nasal discharge maybe?

I am calling the vet as soon as they are open to get Noodles in this afternoon after work if at all possible (even if we have to go in as "emergency"..ughh...money)

BUT, in the meantime, I wanted to ask opinions.

She was acting normal last night, ate her oatmeal and went to bed as usual. I didn't see any oatmeal on her claws or anything and I thought it was all wiped off of her beak when she went to bed.

Anyway, this morning, I got her out and I heard wheezing when I picked her up. I could tell it was coming from one of her nares and when I looked at the one on the left, I could tell it was slightly clogged (which can happen) so I manhandled her into compliance as I tried to remove it with my pinky finger.

This stopped the wheezing but I noticed that I had smeared a very light tan something onto the feathers above the area where the blockage had been (it's not obviously oozing or wet). PS--it was just like a little tiny white bit of something that was causing the wheezing---about the size of a grain of sand.

Thoughts:
1. Could be an infection.
2. Could possibly be oatmeal that somehow got into her nose or was maybe sucked in the wrong pipe when eating yesterday (and worked its way out overnight)
3. Wondering if it could be due to dry air---it has been dry here so I don't know if it could be irritation (mucous and a bit of dried blood). I don't know if she was scratching at it overnight or if dry air alone could cause discharge.

She is acting normal---she ate....she isn't letting me investigate further after our early morning unclogging lol. There is no tail bobbing and aside from the small smear/stain, no visible discharge or sneezing. Normal energy and normal talking voice.

The earliest I could possibly get her to the vet without calling into work is probably 11 hours from now.

What are your thoughts?
I am hoping it is safe to wait until this afternoon, given the fact that I cannot call into work today.

Sorry for the late response.

I would likely lay it on low Humidity with it being this time of year that it is more of a common issue.

So, likely not an emergency. But, does raise to a 'keep an eye on' status.

My guess is a combination of low humidity and errant oatmeal. If she seems normal by the time you return home, all is probably normal.

could low humidity cause a single incidence of colored mucous?

It likely low humidity. Baby has same issue when one of her nares get clogged. Reason why I use a huge humidifier to keep the humidity at about 35 to 40 when colder and did that and her nares clear up in a day, or two. It normal from what vet told me as she get a lot of birds during this time of year for same issue. A few months ago I did have her nare flush out by vet just in case and they ran test on the particles and found no infection, but she didn't have much.

So long you notice she not breathing hard, or crackling in the lungs, or tail bobbing, she likely be fine, just keep a eye on her and put a humidifier by cage, or get a larger one.

Did baby's discharge look like it might contain a slight tinge of blood (like a very light tan)? She only sounded like she was wheezing before I pried out the blockage, but then I saw that light staining---very light. My humidity is 35 currently (which is lowish)---my hands are very dry but I wash them a LOT due to teaching.

I have an appointment for tomorrow depending on how she does in the morning.

noodles123 said:

Did baby's discharge look like it might contain a slight tinge of blood (like a very light tan)? She only sounded like she was wheezing before I pried out the blockage, but then I saw that light staining---very light. My humidity is 35 currently (which is lowish)---my hands are very dry but I wash them a LOT due to teaching.

I have an appointment for tomorrow depending on how she does in the morning.

Click to expand...

It was brown discharge but dried not wet only on the one side where it was clogged, reason why I had her nares flush out.

noodles123 said:

Did baby's discharge look like it might contain a slight tinge of blood (like a very light tan)? She only sounded like she was wheezing before I pried out the blockage, but then I saw that light staining---very light. My humidity is 35 currently (which is lowish)---my hands are very dry but I wash them a LOT due to teaching.

I have an appointment for tomorrow depending on how she does in the morning.

Click to expand...

Really want to target 40% minimum based on a 70 degree F room temperature. We prefer 45% as a base with 50% being on the high side for us. Remember that each home is different and what works well in one house is a failure in another as some homes bleed humidity when other homes tend to retain it.

It is possible that what you saw (tan color) could be dust in the air.

SailBoat said:

noodles123 said:

Did baby's discharge look like it might contain a slight tinge of blood (like a very light tan)? She only sounded like she was wheezing before I pried out the blockage, but then I saw that light staining---very light. My humidity is 35 currently (which is lowish)---my hands are very dry but I wash them a LOT due to teaching.

I have an appointment for tomorrow depending on how she does in the morning.

Click to expand...

Really want to target 40% minimum based on a 70 degree F room temperature. We prefer 45% as a base with 50% being on the high side for us. Remember that each home is different and what works well in one house is a failure in another as some homes bleed humidity when other homes tend to retain it.

It is possible that what you saw (tan color) could be dust in the air.

Click to expand...

Oh yes-- I know, my home is very dry.

I want it around 50, but it is not. It is weird, because it is very old and because there is a humidity issue in the basement (requiring a de-humidifier).

noodles123 said:

SailBoat said:

noodles123 said:

Did baby's discharge look like it might contain a slight tinge of blood (like a very light tan)? She only sounded like she was wheezing before I pried out the blockage, but then I saw that light staining---very light. My humidity is 35 currently (which is lowish)---my hands are very dry but I wash them a LOT due to teaching.

I have an appointment for tomorrow depending on how she does in the morning.

Click to expand...

Really want to target 40% minimum based on a 70 degree F room temperature. We prefer 45% as a base with 50% being on the high side for us. Remember that each home is different and what works well in one house is a failure in another as some homes bleed humidity when other homes tend to retain it.

It is possible that what you saw (tan color) could be dust in the air.

Click to expand...

Oh yes-- I know, my home is very dry.

I want it around 50, but it is not. It is weird, because it is very old and because there is a humidity issue in the basement (requiring a de-humidifier).

Click to expand...

Yaaa, Humidity is weird and because it has weight, it is not uncommon for the lowest level to have higher levels.

Heavily dependent on the air quality in the basement!!! If possible add couple of air-return vents to the basement. That will help pull humidity from the basement. This will add just a bit more humidity upstairs and lower it in the basement. Once again; this is heavily dependent on air quality in the basement.

And, older house tend to bleed humidity -- and heat in the winter.

How is Noddles, anymore discharge?

No new discharge--- she was a bit sedate (AKA, still very gregarious compared to the average bird lol)...
She is sleeping now...not due to sickness, but because she wakes up SUPER early lol.
I hate it when she is sick (or potentially sick).
Honestly, behavior was mostly normal--maybe SLIGHTLY less energetic in terms of greetings etc, but plenty energetic in terms of making demands.

noodles123 said:

No new discharge--- she was a bit sedate (AKA, still very gregarious compared to the average bird lol)...
She is sleeping now...not due to sickness, but because she wakes up SUPER early lol.
I hate it when she is sick (or potentially sick).
Honestly, behavior was mostly normal--maybe SLIGHTLY less energetic in terms of greetings etc, but plenty energetic in terms of making demands.

Click to expand...

Hopefully her nares will be back to normal and she be back to normal as a Cockatoo gets.

Well, I hope she gets a clean bill of health tomorrow.

If the discharge was colored and had an odor, that would indicate an infection. But then again, leftover oatmeal could also cause the discharge to have color & possibly have an odor. You didn't mention an odor, so hopefully, it's just the oatmeal & humidity.
I had no idea a dry house could cause nasal discharge in parrots.

Good Luck tomorrow!

Tami2 said:

Well, I hope she gets a clean bill of health tomorrow.

If the discharge was colored and had an odor, that would indicate an infection. But then again, leftover oatmeal could also cause the discharge to have color & possibly have an odor. You didn't mention an odor, so hopefully, it's just the oatmeal & humidity.
I had no idea a dry house could cause nasal discharge in parrots.

Good Luck tomorrow!

Click to expand...

Mines was likely from food and wood she chew as when they flush her nare out very tiny small specs of wood dust, but water was clean overall, but no infection when they tested it. Plus her nares were back to normal in day, or so. So likely could be the same with noodles? As if it was a infection, would likely have a odor and wet not dry and would see more discharge when you wipe it away.

No new discharge this morning, no wheezing.. Just being her annoying self at the moment lol. She is always so annoying right after she eats breakfast...bobbing compulsively and refusing to accept anything I offer her.

Anyway, after I removed that fleck, there was only that one round of light discharge that stained her feathers (in initial post). There was never anymore and it never smelled.

I HATE taking her to the vet so part of me wants to cancel, but at the same time, she needs a bottom beak filing....MAN....I wish I could teleport with her.

Part of me wonders if maybe she had something in there and then scratched herself trying to get it out. She seemed a bit fluffed last night but I think she acts odd on a near-daily basis ("uh oh...hope she's not sick") lol---so I dunno...It's an hour drive....and more money....but she is my baby...I am torn.

I could bring in a gram stain by myself---which would eliminate the stress of transporting her, but I don't know if an infection in her nares would show in poop.

I hear ya! However, you already have the appt and it's Sat. If you cancel and God forbid the discharge returns tomorrow morning, and she is sick you'll never forgive yourself.

Hopefully she's fine, but go and get the Vet's opinion. You'll be glad you did! :heart:

I called the vet to explain what I have observed etc--they are going to call me back. Right now Noodles is taking a bath in a casserole dish and bringing all of her toys in with her lol.

Commonly, the Vet would take a nasal swab and test it. A gram stain would show an infection in the GI track.

Here its Saturday, what else do you have to do other than dolt on Noodles?

lol true...

I HATE travelling with her because I have to tape the windows of the car in the backseat (or she flaps when we get on the highway if she can see out).
Then she acts like she is near death after the vet every time (maybe from the stress--but she acts super lethargic post-visit and that is stressful)
...It's a long drive by myself and in the winter, it is so hard to regulate the temperature in the backseat of the van (where she is) because it is totally different from the temp in the front...It is exhausting...and it is cold outside SO I have to turn the heat off, then on, then off, then on...and it's hard to tell whether it is too hot or cold where she is.

She just is acting so normal... AND it's a lot of money to get her checked (plus gas). That is why I am on the fence (given the fact that she has no symptoms of any kind at the moment).

Also, this has been the week from hell for other reasons and I was hoping to get some things done around the house. UGH!