Why is my bird's nose blocked and making it hard to breathe?

Thanks for your question about Beanie. Many birds do get clogged nares, and material like what you mentioned is often quite common. If you have tried to gently flush it without success, it may have hardened into a lump of material that is now stuck. This is called a rhinolith, and these typically require a veterinarian's assistance to remove as it can require specialized tools to remove them. I saw Beanie's age, and I would be concerned that maybe she is not able to pick her own nose anymore, which then would predispose her to getting build up. They often pick their noses with their feet, and older birds can get arthritis in their feet (similar to how older people can in their hands and feet). If their joints hurt or are stiff, they may not pick their noses like they should. I would recommend taking Beanie to a veterinarian for evaluation, not just for the material in the nose but to evaluate her for potential arthritis. Due to her age, they may also recommend other diagnostic testing, such as blood work to evaluate systemic health. If she has arthritis, they may recommend treatments to relieve pain and inflammation associated with it. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and that Beanie feels better soon!

Those pictures are very blurry so it is hard to tell anything, but if there is discolored discharge coming from the nose and it is making Bella have a hard time breathing, she could be suffering from an upper respiratory infection or blockage of the nasal passageways. It would be best to get her into a vet ASAP so any blockage can be flushed out and treatment can begin to treat the underlying issue. In the meantime, keeping her warm, stress-free and gently wiping any debris from the nose to help her breathe better may help. You may also want to place her in a hospital cage if she is housed with other birds, and provide easy access to fresh water and a balanced diet until you can be seen by your vet.

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specifically, this presentation could be either due to an infection or possibly to a mass which is creating some sort of obstruction and secondary infection. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Sometimes, respiratory illness or fungal infections can cause growths or blocked nasal passageways in birds. If you can keep the area clear with a clean washcloth, that's best, however if there area is bothersome, can't be flushed out easily, or is changing in appearance, it would be best to have Luna looked at by a vet. They can safely flush out any debris in the nose and get her started on medication to treat any bacterial or fungal infection present.

If you are seeing discharge from Pegasus' nose or he is having trouble breathing, it is possible he has a respiratory infection ongoing that needs to be seen and treated by a vet to get him feeling better. Until you can get to the vet, keeping his nose clear of debris with a clean washcloth, and keeping him warm and eating and drinking may also help.

The right side may be a bit swollen (infection or injury) or it may be "normal" for him. Types of infection include bacterial, fungal or mites. Monitor for lethargy, discharge, loss of appetite or loose droppings. A physical exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian would be recommended. At the very least, Ivy may get a clean bill of health and you will get peace of mind.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cockatiels occasionally can form rhinoliths, which are small accumulations of debris and mineral. These are harmless but can clog the nares and result in trouble breathing. They can be carefully removed by a veterinarian. Other causes can be a fungal or bacterial infection which can be treated by antibiotics prescribed by your vet. I hope this helps and am happy to look at any photos or answer any questions you may have!