Vet check?

[saracuse]

Tiki girl has pink nares. They've been pink for about a week now. No discharge. No sneezing. No itching. Pooping normal. Eating normal, we even tried three new veggies this week! No weight change at all. No behavioral changes at all. Seems like a totally happy camper. We live in the northeast where it's still cold enough for the heat to be on. She gets one full shower a week and hangs out in the humidity of our showera two other days a week. I'm wondering if it's just dry air making them pink or if it warrants a vet check. Sorry for the blurry pictures. We're not so good at sitting still yet.

 

[Piasa]

Does she pick her nose with her toenails or rub her nose on anything to scratch it or clean her beak after she eats?

It may be nothing. Or it could potentially be a sign of a respiratory issue, something caught in the nose or an infection.

If your gut tells you to check on her, see if she can get her annual checkup and ask about it then. Maybe you can make it a visit for more than just the nose, so if it is nothing, you don't feel like the trip was a waste Some vets can also do a nasal flush, that's like using a neti pot. It cleans their sinuses and if something is lodged inside, it can flush it out.

She is gorgeous btw! Lovely shiny beak.

 

[saracuse]

In the morning she will put a toe in there when she gets up but she always has. She's had a few pin feathers coming in around her beak lately.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

If nostrils get too pink/red it can also be a sign of stress. Molting will cause stress.

How are her droppings? Normal size, color and texture? Is there any nasal discharge?

 

[saracuse]

Normal droppings. No discharge.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Only you have the answer to this one: Has the color around her nares CHANGED?

You said they were pink, but were they always pink? If so, I'd say you are fine, and have nothing to worry about, but if there's a difference to how they looked before, I'd say perhaps a vet visit wouldn't hurt, especially because our babies are so good at hiding illnesses.

She is BEAUTIFUL!!! And to my (untrained) eyes, her nares look fine.

 

[saracuse]

JerseyWendy - They were always a little pink-ish, they just seemed more pink than usual. I appreciate your input. I honestly really trust vets completely, but sometimes i think that pet owners (whether its a bird, a dog or a frog), we know our animals and we know whats unusual for them. So i really appreciate your (untrained) eyes, and everyone elses input for that matter. This community has really helped my new mom stress. Thanks

 

[Piasa]

The toenail nose picking might be causing some of the pink. My conure is a nose picker, and has caused his nares to slightly swell before because of it. Once the vet prescribed a sterile eye drop to put on his nose to keep it clean, but most of the time I do nothing and it is fine.

Wendy and Skitty's Dad gave good advice.