Cockatiel inhaled sewage: How to help her recover and when to see vet?

Unfortunately, the symptoms you described are very vague signs of illness, so it would be hard to say what is going on without an exam in person. It's good that you're keeping her separated, and I would do so by keeping her in a warm hospital cage to see if that helps her improve. It's possible the diarrhea could be due to a diet change and the stress of coming to a new home, so giving her a day or two to see if she improves may help. Checking for parasites, and making sure she's on a balanced diet (removing any snacks or fruits and veggies for a few days if she has GI upset) may also help. As for the toe, that is very common in commercially bred birds. If it is causing trouble I would have it examined when you are able, but provide low, flat perches and platforms for her to hang out on in the meantime. This can help her stretch the toe and have a place to relax without losing balance. If she doesn't improve in a day or so, or seems to get worse, it is best to try and find a bird vet in your area that can see her right away.

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.

He needs to be seen by a veterinarian if he is ill. Providing a warm environment, simulating a warm incubator, could give aid, but a veterinary visit is warranted. Without knowing what the clinical signs are for the illness, can not give any other advice. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Aquafina. This sounds serious and a veterinary visit is needed s soon as possible. A respiratory infection (bacterial, fungal), aspiration of food into the trachea, enlarged organs (liver, etc.) or infectious diseases like chlamydophilosis, are all possible. Heat support is important aiming for a constant temperature of 85-90 F. This is a case for a veterinarian not to be dealt with at home. Good luck.

Unfortunately, those are very vague symptoms of illness that can be caused by a great number of things including GI upset, nutritional issues, parasites, illness, etc. You can try a few things at home first to see if it helps Ria improve. If you are feeding her many extras such as fruits and veggies, these can sometimes cause loose stool. Removing these extras and feeding only her regular balanced diet for a few days may help this clear up. If the problem continues, she may need to see a vet (if you don't have a bird-specific vet, a regular one may still see her) to check for parasites or other more serious issues which will need to be treated. If she is very ill, moving her to a hospital cage away from other birds to prevent the spread of illness and being picked on, and providing her easy access to food and water may help until you can get vet care.

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.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Most of the time if we're going to see a bird get sick from exposure to fumes, those symptoms show up pretty quickly. Often we'll see respiratory distress within the first hour. So, if he's still acting completely fine, you're probably in the clear. However, I'd recommend making sure he's in a well-ventilated non-stressful environment and keep a close eye on him for the rest of the day. Hope this helps!