Why is my bird wheezing, has discharge, and feathers changing color?

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). An immediate clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for your question about Luna, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. From what I can see on the photos, the feathers may not be growing in brown, but may be discolored brown. This is frequently from discharge from the nose that then gets crusted around the nostrils on the feathers. I would recommend taking Luna in to see a veterinarian, as this discharge is often related to an infection. They can evaluate Luna closely and determine if the brown coloration is on the feathers. They may recommend administering a course of antibiotics as well. Please do not give Luna any human medications, as many of them are harmful to birds. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The amount of discharge stated is concerning. The symptoms described may indicate infection or respiratory disease. To be safe, Piper should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet. Xrays and a culture of the discharge may be indicated to diagnose illness or infection.

If you are seeing discharge from Pegasus' nose or he is having trouble breathing, it is possible he has a respiratory infection ongoing that needs to be seen and treated by a vet to get him feeling better. Until you can get to the vet, keeping his nose clear of debris with a clean washcloth, and keeping him warm and eating and drinking may also help.

Have her rechecked by your veterinarian or by an experienced avian vet. You can find one here: http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803 Do this sooner rather than later, since by the time a bird is symptomatic, it is usually quite ill. The vet may submit a swab from the mouth for culture and sensitivity. This may identify any infection causing bacteria as well as the most effective antibiotic to use in treatment. Blood work may be submitted to assess major organ function. Do not worry, only a small sample is needed. A stool sample should also be submitted to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, clean and sanitize her cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily. A grate should be used to prevent her from reaching her droppings or fallen food that could be contaminated. Survey the area around her cage for any cold drafts or other negative stimuli. If you use air fresheners or essential oils, do not use them around her. The same goes for non stick cookware. The wheezing and tail bobbing may indicate respiratory infection which can usually be treated with antibiotics, but it can be caused by parasites or viruses which will not be affected by these medications.

By your description, there may be some respiratory issues developing. A respiratory infection is quite serious in birds. Ideally, Cricket should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet for diagnosis and treatment. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor.

Sneezing and wheezing are definitely cause for concern in birds, as they normally breathe through their nose (nares). It can be caused by bacterial and viral infections. It is important to have your bird seen by the vet to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment soon, as the condition can spread to the air sacs and lungs if untreated.