My parakeet has a wet brown nose stain and is breathing hard, what's wrong?

If you are seeing discharge from Pegasus' nose or he is having trouble breathing, it is possible he has a respiratory infection ongoing that needs to be seen and treated by a vet to get him feeling better. Until you can get to the vet, keeping his nose clear of debris with a clean washcloth, and keeping him warm and eating and drinking may also help.

I am sorry Pearl is not feeling well. I would recommend taking Pearl to the vet for a good physical exam. My concern is that birds can get upper respiratory infections and sinus issues. If the nasal passage is blocked a vet can usually flush the sinus and use antibiotics to help. Hopefully Pearl is not sick but I would recommend having a vet look at Pearl to be on the safe side. Hope she feels better soon

Thanks for reaching out about Bella. Nasal aspergillosis would be a concern. A deep nasal fungal culture should be submitted, and tested for sensitivity to anti-fungals. Nasal flushes could help dislodge the rhinoliths (nasal plugs). Steam treatments might also help keep nasal passages open. Still, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Ouch! It looks like there may be a fungal infection or growth of some sort that is blocking the nostrils. If current medications haven't helped, another trip to the vet to have a sample taken and sent to a lab for testing, as well as having your vet flush out the nostrils may make it easier for John to breathe and help get him feeling better. In the meantime, keeping the nose as clean and free of debris as you can at home may make it easier for him to breathe.

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.

Some crusting can happen when a bird is ready to mate, but that looks a bit more than that -- It is possible your bird has a respiratory issue going on, a fungal infection taking hold in the nostrils, or another type of infection/illness. It would be best to bring him to a vet to have the area flushed out and treatment started for any underlying infection. Separating him to a hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water may also help to prevent the spread of any illness and to keep Ocean comfortable if your other parakeet is picking on him until you can be seen by your vet. You can also use a warm washcloth to try and remove any debris to make him more comfortable.

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!