My bird whistles, sneezes, and breathes heavily. What should I do?
Hi there!
It sounds like Troy might be dealing with an upper respiratory infection with his sneezing, deeper breathing, and inability to cope with exercise well.
Unfortunately, this would require antibiotics to treat. I would recommend calling and finding a veterinarian that treats birds. They will likely recommend an x-ray to ensure that the infection has not progressed to a severe pneumonia before treating.
In the meantime, warm and humid air is easier to breathe when the respiratory tract is inflamed. You can turn on a warm shower and bring him into the bathroom for 5-10 minutes at a time.
Closely watch his eating, drinking, and elimination habits during this time as well, as sick birds may also stop eating and become dehydrated.
I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025