Very faint light- rust color in nares?

[noodles123]

Noodles was in some very bright sunlight today and I noticed that her nares (normal looking in normal light) had a faint rust coloring in them (not visible in typical lighting). At first, I thought it was just one and called the vet---turns out both looked that way and it was very discrete but I never noticed it (not sure I ever really looked that closely in that lighting though). I had an appointment for Saturday already and I thought about bringing her in today, but the roads aren't great and she is acting okay (eating normally with her random bursts of energy). I will say she has seemed very needy and hormonal (grabbing tail feathers a bit and quivering in a sexual way when petted on her head for more than a few seconds) but we went in last month and she was acting the same way (and it all checked out ). This has happened before (seasonally) but I never noticed the slight rust color in her nares...it's not very obvious----very discrete (heck, not sure I would have noticed it in the past- but I did today ugh). For a visual, it was like the color of a VERY subtle reddish tan (like rust diluted with grey/white paint)--no discharge or excessive sneezing---and no breathing issues (no tail bobbing etc).
The average person wouldn't have seen it---it was just that the lighting was right.

Should I be worried?
I still have my appointment for Saturday's beak and nail trim....I just couldn't bring myself to take her in today as she was so scared acting when I put her in her travel cage...

 

[SailBoat]

With this being very faint and likely very small, I would recommend keeping an eye of that general area at this point.

What could it be?
- Possibility that it is a tiny blood vessel just below the surface in that area. The color would not be bright red as it likely is cooler as heat is pulled to warm that area. IMHO, that is way out there, but possible.

- Just as likely, way out there, this is a thin deposit of iron from the diet being a bit high on the mineral contain. Clearly, recent blood screens would have shown this mineral a bit higher than normal.

- Discoloration from impurities in the air laying along the surface, which is more likely than above.

- The oddity of the light and its reflection from the structures in that area. This is the most likely.

The true determination will come Saturday when an expert will examine the nares. So, Deep, Relaxing, Breathing at this point.

 

[noodles123]

Thank you--- I wanted to bring her in, but her reaction, coupled with my own fear that it was nothing, gave me pause.
I know I rarely see her in this lighting and if it is nothing, I hate to traumatize her unnecessarily...Especially because she is going in Saturday (as you said).
Her last blood-work was about 1 year ago, so she is due. I will see if they can run tests Saturday. Thank you!

 

[Laurasea]

Might be low humidity causing it? I hope nothing more than a mammas worry. Let us know Saturday.

 

[noodles123]

I asked the vet about humidity and he said it was possible--our humidifier broke so I just bought a new one but I am not sure I should use it based on reviews--still researching and contemplating a return. THANKS!

 

[SailBoat]

Just a bit of rambling here about blood screens.

IMHO, I prefer odd counts in months between blood screening: like every 3 months - following a sick Parrot. Like every 9 months - following a recovering or closer watched Parrot. And lastly, every 15 months - for a healthy Parrot.

Why: With time, any of these schedules will provide testing in each quarter of a year, which will allow a view of the effects of different times of the year.

This, at first, doesn't make much sense until one considers that each quarter provides different challenges and variations in diet 'sources.' Thus a wider look at
possible variation in a blood screen effected by those changes.

Yes, not huge, but can help if one begins to see a minor change and with a history of this type, one can compare that change based on that history as well as the current moment.

 

[noodles123]

Took her to the CAV this morning for a beak and nail trim and discussed my concerns--he said that based on her sinus action, throat, nares, etc she is in great shape. He said they can sometimes get food in their nares and he wondered if what I saw was either that or a trick of the lighting. He suggested that I take her into the bathroom with steam if she is reluctant to bathe, even though she showed no indications of respiratory distress (it is a good preventative measure). I asked about a gram stain and blood-work and he said based on everything he saw (poop included) he would not recommend either. He's really good (bird surgeon CAV etc) so I do believe him. Thanks for your help everyone!

He also said that it is likely her hormonal period---asked about last molt and she did have quite a few pin feathers a few months back. Anyway, he said they usually molt and then go into breeding mode during this time of year.
Her behavior is probably off because of that.

ps- she had a ton of bloodwork just last year and she had a gram-stain about 2 months back (all good).

 

[Laurasea]

Steam what great advice! I'll rember that one!

 

[Scott]

Glad to hear a comprehensive and positive outcome for Noodles!!

 

[SailBoat]

Two thumbs up!!!

Better to be safe than sorry!