Why is my cockatiel's poop bloody? Is this a serious health concern?

Thanks for your question, and I am sorry that this is happening to Pete! There are a number of things that can cause blood in the droppings, and many of them are treatable. I saw that Pete is a female - I’m not sure if she has ever laid eggs, but problems with the reproductive system can result in blood. Also, infections in the urinary or gastrointestinal tract can also result in blood. These are treatable, or manageable, for the most part. I would recommend taking Pete to a veterinarian as she is about halfway through her lifespan now, so she may have many years left! After an exam, your vet may recommend blood work to evaluate systemic health or radiographs. They will also make recommendations about treatments, which may include pain medications or antibiotics. Please don’t give Pete any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Ouch! It looks like the egg may have been a bit large and caused some discomfort, or was just produced too quickly. If she is otherwise acting normal, keeping an eye on her is best, however if she is actively bleeding or appears in distress/unable to defecate properly, it is best to seek veterinary care immediately.

Thanks for reaching out about Bobby. Dark feces is often an indication of decreased appetite or bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Could also be ate something like blueberries that are dark. If it persists, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Intestinal parasites, infection, foreign body, tumors or inflammation can all cause bloody droppings. Have him examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds to diagnose the underlying cause. Make sure something in his diet is not being mistaken for bloody droppings.

Hi and thank you for this question, Blood in the feces can be serious. This could be the result of local lesions in the area of the cloaca, problems of the reproductive duct, gastrointestinal infections and many other causes. Rico needs to be examined by a vet.

Thanks for your question about Astro. Red in the droppings can be caused by a number of things. The most concerning of these of course is fresh blood. I am not sure if Astro has eaten anything red in the last few hours - this would include any kind of produce, pellets, or human food that is red in color. If not, then I would recommend that you take him in for evaluation. If you have a sample of the dropping that was red in color, I would recommend taking that with you, as your veterinarian can evaluate it under the microscope to look for evidence of blood. They can also perform a thorough physical examination and then make further recommendations depending on what they find. Good luck, and I hope that Astro feels better soon!

This is not at all normal and I would recommend seeing a vet immediately, especially if it has happened more than once. Injury to the face or nasal passages, respiratory problems, disease, illness, nutritional issues, something stuck in the nose, etc can all be possible causes, and seeking vet care ASAP is best to determine the problem. If Sunny is housed with any other birds, it would be best to move her to a separate hospital cage with easy access to food and water to prevent being picked on by other birds until you can get into your vet.