My recently rescued parakeet has heavy breathing. What's wrong?

No, it is not normal. birds do not show signs of disease until the disease is in a very late stage in most cases, heavy breathing is a sign of a respiratory disease, you should take him to an avian vet specialist ASAP.

This is a very serious problem in a bird and indicates illness. What you are describing sounds most like an upper repiratory infection or illness. Your bird needs to see a vet right away. Birds are good at hiding illness and are often sicker then you think. Using a small cage or small aquarium (lined in paper towel and have a screen lid) with a heating pad on low underneath, can help your bird out until you get to a vet.

Panting alone doesn't point to any particular thing, however if Parrot hasn't been active and is just panting from sitting there, that could indicate an issue with the heart or lungs, or extreme stress or illness. In that case, a vet visit is best to check for the cause and get him treated. If he is panting after activity such as flying around a lot, being chased by a hand, etc, giving him time to rest and relax and return to normal is best--however if he doesn't, vet care is a good idea.

If Borah is panting heavily and has stopped eating or drinking, it may indicate that he is feeling unwell or has an underlying illness. Removing him to a hospital cage away from other birds, keeping him warm, and providing easy access to food and water may help, however if he is having a very hard time breathing or is refusing to eat or drink at all, seeking veterinary care immediately is best to rule out issues such as illness, infection, or injury causing his problems.

This could be an indication of a respiratory infection which can become very serious. I would recommend taking your bird in to the vet to be examined. In the meantime, make sure there is clean, fresh air for Venus to breathe. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Open mouth breathing in a bird can be a sign of respiratory infection. I would recommend taking Jada in to see an avian veterinarian as soon as possible as respiratory infections can be very serious in birds. In the meantime, I would recommend making sure Jada has plenty of fresh, clean water and her favorites foods available so she does not stop eating. You may also want to try placing her in a room with a humidifier (or in the bathroom to breathe in steam from the shower) to help open the airways. Jada will likely need antibiotics and possibly X-rays and blood work. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Respiratory distress can be caused by a number of things including stress, overheating, or even an underlying illness. If something stressed Romeo out, moving him to a quiet room where he can calm down is a good first step. Making sure he isn't too hot or too cold and the room is well-ventilated, along with providing a bath can also help if he is too warm or overheating. If he continues to be in distress with open-mouthed breathing and doesn't settle down, or you see other signs of illness, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.