Female parakeet with swollen tummy

jeep

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Mar 16, 2017
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Female budgie has had swollen belly since I had her. Do they have false pregnancies? Could she have worms? She seems even a little larger than before and I can see her stomach skin under her feathers. Otherwise her activities and playfulness are the same. She doesn't seem to be trying to lay an egg. The second picture shows the difference in the shape of the females. It's very hot in Phoenix right now and I hesitate to take her to a vet in this heat.
 

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Last edited:
May 2, 2021
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Stormy(M): blue Australian budgie
Picasso(F): green Australian budgie
Apollo(F): sky blue dominant pied Australian budgie
Female budgie has had swollen belly since I had her. Do they have false pregnancies? Could she have worms? She seems even a little larger than before and I can see her stomach skin under her feathers. Otherwise her activities and playfulness are the same. She doesn't seem to be trying to lay an egg.
Pic? She should probably go to the vet.
 

BirdyBee

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Jan 7, 2022
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Current birds:
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Past birds:
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Female budgie has had swollen belly since I had her. Do they have false pregnancies? Could she have worms? She seems even a little larger than before and I can see her stomach skin under her feathers. Otherwise her activities and playfulness are the same. She doesn't seem to be trying to lay an egg. The second picture shows the difference in the shape of the females. It's very hot in Phoenix right now and I hesitate to take her to a vet in this heat.
What is her diet? Could be obesity. If possible a vet visit will be good.
 

ravvlet

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Jun 25, 2019
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Woah. That is alarming looking. Budgies are originally from Australia which also tends to be hot. Assuming your method of transport has air conditioning, I'd take them to an avian certified vet ASAP. If you don't already have a regular CAV, we have a resource list now put together here:


I know budgies, like Amazons, can get fatty tumors (called lipomas), and that might be what this is. Those tend to be benign and will sometimes go away if you correct their diet. However, it could just as easily be something more serious, and it would be best to have them seen by an experienced veterinarian. Even benign lipomas can cause problems with agility and flight if they grow too large. Normally they're a yellowish color - the photo of her from the front shows a reddish area that concerns me a bit as that seems to indicate irritation or inflammation. Your vet will be able to diagnose this and form a treatment plan.
 

BirdyBee

Well-known member
Jan 7, 2022
3,748
Media
34
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8,080
South Africa
Parrots
Current birds:
John
Snowy
Pippen

Past birds:
Grumpy
Sunny
Griffen
Jeff
Gertjie
Female budgie has had swollen belly since I had her. Do they have false pregnancies? Could she have worms? She seems even a little larger than before and I can see her stomach skin under her feathers. Otherwise her activities and playfulness are the same. She doesn't seem to be trying to lay an egg. The second picture shows the difference in the shape of the females. It's very hot in Phoenix right now and I hesitate to take her to a vet in this heat.
Forgot to mention, but if not already, you need to cool them. They are obviously overheated in the image, you can see by the way they hold their wings. You can gently mist them with a spray bottle.
 
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J

jeep

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Mar 16, 2017
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Woah. That is alarming looking. Budgies are originally from Australia which also tends to be hot. Assuming your method of transport has air conditioning, I'd take them to an avian certified vet ASAP. If you don't already have a regular CAV, we have a resource list now put together here:


I know budgies, like Amazons, can get fatty tumors (called lipomas), and that might be what this is. Those tend to be benign and will sometimes go away if you correct their diet. However, it could just as easily be something more serious, and it would be best to have them seen by an experienced veterinarian. Even benign lipomas can cause problems with agility and flight if they grow too large. Normally they're a yellowish color - the photo of her from the front shows a reddish area that concerns me a bit as that seems to indicate irritation or inflammation. Your vet will be able to diagnose this and form a treatment plan.
Thanks I’ve made a note of it. She is scheduled to see a vet
 

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