Sudden Respiratory Distress

marinab · New Member Joined: Jun 10, 2013 Posts: 4

Hi, hoping someone might please have advice. We live in the country, many hours drive from the nearest avian vet and the local vet confesses to being unable to help with birds.

Last night, my indoor kakariki was not himself, hunched up and slightly laboured breathing. He was happy to come out of his cage, and was eating. I put Spark in the water. This morning he is the same, not himself, and there is an audible whistle as he breathes, with some tail bobbing. His beak is open most of the time and he occasionally sits with his eyes closed. He is however reasonably alert otherwise, and is eating, but he keeps wiping his beak on his perch. There is no discharge from nostril or eyes. He is just coming up for three years old and until now has been in perfect health. I've moved the other birds (not kakis) away from him, but I fear losing him. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you very much in advance.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Birds tend to show no symptoms till get very sick.
Sounds like either a lung infection or a crop worm andor bacterial infection.
Does he sneeze every so often?

Treatment for both of these are beyond the general home remedy type of thing and if not attended to quickly often fatal.
A vet would take crop samples , determine bacterial type (+ or - type) does directly into the ctop and or lung anto botic / worming chemicals... then hold over night at least in a warm temp controlled cage.

If I where in your situation, could not get to a vet..and doing nothing could be fatal... I would mist spray the bird and cage with soln 50/50 vinegar ....put about 10% soln into his water....
If had any antibiotics around... work out your body weight, the birds then crush/ break open the capsule... divide up on a glass plate or similar with a razor blade in to dose size.
hold in the fridge.
Dose as per instructions on the container with the 1st being 2 to 3 x amount.
to dose, take a small bit of butter and pick up the powder with it .. the bird will take it very easy... may6 just wipe it on a cage bar
May help to give him a couple small bits before hand so he knows what it is
Cheese works well to.

Even so I still strongly suggest getting to or at least consult a vet ASAP

marinab · New Member Joined: Jun 10, 2013 Posts: 4

Thank you so much, Steptoe. I will follow your advice completely and hope it's not too late for my bird. I'm amazed he's still with us this morning, so maybe a miracle is still possible. It's very kind of you to take the trouble to write such a detailed reply and I appreciate it.

Best wishes

Marinab

marinab · New Member Joined: Jun 10, 2013 Posts: 4

PS - no, he's not sneezing, no sign of mucous anywhere still either, droppings still normal and eating a little.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Have u contacted a vet yet?

And notes of appreciation like that make it worth while maintining the site and servers all these yrs
Thank you
hope all works out ok
Cheers
Steps