My budgie is sick, puffed up, and has wet droppings. How much is a vet visit?

Unfortunately, those are symptoms that need to be seen in person by a vet, because they are not possible to diagnose over the internet. If multiple of your birds are having loose stools and are housed together, I would be concerned there is something going on such as a contagious illness, parasites, nutritional issue, or unclean environment. Treating for parasites and making sure all birds have access to fresh food and water and a clean environment may help. Separating out any sick birds until they recover may also help. If the problem continues, your bird(s) worsen, or they do not improve with home treatment, then you will need to find a vet in your area that can take a look at them and determine the problem.

Given his age, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. His symptoms have multiple causes and may require diagnostics to determine the underlying cause. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor.

Reach out to the local humane society or animal rescue, as they sometimes have connections that assist people with veterinary bills. Contact your local vet and ask if something can be worked out. Borrow money from friends or family. If she is egg bound or ill for other reasons, not much can be done at home. Supplemental heat in the 80-85 F can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Offer water via a small syringe. Good luck.

Potential causes include infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites), trauma/injury, toxicity or malnutrition. It is critical to have the underlying cause(s) diagnosed before an effective treatment can be administered. Until you do that, you're simply guessing and possibly wasting time. Millie needs to be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep her warm and as stress free as possible. Use a hand feeding formula and warm water to make a mash or paste that she may eat. You can also soak a pelleted diet in a small amount of apple juice to stimulate the appetite. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Ask friends and family to assist you financially if possible.

Thanks for reaching out about Chicken. If he is still regurgitating, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Foreign bodies in the crop are easier to remove than in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Monitor appetite. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can provide some aid. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about Sara, and thanks for the photos as well. I would agree that the droppings do not appear normal. The feces look to be very dark, and there is extra urine present. If Sara's feces are typically dark, this can be related to diet, but when we see dark feces in birds, we become concerned that it may be digested blood (called melena). The increase in urine may occur if she was drinking a lot, but we also become concerned about stress and how the kidneys are working. This, combined with the vomiting would make me concerned that Sara is sick. Even though the signs have cleared, I would recommend having Sara evaluated by a veterinarian. The medication that you are giving currently is a vitamin supplement, but if there is something more serious going on, it will not be sufficient to treat it. Depending on what your veterinarian finds on examination, they may recommend evaluating a sample of the feces to see whether there is blood in it or not, and may recommend a blood test to evaluate the kidneys. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Sara the best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Chirp. You'll have to restrain with a soft towel and rinse under warm water in the sink. But this is possibly a bacterial infection, viral disease, metabolic disorder and others, and a veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort. Good luck.