My lovebird is sneezing and wheezing. Is she sick? Should I see a vet?

An occasional sneeze with no discharge or other symptoms (lethargy, loose droppings, difficulty breathing, etc) is no cause for concern. Monitor for any progression or additional symptoms and see a veterinarian if necessary.

The best thing you can do is have Loki examined by a veterinarian. When birds show signs of illness they can get very sick very quickly. Antibiotics may be needed. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the symptoms. You can refer to this link for more information: ( http://parrotfeather.com/budgie/faq/sneezing/ )

That does sound like Sunshine may be ill, however these are all very vague symptoms of illness rather than pointing to one thing. It is a good idea to bring Sunshine into your vet for an exam if these symptoms continue to rule out issues such as respiratory illnesses or underlying disease. In the meantime,keeping her in a warm hospital cage away from dirt and dust and with easy access to food and water may help keep her comfortable.

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.

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.

The signs that you are describing are consistent with material in her upper airways (i.e. her nose). This material may be just be normal build up that can occur over time, or it could be due to an underlying infection. To help with this at home, you can try giving her baths, as this may moisten up the material to make it easier for her to get out. Baths can be provided by taking her into the bathroom with you while you take a steaming shower, or you can mist her with a spray bottle (don't spray her directly, just spray over the top of her and let the water droplets fall on her like rain). I didn't see you mention how old she was, but sometimes it is harder for older birds to expel material from their noses because of decreased mobility in their legs/feet. They use their toes to "pick" their noses, so if they have arthritis or another reason for a decrease in mobility, this can be hard for them. If this doesn't not improve the situation, or if you notice a decrease in activity, appetite, or weight, I would recommend taking Luna to a veterinarian. To monitor her weight at home, you can purchase a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section of most department stores) - weigh her every other day to every day if possible. At the veterinarian, they would perform an examination of Luna, and could collect some of the material to evaluate under the microscope to look for abnormal cells or excessive bacteria. They may also flush her nose and collect that material to look for any possible infections. Please do not try to flush her nose on your own at home, as you may risk drowning her. Depending on what is found, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatories as well. Please do not give Luna any human medications, as many of these can be harmful to our feathered friends. For options for veterinary clinics, there appear to be some that state that they see birds in the Austin area, so that may be an option for you? You can also find avian veterinarians in your area by using the AAV website. I hope that gives you a place to start!

I'm sorry to hear Frank isn't doing well, and by the symptoms you mentioned it sounds as if he's pretty ill. You mentioned you don't have a vet nearby, but if you can find any vet that may see him at all, that is best. There isn't much you can do at home without knowing the cause. You can try moving him to a hospital cage away from other birds that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water, however if he is having trouble breathing, gasping for air, or sneezing uncontrollably, seeking vet care is needed.