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Why is my old cockatiel shaky and has blood in her droppings?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Cockatiel | Female | 13 years and 6 months old

I have a 13 year old cockatiel that is shaky and has blood in her stool today. Is there any treatable problem that I can have her seen by a vet for or is this age related disease process.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM

Veterinarian

Published on December 5th, 2018

Thanks for your question, and I am sorry that this is happening to Pete! There are a number of things that can cause blood in the droppings, and many of them are treatable. I saw that Pete is a female - I’m not sure if she has ever laid eggs, but problems with the reproductive system can result in blood. Also, infections in the urinary or gastrointestinal tract can also result in blood. These are treatable, or manageable, for the most part. I would recommend taking Pete to a veterinarian as she is about halfway through her lifespan now, so she may have many years left!
After an exam, your vet may recommend blood work to evaluate systemic health or radiographs. They will also make recommendations about treatments, which may include pain medications or antibiotics. Please don’t give Pete any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our feathered friends.
I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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