Cockatiel smells like Lysol?

[Skiatha]

I just uncovered my cockatiel's cage this morning and found her with her head-and only her head- soaked and reeking of some kind of strong cleaning solution. We don't use cleaning sprays or anything that smells like what she was smelling like.

She appears otherwise healthy and her stool was normal. No matter how much I bathe her, the smell won't go away and her head has a wet appearance even after drying.

The earliest I can get her to a vet is this evening, but does anyone have any idea what in the world is going on??

 

[Scott]

Certainly strange, anybody else live in or have access to your residence?

If not cleaning solution, might it be a metabolic process or disease?

 

[Skiatha]

Certainly strange, anybody else live in or have access to your residence?

If not cleaning solution, might it be a metabolic process or disease?

I do have three other roommates that I all grilled for clues, but they've all been out for the long weekend so it was just me and the bird. The only other people with access to the apartment are the housing management, but they won't enter without our permission.

I got back too late to go to the vet today, so I administered charcoal powder in the meantime and will go to see them tomorrow if her condition worsens.

For now she is still pretty active, vocalizing, etc and I managed to finally dry out her feathers. She still smells like cleaning solution though, a very sharp and sweet, lemony scent.

 

[Scott]

Very odd! That it was only her head suggests she may have dunked her head into a bowl of fluid. How are her eyes; any redness or irritation?

 

[Skiatha]

Very odd! That it was only her head suggests she may have dunked her head into a bowl of fluid. How are her eyes; any redness or irritation?

The only fluid in her cage is her water bowl, and I smelled it before I cleaned it. There was no smell or anything else like the cleaning fluid scent in her cage. The area around her eyes and between her eyes and beak are slightly pinker than normal but she doesn't appear irritated by it.

This morning she was her usual self, no more wet head and the smell is almost gone! Will still be keeping a close eye on her the next few days.

 

[SailBoat]

The wet head may just be a head dunking. But the smell is likely from an oral cavity from an infection or like source. Answers come from tests and evaluation of an Avian Professional.

 

[Laurasea]

There have been many suprised people who discovered a loved one who didn't want the bird around, was responsible for the abuse..... You have multiple people, and their freinds who could be responsible...
I would seel veterinary advice
But for me I'd take precautions from room mates or roommate freinds. Can you put a camera on the bird? A lock on the cage??
I hope that a mean act of animal cruelty isn't the cause, and you find answers

 

[Skiatha]

There have been many suprised people who discovered a loved one who didn't want the bird around, was responsible for the abuse..... You have multiple people, and their freinds who could be responsible...
I would seel veterinary advice
But for me I'd take precautions from room mates or roommate freinds. Can you put a camera on the bird? A lock on the cage??
I hope that a mean act of animal cruelty isn't the cause, and you find answers

Update; The vet said that it might be an eye or sinus infection and prescribed Ofloxacin and Meloxicam for now.

 

[Skiatha]

The wet head may just be a head dunking. But the smell is likely from an oral cavity from an infection or like source. Answers come from tests and evaluation of an Avian Professional.

Update; The vet said that it might be an eye or sinus infection and prescribed Ofloxacin and Meloxicam for now!

 

[fiddlejen]

Update; The vet said that it might be an eye or sinus infection and prescribed Ofloxacin and Meloxicam for now!

So, for anyone who didn't already perceive how disgusting commercial fragrances are, we have it from a medical professional: the fragrance of Lysol is the same as the Odor of eye- or sinus-Infection. :56:

 

[Scott]

Makes sense, thanks for the update! Hope you see rapid improvement!!

 

[Skiatha]

UPDATE thought she was getting better but today she looked awful- red, wet face and obvious irritation. Calling the vet tomorrow to see what she says.

 

[wrench13]

Oh this poor baby! I hope she is alright.

 

[Scott]

Sorry to see a regression, so much redness.

Is the vet avian certified? Curious to know if blood and/or culture tests were performed to determine nature of infection. Vets often see "exotics" without specialized education and prescribe meds in scattershot manner. If the first antibiotic is unsuccessful, another is attempted....

 

[Laurasea]

This looks like psittacosis, it's treatable but has a long treatment time. And sometimes you will get a secondary yeast infection because of the long antibiotics treatment time. You need see an avain vet specialist, they can test and treat appropriately. Sooo sorry, also will need vet subscribe eye drops do eyes don't get damaged and scar. Also easy for them to reinfect themselves. So you need to clean every inch of the cage, I use dilute vinegar in cold water. Don't mix with hot water because will release harmful fumes. Wipe down each bar of the cage, each perch, clean bowls very well, discard soft things that can be cleaned. Vinegar is safe, can be irritating so after I finish cleaning I go back and use a water only damp cloth and wipe down everything again.
Understanding Psittacosis in Birds

 

[Laurasea]

I don't know your birds diet. If he doesn't eat pellets he might be low on vitamin D, so taking him outside in a zip tie secure cage, and because if his eyes only in dappled shade not full sun, for 15 minutes to 30 minutes three times a week will help. Feed hot red chilli peppers that will help with vitamin A they can eat seeds and all, the capsicum is also believed to be an immune booster. Because of the antibiotics please add probiotics to food, you can buy at pet store and sprinkle over food, do not add to water. Or feed a small amount of live culture yogurt, read the lable to be sure says live culture, . My birds are very willing to eat this right from my fingers as a treat. Only certain antibiotics treat psittacosis and you have to treat from two weeks to s month. ( If that's what he has, easy to test for) he needs to see a vet quickly sometimes they can die quickly from this, or they can develop a chronic form, but I wouldn't take chances. It's very treatable, they can fully recover, but reinfecting is common, so you have to be extra extra cleaning diligence during the whole treatment and after. Poor thing, please get better quickly!!!

 

[Skiatha]

Sorry to see a regression, so much redness.

Is the vet avian certified? Curious to know if blood and/or culture tests were performed to determine nature of infection. Vets often see "exotics" without specialized education and prescribe meds in scattershot manner. If the first antibiotic is unsuccessful, another is attempted....

Yes, the doctor is a certified avian and exotics vet. We didn't do a blood test the first time I saw her because Jay looked stable and she suggested we try something smaller first. However, I'm seeing her again this Friday (earliest availability) so we will likely be doing a blood test! Fingers crossed.

 

[Skiatha]

I don't know your birds diet. If he doesn't eat pellets he might be low on vitamin D, so taking him outside in a zip tie secure cage, and because if his eyes only in dappled shade not full sun, for 15 minutes to 30 minutes three times a week will help. Feed hot red chilli peppers that will help with vitamin A they can eat seeds and all, the capsicum is also believed to be an immune booster. Because of the antibiotics please add probiotics to food, you can buy at pet store and sprinkle over food, do not add to water. Or feed a small amount of live culture yogurt, read the lable to be sure says live culture, . My birds are very willing to eat this right from my fingers as a treat. Only certain antibiotics treat psittacosis and you have to treat from two weeks to s month. ( If that's what he has, easy to test for) he needs to see a vet quickly sometimes they can die quickly from this, or they can develop a chronic form, but I wouldn't take chances. It's very treatable, they can fully recover, but reinfecting is common, so you have to be extra extra cleaning diligence during the whole treatment and after. Poor thing, please get better quickly!!!

I've sent the photos to my vet and mentioned the possibility of psittacosis! However I saw that one of the most common symptoms is bright green/watery droppings, but hers are normal, more or less.
Just did a full cage cleaning anyways and put her outside in the sun for a bit as per your suggestions. Will be getting some yogurt tomorrow as well. As for the eye drops, I've been using the prescribed ofloxacin eye drops, do those count?

 

[Laurasea]

I'm glad vet gave you eye drops before that's excellent. Psittacosis doesn't not always have to have fecal symptoms. I m so glad you can get avian vet care. I hope your baby gets well soon..keep us updated, as I'm worrying over your situation.

 

[Scott]

Glad to know Jay's vet is avian certified. Good policy to begin conservatively, having the skills to progress aggressively only if required. Please keep us updated!!