Parakeet With Labored Breathing

by Linda
(Philadelphia, PA)

Hi -- Our parakeet, Sunny, whom we estimate to be at lease 5 years old (she's a rescue, flew into our friend's truck back in 2010), is breathing heavily & fast, sitting fluffed up and sleeping, still eating and sometimes fussing with her mirror. Also has an issue with feces sticking to her vent feathers, otherwise area around vent is clear of feathers.

Took Sunny to the vet before Christmas for feces problem, he checked and found no egg binding or infection, and she recovered. This latest bout of fluffiness started Sunday, the feces issue last week, and the heavy breathing today. Right now we're snowed in, it's 14 degrees. Hope to get her to vet (if he's open) tomorrow.

What to do -- have space heater & heat on, considering moving her to hospital cage. Thanks.

Linda


Suggeston From Dr. Coates


Hello Linda,

I agree with you that getting your parakeet to your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible is your best option. The heavy breathing that you mentioned could be an indication that your bird’s condition is precarious. In the meantime, thoroughly sanitize everything in the cage and keep it impecably clean. Provide fresh water. Replace her food with a new batch of her favorite type (pellets are better than seeds but this is not the time to make a diet change). Make sure the cage is in a draft-free location and warmed to around 83 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.



Best of luck,
Jennifer Coates, DVM

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