Raspy Voice

[Falconbiscuit]

When I came home today, Ruby had a particularly raspy voice. When I say raspy, I mean as though she had a sore throat. I doesn't seem too bad as she's her normal self, but my father told me that next door (a building site) was cutting wood and welding today. Typical me being paranoid, I immediately took her inside.

My dad also told me today that she wasn't screaming very much at him (an impossible feat for her, she very much dislikes him). I'm worried that maybe the fumes from the welding or chips from the wood cutting could have affected her. I've emailed my avian vet, but i don't think he'll tell me much other than to come in and see him (he's four hours away, plus visits are $450 and I don't really want to drive there at this time of day, and pay when it could be just nothing). I was hoping anyone here could shed some light on this situation? I'm hoping it's not serious. Thankyou!!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi,

The 'voice box' of birds is called the syrinx and it is located at the end of the trachea (windpipe) where the trachea splits into two to go to each lung. Because of this location, anything in the air that is inhaled can often 'settle out' here at this split of the trachea and can then affect the syrinx.

These things that can settle down but can also be problematic, bacteria or fungal spores can cause infections in this syrinx area. In some cases, a piece of food or seed could lodge here and this could then also cause a problem or have an infection develop.

Keep a close eye on your bird but a visit to the AV would not hurt, better safe then sorry. Just a thought about leaving your bird outside without you there, not a good idea IMO as you are not there to assess the environment at all times. It doesnt take much to kill a bird and not worth the risks I feel.