Loud whistley breathing

andrea.b

New member
Sep 29, 2014
42
0
Canada
Parrots
Connie - Green Cheek Conure
Hi guys,
I have some bad news, my bird has started breathing loudly recently. I apologize in advance because this post will be quite long.

I noticed it the night before last while I was setting up Connie's new cage. My boyfriend's roommate was playing with Connie and at first I thought it was him breathing, cause it sounded kind of whistley like when your noise is a little bit stuffy.
Then today I realized it was actually Connie breathing! I couldn't believe it! It started when I was giving her a shower. She almost slipped off my arm (she's a little clumsy, I think because she's pretty young still, born at the end of this june) but she managed to grab on and flap and pull her self back up. Anyways, it startled her and she was flapping pretty hard so she was breathing hard to catch her breath. But her breathing was that loud whistley breathing again, coming from her nose.
She did it for about 10 breaths and then she calmed down and went back to breathing normally (silently).
I had her out for 3 hours today and it happened about 4 times, when ever she'd fly around (she flies but because she's clipped its very strenuous for her) she'd breath hard and loud and whistley.
I'm so worried and upset. I think she might have a respiratory infection.

Her poops were also watery today, but her poops often do vary quite a bit depending on what she's been eating. She consumes a lot of water because she dips her kibbles into her water and also I fed her some veggies last night and today (they have a high water content because they're frozen and I have to defrost them in a bowl of water) so that might contribute.
Also they could be watery because of the stress of having a new cage. She was very distressed when I was moving her belongings from her old cage to the new one. She'd semi-bite my fingers while I was working (I always move her toys around, and she has never bitten me while I'm taking them out) She was very frightened when I put her in. She's warming up to it now. But when I first adopted her and she was still frightened her poops were also very watery (similar to the poops today). She's having her first molt right now which could also be adding to the stress.

Besides that there are no other symptoms or things out of the ordinary.

Anyways I'm going to set up an appointment tomorrow with a vet who also sees birds and is part of the avian vet association.

I'm so worried and sad! How could she catch something?? She lives alone with us, although lately she stayed at a bird sitters for a weekend, and also she was exposed to some cotton perches that I got on Kijiji, but I washed them in the washing machine first (without soap), and they were only in there for a night and then I got worried and took them out.

I just want to hear what you guys think it could be, if you've ever had something similar, what it turned out to be? Do you think she will be okay? Do sick birds often die? (sorry if that's slightly insensitive, I just know that with some animals by the time you notice symptoms its too late).

Thank you, sorry again for the long post, just so worried about my poor birdy :(

ps. how expensive are vet appointments of this type usually? I've haven't taken her to a vet yet.
Edit: Just some additional information, she has nothing in her nose that I can see that's blocking it.
 
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EAI

New member
Jul 25, 2014
867
2
Honolulu, Hawaii
Parrots
Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.


Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
So sorry that Connie is sick, both of my parakeets had a respiratory illness but their breathing was nothing near what you are experiencing (all cases are different). Mine had clogged nostrils and mucus above their cere as well as tail bobbing and sneezing.
Keep us posted on what your vet says.

Is there anything coming out of her nose that's clogging it? IME, it doesn't sound like a respiratory infection.
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Causes for loud breathing can vary widely from minor issues like humidity or allergies to things a vet should check out like an infection. Has it been dry in your house? Have you been doing anything that would stir up dust or is anyone else experiencing allergies (humans, other pets...)? Have you been using any air fresheners or burning candles (anything with a smell)? All of those could be reasons for unusual breathing and should be remedied as soon as possible to see if that's the cause. Also curious if it started in the shower, did a little water possibly get up her nose?

Of course only an AV can tell for sure, but it's probably best to keep it extra warm tonight and if possible, have her keep in your room so you can hear if she falls off her perch or is in some kind of distress in case she is sick. Hope she's ok!
 
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andrea.b

andrea.b

New member
Sep 29, 2014
42
0
Canada
Parrots
Connie - Green Cheek Conure
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its possible that it could be water up her nose because the time I first heard it (before i knew it was her) was after she bathed and then today after the shower. and she often sneezes a lot during and after a shower to clear water out of her nose. hopefully its something like that...
 
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andrea.b

andrea.b

New member
Sep 29, 2014
42
0
Canada
Parrots
Connie - Green Cheek Conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
So we just got back from the vet, and turns out Connie has an upper respiratory infection. He says it sounds like its in her trachea. So he gave me some antibiotics to give her. Hopefully she gets better :(
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Glad it's nothing too serious and was caught early so it can be treated! URI's are fairly common in parrots, and typically respond well to antibiotics. I'm sure she'll be feeling back to normal in a few days:) (though be sure to finish the full course of antibiotics to make sure the infection is gone)
 

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