My bird is sick. What can I do at home if I can't afford a vet?

Reach out to the local humane society or animal rescue, as they sometimes have connections that assist people with veterinary bills. Contact your local vet and ask if something can be worked out. Borrow money from friends or family. If she is egg bound or ill for other reasons, not much can be done at home. Supplemental heat in the 80-85 F can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Offer water via a small syringe. Good luck.

Potential causes include infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites), trauma/injury, toxicity or malnutrition. It is critical to have the underlying cause(s) diagnosed before an effective treatment can be administered. Until you do that, you're simply guessing and possibly wasting time. Millie needs to be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep her warm and as stress free as possible. Use a hand feeding formula and warm water to make a mash or paste that she may eat. You can also soak a pelleted diet in a small amount of apple juice to stimulate the appetite. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Ask friends and family to assist you financially if possible.

If you are concerned about the budgie yiu should take it to an avian vet as it could be a number of things. Birds are very sensitive so need to be treated promptly if something is wrong. There are no appropriate home treatments.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do from home without veterinary care if she is already showing signs of illness. However there are some things that may help make her more comfortable to hopefully make it until your vet appointment. Keeping her in a small hospital cage that is kept warm can help with body temperature regulation. Perches should be low to the ground or removed completely, and soft bedding placed at the bottom of the cage in case she falls. Having food and water (if she is still eating on her own) in shallow dishes she can get in and out of even if weak is best. If she's not eating or drinking, you may need to make a slurry of baby bird food and water and drop feed it to her to help keep her energy up. Otherwise, monitoring her and any changes in her symptoms can help when your vet is able to see her.

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 your finch and including photos. A veterinary visit is recommended but understand if one is not available, but only limited things can be done at home. Weakness can have multiple causes, with infections being only one possibility. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Finches eat primarily seed but also need a vitamin/mineral/protein support in the form of a wide variety of vegetables. Provide a soft bedding/towels on the bottom of the cage to protect if falls. Good luck.

An exam may range between $40 and $60. If you see specialist, it may be closer to $100. A fecal exam shouldn't be more than $20-30. Cost will vary by geographic location and clinic, so the best option would be to contact a local veterinarian and ask for an estimate. Most clinics will provide one as a matter of hospital policy.