My canary is twitching, disoriented after cleaning. What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly. If on the bottom of the cage, needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, or contact the seller. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range might give some aid. Lethargy could be an infection, metabolic disorder (liver, kidney), parasites (internal or external), and other causes. A veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The flicking of the head could be possible regurgitation or a sinus infection. Good luck.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do from home without veterinary care if she is already showing signs of illness. However there are some things that may help make her more comfortable to hopefully make it until your vet appointment. Keeping her in a small hospital cage that is kept warm can help with body temperature regulation. Perches should be low to the ground or removed completely, and soft bedding placed at the bottom of the cage in case she falls. Having food and water (if she is still eating on her own) in shallow dishes she can get in and out of even if weak is best. If she's not eating or drinking, you may need to make a slurry of baby bird food and water and drop feed it to her to help keep her energy up. Otherwise, monitoring her and any changes in her symptoms can help when your vet is able to see her.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly and including a photo. Shaking and twitching is not normal and should be investigated by a veterinarian, and the sooner the better. Decreased appetite and shaking are not normal signs. Ingestion of toxic foreign bodies or other toxins, liver or kidney disease, calcium deficiencies, neurologic problems, are all possibilities. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Good luck.

If your bird is sitting on the bottom of the cage, this is often a sign that your bird is too week to perch. Shaking the head might be a sign of nausea or regurgitation, or a sinus infection. A veterinary visit is recommended. But, providing heat support at home might help provide some strength to your bird. Most veterinarians will attempt to keep sick birds in incubators at 85-90 F. Take the perches out of the cage and provide a towel on the bottom of the cage for comfort. Place food and water bowls on the bottom within easy reach of your bird. Using a small syringe for administration of water could help with some dehydration. Good luck.

3 hours without eating isn't a major concern, but if Pepper is continuing to worsen and isn't improving with home care, it sounds like she needs to be seen by a vet. Unfortunately, you already seem to be doing all of the at-home care that would help without further examination to determine what is going on with her. If she just laid the eggs, that is a stressor on the body so she could just be quiet and recovering from that, however if she doesn't perk back up, or seems to worsen, then trying to find a vet near you is best, even if they don't specifically see birds.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While it is unclear what may be going on, an examination would be very helpful. I highly recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check what may be going on so that it can be treated accordingly. Good luck!

There are no medications that you can buy over-the-counter that are going to help poor Polly. All you can do is give her fresh food and water and support her as best you can and hope that this is something she can get over on her own. Good luck!