Why is my lovebird lethargic, breathing heavily, and sneezing?

Unfortunately, these symptoms point to illness. A visit to your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet would be recommended. Birds are quite adept at concealing illness, so by the time they are showing symptoms, they are already quite ill. For now, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the bottom and change daily. Keep the cage away from strong drafts and keep your budgie warm and as stress free as possible until she sees the doctor.

Sneezing and wheezing are definitely cause for concern in birds, as they normally breathe through their nose (nares). It can be caused by bacterial and viral infections. It is important to have your bird seen by the vet to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment soon, as the condition can spread to the air sacs and lungs if untreated.

Poor little birdie! What a cutie too. It is quite possible he could have some dehydration or loss of energy due to his excursion, or could have become injured or caught some illness. If his lethargy continues, he seems to be sneezing frequently, he isn't eating well, or he seems puffed up/hunched over or is sitting on the floor of his cage then I would bring him into the vet for an examination.

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.

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.

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.

He should be examined by your veterinarian or by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds. Lethargy, chronic regurgitation and loss of balance would be serious symptoms in a young bird. Given Tweety's age, he should be seen as soon as you can get an appointment. Birds are very good at hiding illness or injury until it is quite serious. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the vet. Do not allow him to fly and remove or lower perches to prevent injury from falls. Consider feeding a commercial handfeeding formula temporarily or soaked commercial pellets to get some food into him.