Cockatiel chick wheezing and coughing HELP

[mc.nazzer]

Hello I have a 7 week old cockatiel chick I am hand rearing and it's become really wheezy and sneezing a lot. What do I do?? Thanks


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[GaleriaGila]

Calling our cockatiel (and other) experts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kentuckienne]

I expect the experts will advise you should take the little thing to the vet's as soon as you can. With hand feeding, it might be possible for food to be aspirated and cause pneumonia, etc. Coughing and sneezing are usually very dire symptoms. Someone with experience handfeeding babies might also have a good observation. You shouldn't have to wait long..

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

I've handfed budgies, and I would be extremely worried if your chick is coughing and wheezing. My first thought is aspiration, as Kentuckienne has pointed out. This can often be fatal in chicks, and needs to be addressed by an avian vet as soon as possible. Aspirating a chick can be extremely easy, especially in a smaller bird with an inexperienced handfeeder.

 

[mc.nazzer]

I expect the experts will advise you should take the little thing to the vet's as soon as you can. With hand feeding, it might be possible for food to be aspirated and cause pneumonia, etc. Coughing and sneezing are usually very dire symptoms. Someone with experience handfeeding babies might also have a good observation. You shouldn't have to wait long..

Thank you, the vets here are closed currently but am hoping to get him to the vets tomorrow if he doesn't improve. He is acting fine in himself?


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[mc.nazzer]

I've handfed budgies, and I would be extremely worried if your chick is coughing and wheezing. My first thought is aspiration, as Kentuckienne has pointed out. This can often be fatal in chicks, and needs to be addressed by an avian vet as soon as possible. Aspirating a chick can be extremely easy, especially in a smaller bird with an inexperienced handfeeder.

I'm pretty sure I haven't aspirated him however like you said it is very easy to do . Just hoping there is something I can do


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[OutlawedSpirit]

I'm pretty sure I haven't aspirated him however like you said it is very easy to do . Just hoping there is something I can do


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It wouldn't take much to aspirate him, and you probably wouldn't notice if you did, unless you got a lot of food in his lungs. Just a tiny drop of handfeeding formula could be enough to introduce and encourage a major bacterial infection. I do hope you get him to an avian vet soon.

 

[mc.nazzer]

There must be something I can do for him?


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[OutlawedSpirit]

I don't know if there is much you can do for him, other than take him to an avian vet. If it is a bacterial infection, he needs antibiotics, and needs them soon. You could call an emergency vet near you and talk to them, they sometimes have an avian vet on call that they can at least consult with to get treatment started.

 

[mc.nazzer]

Ok thanks, does it have to be a specific avian vet as there is none near me, however the website of the one I use say they treat avian species?


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[OutlawedSpirit]

An avain vet would be preferable, but at this point, I would say see any vet willing to see a bird. They may at least be able to consult with an avian vet. I normally wouldn't suggest just any vet that will see a bird, as they often don't know as much as an avian vet would, but if it is that or no vet, then please, contact them.

 

[mc.nazzer]

Well I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow just wanted to know if there was anything I could do?


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[OutlawedSpirit]

Keep him warm and comfortable, make sure he stays hydrated, and in a calm environment. I do hope he makes it, for the symptoms you describe are very worrisome.

 

[plumsmum2005]

You need a vet that has had training in Exotics/birds really. If they have then it's OK.

All avian veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which is achieved after a comprehensive course of study on both small and large animal species.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Plumsmum gives good advice. Birds are difficult to diagnose and treat even for avian vets, and the additional training and experience can make the difference between life and death.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Plumsmum gives good advice. Birds are difficult to diagnose and treat even for avian vets, and the additional training and experience can make the difference between life and death.

Steady on

 

[Scott]

Ok thanks, does it have to be a specific avian vet as there is none near me, however the website of the one I use say they treat avian species?


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While an avian vet is overwhelmingly preferred, a vet who has some expertise is better than none. They can at least listen to the lungs, perhaps do some basic lab work, and prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics. Many antibiotics have cross-species application and will be in their pharmacy.

Good luck, hope your baby does well. Please keep us advised!

 

[Tropical]

Hope your birdie is OK please keep us posted! Good luck

 

[mc.nazzer]

Hello, well I took the little guy to the vets and they think that he may have a nose infection rather than aspirated food as his nose was all blocked up. He has now had his nose flushed and I have to keep a close eye on it, to make sure it doesn't build up again


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[plumsmum2005]

Pleased that you have been to see the vet with your little one. Did you receive any meds for him? Any ideas what caused the infection?