Is my cockatiel okay?

[BellaTheLemonBirb]

My cockatiel (Bella) has been sneezing often. Her nostrils become red when she sneezes. It did snow outside, so maybe it is that? I'm just wondering in case it is serious. Maybe it's something normal and I have just noticed it now? I would love to hear your thoughts on my problem. Thank you!

 

[Jen5200]

I’m sorry to hear that Bella hasn’t been feeling well. Do you have access to an avian vet where you could get her checked out? Sneezing occasionally is normal, but in my opinion sneezing often and redness around the nostrils is something I would normally have looked at by a vet to be sure it isn’t something that needs treatment.

 

[BellaTheLemonBirb]

I do have a nearby vet that is approved by my parrot rescue. I'm low on money at the moment, and I'm waiting for more responses to decide if I should get her checked out. The redness does go away shortly after she sneezes, so do you think that's okay? She hasn't sneezed since I posted this, so I'm far less concerned.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I would have the bird seen. Will the vet let you pay on a payment plan or delayed schedule? I'm not one to take a bird to the vet for every little thing, but sneezing fits and red nostrils are unusual. Was anyone doing anything dusty nearby earlier? How long did the sneezing go on for? 1 sneeze at a time or multiple sneezes in short time? Puffy? Eating drinking as normal? Chatter, play? These are all things to be aware of.



Red nostrils and lots of sneezing is not something that is normal for most cockatiels. What does the rescue think you should do?

 

[Laurasea]

often parrots don't get enough vitamin A in their diet, and vitamin A has direct impact on the respiratory system health. So then they are prone to respiratory problems. If your bird is on all seed diet and doesn't eat leafy greens, and vegetables them that's the fist half of your problems. But yes vet , to deal with any infection.
Birds are sensitive to cold, and more so if tgey are sick, provide more warmth, jeep house warner, move cage away from outside walls and windows. Look into getting a sweeter heater a radiant heat panel for birds ( not a light), or other warners that are bird safe.

 

[BellaTheLemonBirb]

Nothing dusty has been happening. I have made sure to get rid of unsafe things in the air before I got her (Candles, any not safe non-stick cookware, air fresheners, etc) It was very short. A few sneezes at a time. She has always been puffed up when I have her on my when I'm on the computer. She's really chill <3 She's eating and drinking just fine. She plays and loves to chirp, even right now. It is very cold outside and a little chilly in our house. It even snowed. I have not talked to my rescue yet because I'm not sure if it is that serious. The red nostril thing happened when it snowed, so I do think it is linked to that. The red does go away a couple of minutes after she sneezes, and she hasn't sneezed for 3 hours. She only sneezed 3 times today, too.

Thanks for the help!

 

[noodles123]

I'd get her in and see if you can do a payment plan..or maybe sell plasma is you have that as an option (lol I have done it for money ha)

They hide illness and so the fact that you are seeing a change +sneezing and inflammation means something is not right. They don't just get "colds" like people..

It's possible that she has something in there, but the fact that it has gone on for more than a day concerns me.
Birds don't normally sneeze daily...maybe once or so...(barring a few sneezes in a row on a single day where they get something stuck in there).

When my bird has sneezed more than 3x a day for more than one day, she has always ended up needing medicine...so that is just my take.

Do make sure your house is warm enough and not drafty, but if she is sick, it won't cure her...Chills etc can drop their defenses/stress their bodies, but an infection still would need to be treated. Laurasea is right about vitamin A too, but it could be time-sensitive, which is why I don't know if waiting and changing diet without a vet is a good idea (I mean, yeah, get her the best diet possible) but if it isn't vitamin A then waiting could be problematic.

 

[Laurasea]

Please read this.
And you didn't say what the birds diet is.
https://birdsupplies.com/blogs/news/144546247-parrots-and-vitamin-a-deficiency

Birds rarely give you much sign that they are ill, having her be puffed, low key, abd sneezing, id say she needs help.

 

[BellaTheLemonBirb]

Response to Laurasea:
Thank you for being concerned about her diet! Diet is a big issue in the bird community, and your concern is something I'm so happy to see. She gets chop every morning. Her chop has orange bell pepper in it which is a good source of vitamin A. She gets chop in the morning and pellets in the afternoon. Her chop has plenty of dark leafy greens. It even has low fat seeds and oats. I believe Zupreem natural has vitamin A in it, too. I give her millet when I'm target training her, too.

My room has been getting to 68 degrees Fahrenheit and she has been getting a little cold. I'm trying my best to warm it up. I hope I answered your questions! If you have any other questions or concerns, just message me!

 

[noodles123]

if you use a space heater, be sure to call about ptfe/pfoa/pfc/teflon coatings on the inner coils/grate (full spellings of each and the abbreviations- if they don't say they have to call you back, they likely have no idea and aren't really checking lol).

 

[BellaTheLemonBirb]

Response to noodles: I'm trying my best to see if it is a big issue first, I have had budgies with symptoms of sickness and it turned out that they weren't sick. I'm trying my to warm up my room and everything. I'll be giving her some chamomile tea to see if it helps her. I'll look into getting a safe space heater, the heater in my room is blocked by my bed

Thanks!

 

[noodles123]

They sell some weird oil heaters that are reportedly pretty safe but may be expensive.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I use oil radiators purchased at wal mart to heat the bird room in the winter. We have no central air and heat the main part of the house with a wood burning stove. 30$ or so each for the radiators and they are safe around the birds(make sure the bird cannot touch it). Use the wheels etc to keep the fire risk minimized. Do you use an air filter around your baby?

 

[Laurasea]

This us also a possibility , especially if you hsve just adopted as the stress of the move.
" Shedding rate of organisms is highest in young birds or those that were recently exposed. Chlamydia can usually be detected in the feces 10 days prior to the onset of clinical signs. In carrier birds, organisms may be shed following a stressful event i.e. other illness, bird show, weaning, post purchase, etc. Because Chlamydia lives hidden inside the cells of the bird, it can be shed intermittently, and in many cases, lack of any clinical signs of illness that makes diagnosis of the infected bird difficult.":
https://www.safarivet.com/care-topics/birds/chlamydia-in-parrots/