Cold Sickness ?

[Patty550]

Ricky, our Umbrella Cockatoo seems like he has a cold and we will take him to the Vet on Monday, but what can we do in the meantime ?
He has sticky discharge from maybe, his nose. He was fine yesterday, but today he's very quite & not eating, but drinking. He's not, breathing heavy.
He likes napping under the covers on Patty on the couch, so he's keeping warm. He's not playing our typical game on the couch either.

 

[kme3388]

Ricky, our Umbrella Cockatoo seems like he has a cold and we will take him to the Vet on Monday, but what can we do in the meantime ?
He has sticky discharge from maybe, his nose. He was fine yesterday, but today he's very quite & not eating, but drinking. He's not, breathing heavy.
He likes napping under the covers on Patty on the couch, so he's keeping warm. He's not playing our typical game on the couch either.

Hi there,

I’m sorry that you have a sick parrot. I hope Ricky feels better.

I’ve been trying to care for a sick parrot for a few weeks now. I did learn through this process that when a parrot starts to show illness they are more than likely very sick. They have to hide their illness to stay alive in the wild, and it’s a natural instinct. When you get a chance first thing you should bring your parrot to a vet. We are parrot enthusiasts on here, but I don’t believe anyone is a vet.

If you can, keep track of your parrots weight. I made the mistake of not doing that with my sick parrot. By the time I got her to the vet she was very weak. She couldn’t fly anymore. She’s usually around 140ish grams. She was 95 grams at one point when she was really going down hill. At this point she wasn’t perching the best.

There are some urgent care vet clinics. Usually they are during the day on the weekends. They are cheaper than the emergency vet visits. I’m not sure where you are located but that’s something to look into just encase as well.

 

[Patty550]

Hi there,

I’m sorry that you have a sick parrot. I hope Ricky feels better.

I’ve been trying to care for a sick parrot for a few weeks now. I did learn through this process that when a parrot starts to show illness they are more than likely very sick. They have to hide their illness to stay alive in the wild, and it’s a natural instinct. When you get a chance first thing you should bring your parrot to a vet. We are parrot enthusiasts on here, but I don’t believe anyone is a vet.

If you can, keep track of your parrots weight. I made the mistake of not doing that with my sick parrot. By the time I got her to the vet she was very weak. She couldn’t fly anymore. She’s usually around 140ish grams. She was 95 grams at one point when she was really going down hill. At this point she wasn’t perching the best.

There are some urgent care vet clinics. Usually they are during the day on the weekends. They are cheaper than the emergency vet visits. I’m not sure where you are located but that’s something to look into just encase as well.

Sorry yours is so very sick. How's he doing ?

Ricky isn't that far yet, but we hope to get an opening with the vet on Monday. Our vet and his team are great, but we have a Avian Vet, so we're opening we can get him !

We have no idea where he could catch a cold ? He's away from all doors and we keep the house 67 degrees all the time.

 

[kme3388]

My parrot is doing better. She’s now up to 110 grams. Still not herself, but better than she was.

I attached links to the supplies I bought for my sick conure. I kept her between 80-85 degrees while she was sick. I also had a humidifier running. I highly doubt this would be an option for my macaw (or your cockatoo). I dread the day my macaw gets sick due to his size. Vets can’t put him in an incubator to keep him warm he’s too big, and also with his powerful beak he’d easily destroy it. The cords from the supplies I got for my conure would be a real issue with my macaw as well. I’d have to do PVC pipping to make sure his beak couldn’t come in contact with the cords.

Thrive Reptile Nighttime Heat Bulb

Buy Thrive Reptile Nighttime Heat Bulb at Petsmart

www.petsmart.com

Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Thermometer Humidity Gauge

Buy Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Thermometer Humidity Gauge at Petsmart

www.petsmart.com

Flukers Deluxe Clamp Lamp 8.5 in

Buy Flukers Deluxe Clamp Lamp 8.5 in at Petsmart

www.petsmart.com

I know some people use space heaters for their parrots to keep them warm. I have no experience with them, and couldn’t comment on which ones are safe. Someone else may chime in that has more experience with that.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I have a grow tent about 5 feet by 3 feet. It's large enough to put the birds cage inside and put one of those oil filled space heaters under the cage to heat the entire inside of the grow tent. It's like having a heated hospital room for sick birds. You can buy a grow tent large enough for most birds' cages for about $150. Maybe $200.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

Heat and humidity are very important for respiratory illnesses. I was told to do steam treatments in the bathroom to help loosen the mucus.

 

[kme3388]

I completely forgot to mention the reason why to keep a parrot warm when they are sick is because when they are sick they can’t regulate their own temperature. It can lead to hypothermia because all of their energy is spent trying to fight whatever is making them sick depending on what it is.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I completely forgot to mention the reason why to keep a parrot warm when they are sick is because when they are sick they can’t regulate their own temperature. It can lead to hypothermia because all of their energy is spent trying to fight whatever is making them sick depending on what it is.

That's what I understand. If you keep them warm they will have more energy to fight the illness. This assumes, however, that it's an illness that their immune system can fight.