My budgie's chest is swollen, breathing hard, falling. Is it thyroid?

Hello. I wonder if what you are seeing is a crop full of food or air. The crop is on the right side of he neck and can become very distended normally after a meal, or after a bird has been vocalizing if they take in air. If there is a motility disorder of the crop, this may become abnormally distended and require medications. If it is truly a mass of the skin, muscle, or thyroid, then it would depend on the diagnosis whether any medical therapies would be appropriate over surgery. A biopsy would be a good place to start, though blood work and radiographs may also be indicated. A veterinarian experienced with birds should be able to do an exam and any diagnostics tests needed in order to suggest the most appropriate treatment.

Thanks for reaching out about your quail. Gas in the crop can be an indication of an infection or impaction. Other respiratory infections (tracheal, lungs, air sac) can manifest as a respiratory disease and difficulty breathing. As each of these requires a different treatment, a visit to a veterinary for a proper diagnosis is recommended. Good luck.

He does look a bit puffy, but it's hard to tell just from a few photos. Birds with full crops can sometimes have a "balloon" like appearance on their chest below their neck, that will gradually decrease as they digest food, and then fill up again as they eat, but it's usually not very visible in adult birds. However, as with any new pet, a general wellness exam with your vet is best to establish care, check for any issues, and treat them if needed. If Naoko seems in distress or ill at all, seeking care sooner is a good idea.

Unfortunately, without an in person exam, it would be hard to say what exactly is going on. Egg-binding can definitely cause an obstruction and protrusion like pictured, as can issues with the vent being clogged with stool or underlying illness. If you suspect egg binding, you can try putting her in a warm water bath to help break up any stool crusted to her vent and to help the muscles to relax some to see if she can pass the egg. Since budgie eggs are so delicate I wouldn't recommend trying to remove it on your own as it can easily break inside her. Moving her to a hospital cage that is kept warm and with low perches/easy access to food can also help, as can catching her to help keep her vent clean and free of debris. I would also bring her back to a vet ASAP if the medication given is not helping.

Thanks for reaching out about Chicky. Swelling on the chest is often an overextended crop, possibly an obstruction or stasis. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Ingested foreign bodies, infections (bacterial, yeast, fungal) and other causes are possible. Various viral disease, ingested toxins or metabolic disorders can result in ataxia and wobbly gait. Heat support is important in recovering animals. Sick animals should be isolated to prevent possible cross-contamination if infectious. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Chubaka. Fluffed feathers indicate illness, as he is trying to keep himself warm by trapping more air, thereby increasing his insulation. Head bobbing and swollen neck could be an obstructed crop and nausea, or ruptured air sac and difficulty breathing. A veterinary visit is recommended, sooner the better as smaller birds have less energy reserves and decline quickly. Good luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's difficult to say what this can be without seeing a photo. However, this sounds like it may be a distended crop, the portion of the esophagus that pouches out and stores food. Sometimes, in the case of certain infections, this area can not empty properly. This causes food to get stuck and cause the crop to get larger and even protrude through the skin. This requires veterinary attention as it can prevent normal digestion from occurring. This can also be a mass or abscess, which may require surgery to remove or drain as well as antibiotics, which are prescribed by a veterinarian. I recommend that you have Petey assessed by a vet who either specializes in or sees avian patients as soon as possible. I hope this helps!