Why does my old lovebird have a dirty vent and what should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Chirp. You'll have to restrain with a soft towel and rinse under warm water in the sink. But this is possibly a bacterial infection, viral disease, metabolic disorder and others, and a veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort. Good luck.

Hello. While having a spiked vent isn’t itself dangerous, it does signal that something is amiss. When birds pass droppings, they actually every the cloaca very slightly and project the combined urofeces out away from the body, so the vent should actually be clean in a healthy bird. If Angel has a soiled vent, I would be worried about diarrhea, or weakness that is affecting his ability to eject the feces properly so instead it covers the feathers on its way out. The best course of action would be to have Angel seen by a veterinarian who can do an exam and try to determine if there is an infection or other issue present. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Sarikiz and including pictures. Intestinal infections, liver disease, and kidney disease are some of the common causes for loose stool/diarrhea. Lees likely for an ingested foreign body if the clinical signs have persisted for this long period of time. Keeping her cloaca (vent) clean with a warm wet washcloth might help decrease discomfort. A veterinary visit is probably needed for a diagnosis and treatments. Good luck.

Budgies hide ill-health well, and a dirty vent might be your bird's only symptom. Sometimes diarrhea only lasts a day or two, but longer-lasting problems indicate a more serious condition, requiring a visit to the vet. Dangers of diarrhea include waste build-up due to clogged vents, and intestinal damage from blocked ducts. Diarrhea makes him at risk from dehydration, weakness, lack of appetite and weight loss. Extreme cases lead to fits and starvation. Checking your bird's poop when he has a dirty vent can give useful information. Normal droppings are soft, olive-green to brown and coiled or cylindrical. Poop that's very dark, very pale, liquid, lumpy, dry, sticky or bubbly mean illness and need vet attention. Green-stained vents often mean poor quality feed and usually appear within 24 hours of eating new food. Providing healthier food should make symptoms disappear. One check of feed quality is biting. Grains should split cleanly and be hard to bite. Intestinal inflammation causes most diarrhea in budgies, due to bacterial or fungal infections. Vets can test for infections and treat with antibiotics. Worms, gut changes due to abnormal growths, viruses, liver disease and problems with egg production can also cause diarrhea. Less obvious causes of upset tummies are stress from a change in environment and over-use of antibiotics, causing an imbalance in normal gut bacteria. Vets can use probiotics and prebiotics to re-introduce healthy bacteria. Sick budgies need to be kept warm to conserve energy, and clean water is important in preventing dehydration. When he's lost his appetite, tempt your bird with his favorite treats, or offer specially-designed, easily digested feeds. Some budgies love soaked millet sprays. Cold, sweet black tea provides fluids and energy from sugar, and tannin in tea coats his intestines. Intensive nursing can often help in cases without a specific cause.

Thanks for your question, and thank you for the photo! When we see crusting around the nostrils and on the cere, it can be due to excess keratin/hyperkeratosis, or it may be actual material on the skin itself. If it is excess keratin, often suboptimal nutrition is the culprit. The most common nutrient that is involved in this is a deficiency in vitamin A. If it is material on the skin itself, this is often related to an infectious process, sort of like a runny nose with a cold. Due to this, I would recommend having Kiwi evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform a physical examination and see if there are any other signs of vitamin deficiencies, and to see if there are any signs consistent with infection. Depending on the findings, they will recommend diagnostic testing and/or treatments that you can elect to pursue. Diets that are mainly seeds are often the culprit for a lack of vitamin A, and by adding pellets or vegetables into the diet this can be addressed. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and I hope that Kiwi feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Kiwi and including a good photo. This is probably otitis externa (outer ear infection) with possible inner ear involvement. These infections are usually bacterial or yeast, so a veterinary visit is needed to determine the cause. Systemic medications are probably best. Vitamin A deficiency could be an underlying component, so a review of the diet by the veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

If Zachary will allow, gently clean the feathers around his vent. A bath or misting a couple times a week may help keep him clean and promote healthy plumage. The change in diet may account for the issue. As long as he is behaving normally, monitor him and enjoy your new winged friend! Symptoms that would be of concern are lethargy, perching all fluffed up, decreased appetite, loose droppings or sitting at the bottom of the cage.