Why is my cockatiel suddenly losing balance or falling over?

Pretty boy is very sick, but i couldn't tell you what is wrong based on these very general symptoms, you will need to take him to an avian vet urgently where a blood test and faecal exam will be done to determine what is the cause of the disease, then it will be possible to treat him accordingly.

Loss of balance is a very concerning sign and I would recommend bringing her to a local vet for a complete exam. Muscular and neurologic issues, underlying illness, seizures, old age, toxicity, nutritional issues and more can call cause problems with balance and requires an exam to help narrow down the possible causes. Until you can get into the vet, you can move Millet's perches closer to the floor of her cage to prevent injury if she falls, and make sure she has food and water dishes that are easy to climb in and out of if she is having trouble getting around. If you see any additional signs of illness, be sure to let your vet know.

Thanks for reaching out about Tipu. Monitor for repetition of the episode. If persistent problem, a veterinary visit is recommended. Possibilities include neurologic disorders due to ingested toxins (lead, zinc, plants, etc.), metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, head/neck trauma, infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), just to list a few. Monitor appetite. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Good luck.

If Tuddie isn't able to hold her wings properly or is losing balance and falling over, I would have her examined by your vet ASAP. These are very concerning signs that could indicate an issue such as illness, injury, or a neurologic or muscular condition that is causing her problems. Until you can get to the vet, keeping her in a warm hospital cage with low, flat perches and food and water dishes she can easily get in and out of may help make her more comfortable.

Thanks for reaching out about Olive. Ataxia or loss of balance can be an inner ear infection, paramyxovirus and other viruses, ingested or inhaled toxins, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assist. Monitor water and food intake. If continues to fall, lower perches and provide a towel on bottom of cage to soften falling. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Bato. He needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, so this probably means as an emergency. On the bottom of the cage and ataxic (unable to stand) can be due to ingested/inhaled toxins, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), heart problems, malnutrition, infectious diseases (viral, bacterial) and other causes. A diagnosis is needed to properly treat. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a treatment. Offering water through a syringe might determine if strong enough to swallow. Good luck.

You really should get him to your vet for an exam. Gout is a very strong possibility. Gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in body tissues, especially the joints. Gout can cause difficulty perching due to painful swollen joints. It is a common problem in pet birds, although it is different than the disease in people. In birds, gout is often associated with kidney failure and treatment aims to address both the painful joints and the underlying disease. Other conditions can also cause a bird to have a weakened grip. Arthritis can affect the toes. Many birds develop a foot infection called pododermatitis or “bumble foot”. Nutritional deficiencies will play a role in the development of many of these conditions. Make sure your bird has no exposure to lead or zinc. Some neurologic problems cause similar signs and should be ruled out. In addition, older birds may develop tumors that will impact the ability to walk or stand. As you can see, any number of conditions can result in his difficulty with his feet. I would recommend that you start by having a physical examination performed by a veterinarian experienced with treating birds. Your veterinarian will evaluate him and make treatment recommendations based on the diagnosis.