Why is my cockatiel breathing heavy, sneezing, and not perching?

I'm sorry that your bird is so ill. This is a definite respiratory emergency. Could be an inhaled toxin like from Teflon or smoke oor a serious infection. Your bird needs heat, oxygen and ER care. Keep warm and upright until you can get to the vet. Do not try to give the bird anymore to eat or drink. Good luck with your sweet baby.

Without an exam it would be hard to tell if he is OK. You can do a few things first, such as remove any substrate in his cage that may kick up dust (replacing it with cage lines or newspaper/paper towels can help), and make sure he is not in a drafty room or one with a lot of dust and pollen that could cause sneezing. Making sure he is in a room that isn't too hot or cold and that is free from harassment by other pets or people can also help as panting can sometimes be related to temperature or stress. However, if you are seeing any nasal discharge, he is constantly panting with his mouth open, he isn't eating or drinking, or he worsens or doesn't get better, then seeking vet care is best. If you don't have an avian vet, seeing if any local vets in your area will take a look is a good course of action.

Thanks for reaching out about Frost. Increased respiratory rate and sneezing is often a clinical sign of a respiratory problem. Causes of this can include primary infections (bacterial, fungal, viral), heart disease, abdominal organ enlargement (liver, spleen), toxic exposure (cooking with teflon, smoke, other aerosols), and more. A veterinary visit for assessment and to provide a diagnostic/treatment plan is required to determine a cause and therefore treat effectively. Good luck.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi there! It sounds like Troy might be dealing with an upper respiratory infection with his sneezing, deeper breathing, and inability to cope with exercise well. Unfortunately, this would require antibiotics to treat. I would recommend calling and finding a veterinarian that treats birds. They will likely recommend an x-ray to ensure that the infection has not progressed to a severe pneumonia before treating. In the meantime, warm and humid air is easier to breathe when the respiratory tract is inflamed. You can turn on a warm shower and bring him into the bathroom for 5-10 minutes at a time. Closely watch his eating, drinking, and elimination habits during this time as well, as sick birds may also stop eating and become dehydrated. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi. Girl could have an infection or inflammation in her upper respiratory tract, or could simply be responding to the dry air in most homes this time of year with the heat on. Try taking into the bathroom when the shower is going for a little steam therapy or add a humidifier near her cage. If that doesn’t help, then a trip to the vet is warranted to make sure there isn’t anything more serious going on.

Thanks for reaching out about Pip. A veterinary visit is recommended as seems very sick. Remove perches and place a soft towel on the bottom of the cage, for comfort. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range for aid. Lethargy and conjunctivitis are possibly chlamydophilosis, which is potentially contagious to humans. Isolate from other birds. Good luck.