My macaw is breathing heavily, not eating or drinking. When to worry?

If Borah is panting heavily and has stopped eating or drinking, it may indicate that he is feeling unwell or has an underlying illness. Removing him to a hospital cage away from other birds, keeping him warm, and providing easy access to food and water may help, however if he is having a very hard time breathing or is refusing to eat or drink at all, seeking veterinary care immediately is best to rule out issues such as illness, infection, or injury causing his problems.

Panting alone doesn't point to any particular thing, however if Parrot hasn't been active and is just panting from sitting there, that could indicate an issue with the heart or lungs, or extreme stress or illness. In that case, a vet visit is best to check for the cause and get him treated. If he is panting after activity such as flying around a lot, being chased by a hand, etc, giving him time to rest and relax and return to normal is best--however if he doesn't, vet care is a good idea.

Heavy breathing can be a sign of a number of things, including stress, changes in temperature, and sometimes illness. Birds do breathe by moving their chests in and out, and it is often more visible than other pets, however if she is heavily breathing, open mouthed panting, or has her wings away from her body those can all indicate stress or distress. If she doesn't calm down after being moved to a quiet, cool location, or shows other signs of illness in addition to the heavy breathing, seeking veterinary care is best. A vet exam is a good idea anyway since she was recently acquired and possibly not in good condition when you got her.

No, it is not normal. birds do not show signs of disease until the disease is in a very late stage in most cases, heavy breathing is a sign of a respiratory disease, you should take him to an avian vet specialist ASAP.

This could be an indication of a respiratory infection which can become very serious. I would recommend taking your bird in to the vet to be examined. In the meantime, make sure there is clean, fresh air for Venus to breathe. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Based on the symptoms you are describing I would be concerned that the bird is either not getting enough nutrition or that he has aspirated some of the food and now is developing pneumonia. My best recommendation for you is to have your bird examined by an avian veterinarian. If your bird did aspirate he will need some antibiotics to help with the infection. Your bird may also need supplemental oxygen while the infection is getting under control. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Penny. Stress can definitely lead to depression and inappetence. But so can illness. Most birds should be quarantined upon acquisition so they can be accessed prior to introduction to the other bird. For now, provide supplemental heat to make her more comfortable. If she continues to be tired and not eat, a veterinary visit is needed soon. Good luck.