Why is my bird still sick after antibiotics for respiratory infection?

Thanks for reaching out about Petri and including a photo. This could be a low grade sinus infection. Try give a humidity treatment in a steamy shower for 10-15 minutes once or twice daily for a few days. If the clinical condition worsens, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. This also would be a good time to review diet, as vitamin A deficiencies can play a part in low grade respiratory infections. Good luck.

I would have expect it to get better on these antibiotics, in that case there is a very good chance that it's a fungal infection rather than a bacterial infection, you need to take her back to the vet ASAP and ask him to try an anti fungal treatment.

Thanks for reaching out about Bubu. The most likely cause of the sneezing and clinking is aspiration of the medication. It is rare for leg paralysis to be caused by an infection. Has she recently laid an egg or can she be egg bound? Trauma to the lower spine or weakness are other possibilities. Supply heat support in the 80-85 F range can give comfort. Offer water and food through a syringe. A re-visit to the veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

I am so sorry to hear about Biba not feeling well. Your veterinarian is right - seeing discharge (the brown stuff) around the nose in combination with the sneezing is suggestive of upper respiratory disease (nose, windpipe). With the addition of the tail bob, this is suggestive of lower respiratory disease (lungs, air sacs; pneumonia would be classified as lower respiratory disease). Often in budgies, it is common for them to become quiet, and can get stressed, with medication administration as handling can be hard on them. If you haven't seen a great deal of improvement since starting the medication, I would recommend contacting your veterinarian. They may want to see Biba an additional time to repeat their examination and evaluate if the lungs sound better, or if the discharge has improved. If it hasn't, they may decide to switch antibiotics. At home, I would ensure that Biba is kept warm, as birds' body temperatures are higher than ours. Also make sure her environment is humid, if she will tolerate it. You can do this with a humidifier, or by taking her into the bathroom when you take a shower. This can help to break up any discharge and material that may be present in her nose, airways, and lungs. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I hope Biba feels better soon!

The signs that you are describing are consistent with material in her upper airways (i.e. her nose). This material may be just be normal build up that can occur over time, or it could be due to an underlying infection. To help with this at home, you can try giving her baths, as this may moisten up the material to make it easier for her to get out. Baths can be provided by taking her into the bathroom with you while you take a steaming shower, or you can mist her with a spray bottle (don't spray her directly, just spray over the top of her and let the water droplets fall on her like rain). I didn't see you mention how old she was, but sometimes it is harder for older birds to expel material from their noses because of decreased mobility in their legs/feet. They use their toes to "pick" their noses, so if they have arthritis or another reason for a decrease in mobility, this can be hard for them. If this doesn't not improve the situation, or if you notice a decrease in activity, appetite, or weight, I would recommend taking Luna to a veterinarian. To monitor her weight at home, you can purchase a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section of most department stores) - weigh her every other day to every day if possible. At the veterinarian, they would perform an examination of Luna, and could collect some of the material to evaluate under the microscope to look for abnormal cells or excessive bacteria. They may also flush her nose and collect that material to look for any possible infections. Please do not try to flush her nose on your own at home, as you may risk drowning her. Depending on what is found, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatories as well. Please do not give Luna any human medications, as many of these can be harmful to our feathered friends. For options for veterinary clinics, there appear to be some that state that they see birds in the Austin area, so that may be an option for you? You can also find avian veterinarians in your area by using the AAV website. I hope that gives you a place to start!

Poor Fudge! If he is still not improving after a course of antibiotics, it would be best to bring him back to your vet for another exam as well as some additional testing. A chest X-ray or bloodwork may be beneficial in seeing if the infection is still present, or if there is something else ongoing that also needs to be treated. It is also a good idea to separate Fudge into a hospital cage so that your other bird doesn't pick on him and stress him out, and so that any contagious illness isn't spread. Keeping the hospital cage warm, quiet, and with easy access to food and water can also help keep Fudge comfortable while he recovers.

Have her rechecked by your veterinarian or by an experienced avian vet. You can find one here: http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803 Do this sooner rather than later, since by the time a bird is symptomatic, it is usually quite ill. The vet may submit a swab from the mouth for culture and sensitivity. This may identify any infection causing bacteria as well as the most effective antibiotic to use in treatment. Blood work may be submitted to assess major organ function. Do not worry, only a small sample is needed. A stool sample should also be submitted to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, clean and sanitize her cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily. A grate should be used to prevent her from reaching her droppings or fallen food that could be contaminated. Survey the area around her cage for any cold drafts or other negative stimuli. If you use air fresheners or essential oils, do not use them around her. The same goes for non stick cookware. The wheezing and tail bobbing may indicate respiratory infection which can usually be treated with antibiotics, but it can be caused by parasites or viruses which will not be affected by these medications.