 months a year donating his time
and a few thousand in helping the nesting program for Ospreys. He'll practically save any animal, even a mouse last year that had babies in
a nest outside (Eww). That's just the way he is. We have rescued 13 parrots so far (Not counting our birds) and re-homed them. Plus 7 dogs we rescued.

3 years ago we rescued a baby woodchuck so tiny of a thing, whom the mother was hit by a vehicle apparently, that he became a pet
for a while. He was very clean, and was quite the character. We released him back to the wild where we saw a female around. Guess they hit it off.

Guess I'd better stop rambling, maybe start my own login name.
I spend a great deal of time giving advice on other animal sites
and forums, mainly chicken sites and Farm animals. So feel free to have
anyone ask for help, I'll do my best to answer.

Till then, take care and Love to all the parrots and animals you all
own.

Glenda