Macaw breathing heavily.

[ShawsMacaws]

We own a rescue and rehome bird store and one of our Macaws has started breathing very heavily lately and coughed up some white foam looking stuff. We have been cleaning the store out and moving things around a lot and bird dust has been flying through the air from moving things where the dust has landed and settled and is not easily seen, such as on shelves. We aren't sure if we should take him to a vet or not. He is just over 7 years old and the closest vet who knows anything about birds is over an hour away and I don't want to cause the bird extra stress by sticking him in a carry cage and driving him over an hour. He had been breathing heavily like this about a month ago when we first started intense cleaning and we stopped and took him into a different room that wasn't being cleaned at the moment and he sneezed a couple times and was fine, but now the white foam he coughed up has us very concerned. I wasn't sure where to post this. please help.

 

[Pedro]

Heavy breathing is a symptom of respiratory infection. I think a Vet should look at him ASAP.

 

[JJones1719]

I agree, please get your Macaw to the Vet ASAP. Macaws cannot be around Bird dander or bird powder, their respiratory system cannot handle this, this is one main reasons Macaws and U2s should not be kept in the same room. Infections can be deadly to the Macaw so seek help now. Best of luck Joe