Sneezing

Suka, supposedly male from DNA done by breeder but think female, has always had a sneezing issue. Early morning before uncovered and throughout the Day sneezes. Also always digging at one nare. There's no discharge and everything else has been normal. This has been been for a couple of years and yes even a vet appointment was done at one time because the sneezing went on for 2 days and the one nare got a bit swollen. Nothing was found besides being told possibly environment/allergy. He/she was put on meds for the 2 days of sneezing and that non stop of 2 days stopped. I clean the cage on a regular basis and take Suka up to get showers or at least hang out in the shower.

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DNA sexing is accurate, but what species of cockatoo do you have? Coal-black eyes usually indicate male while lighter brown irises suggest female, but not absolute.

Reasons for sneezing range from irritation caused by the environment, allergies, extreme dryness, and most critically from infection. Was the vet who treated your bird a certified avian specialist? Many general purpose vets have some knowledge, but not enough IMHO to entrust the life of my birds.

I would recommend another visit to an avian vet as issues can develop rapidly that may have familiar symptoms. If environmental, a good quality air cleaner in the room may help.

Scott said:

DNA sexing is accurate, but what species of cockatoo do you have? Coal-black eyes usually indicate male while lighter brown irises suggest female, but not absolute.

Reasons for sneezing range from irritation caused by the environment, allergies, extreme dryness, and most critically from infection. Was the vet who treated your bird a certified avian specialist? Many general purpose vets have some knowledge, but not enough IMHO to entrust the life of my birds.

I would recommend another visit to an avian vet as issues can develop rapidly that may have familiar symptoms. If environmental, a good quality air cleaner in the room may help.

Click to expand...

Suka will be 3 in June. So eyes are probably still in juvenile stage? People are questioning if the breeder was honest with the DNA even though I didn't ask for a specific sex. She sent me the DNA through an email while I was still waiting for Suka to be weaned. But because Suka is more petite compared to fellow male Cockatoos that are in our rescue they are questioning because more of the size of the females. Also along with backing up onto a toy and throwing head back while panting and recently doing this with my leg too they are saying more female mating over male. I don't want to say it bothers me but for almost 2 and half years of referring to Suka as A good boy it's now confusing me.
The Vet was Avian Certified. We are currently in a finished basement and the laundry room with the furnace is down here with us also. It generally gets dusty and did before we got birds too. I run two Air Purifiers down here. I was thinking maybe a Humidifier but I don't know much about those. The sneezing seems to be a few times in a row after waking up before uncovered, if I dust or vacuum, after preening too with an occasional nare dig and sneeze. Nothing else accompanies this. It's also been this way for some time too. I'm not talking recently new. We also have 2 cats and a dog in our home. I'll try and attache a video of the one mating with toy. I did move it to the other side as to not promote it. Suka gets a pelleted, seed, and fruit and veggies along with treats.

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Scott said:

DNA sexing is accurate, but what species of cockatoo do you have? Coal-black eyes usually indicate male while lighter brown irises suggest female, but not absolute.

Reasons for sneezing range from irritation caused by the environment, allergies, extreme dryness, and most critically from infection. Was the vet who treated your bird a certified avian specialist? Many general purpose vets have some knowledge, but not enough IMHO to entrust the life of my birds.

I would recommend another visit to an avian vet as issues can develop rapidly that may have familiar symptoms. If environmental, a good quality air cleaner in the room may help.

Click to expand...

I apologize for not answering the question as Suka is an Umbrella Cockatoo.

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I don't recall if cockatoo eye color changes much with maturity? Perhaps??

Hopefully the sneezing is nothing more than a response to dust. Focusing on equipment in the basement, it is possible dryer lint may be a contributor. Might verify the exhaust is not leaking? Furnace: Might the exhaust also have a leak, producing soot or more critically carbon monoxide? If the latter, you would likely know by now. If you don't have a detector it would be a wise addition - many are available as dual units which also monitor for smoke.

The furnace is old but has had literally every part replaced and just serviced along with our washer and dryer. I do have a carbon monoxide detector. We have other birds too.
Suka came home December 2014 and around Spring 2015 the sneezing started. His one nare got red and swollen and wouldn't stop sneezing and digging so off to the vet. After everything and meds for 2 weeks that 24/7 sneezing stopped. But like this morning and every morning before he gets uncovered it's a few sneezes in a row. Then it stops. Periodically there's a sneeze throughout the day and more so when I clean etc. All the vet warranted it to was environmental. I run air purifiers and vacuum every 2 to 3 days. He comes up to hang while I shower a few times a week and will shower once in awhile. Eating, attitude (LOL), playing, poo, and everything else has not changed. I'm almost wondering if at this point it is environmental from the dust, dander, etc.? I was thinking maybe a Humidifier?

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