sneezing and nasal discharge in birds

Sneezing and Nasal Discharge in Birds

We all sneeze. It is a reflexive response to irritation in the nasal cavity and it’s commonly accompanied by a runny nose. Like people, most normal birds will sneeze occasionally in an attempt to clear dust and debris from their nostrils. But should you ever be concerned when your bird sneezes?

If your bird occasionally sneezes a clear fluid (less than once or twice a day) and has no other symptoms, he is probably just exercising the normal mechanism to clear his nostrils. There are many causes of sneezing and nasal discharge in birds. A few of the most common include:

What To Watch For

What Your Vet Might Do

Depending on the severity of the discharge, the sneezing episodes, or how long the problem has been going on, your veterinarian will recommend specific diagnostic tests. But first he or she will want a thorough history of the problem. Be prepared to answer these questions:

Treatment

If your bird exhibits severe symptoms, especially difficulty breathing, lethargy and loss of appetite, he will require hospitalization and extensive, long-term treatment. On the other hand, birds with mild nasal discharge and no other symptoms can be treated on an outpatient basis. Some of the following treatments may reduce the severity of the symptoms and provide relief for your pet:

At Home Care

If your bird’s discharge is a clear, thin fluid and he exhibits no other symptoms, there are a few things you can do to help:

The type of discharge produced will usually vary with the cause. Serous discharges (clear, thin fluid) may be caused by environmental irritants, allergies or early stages of infectious diseases. Purulent (thick, yellowish) discharges or caseous (thick, dry) discharges usually are seen with infectious diseases. With severe disease such a fungal infectious or neoplasia (cancer) the discharge may become blood tinged. These types of destructive processes will often cause erosion or deformation of the nasal cavity.

Possible causes of sneezing and nasal discharge include:

Diagnosis In-depth

A thorough history is an essential component of the diagnosis. Be prepared to tell your veterinarian:

Treatment In-depth

There are many causes of sneezing and nasal discharge and the cause must be identified for proper treatment. Diseases — which can cause severe destruction of the nasal cavity and sinuses — such as Aspergillosis, many bacterial infections or neoplasia (cancer), will require hospitalization and extensive, long term treatment. On the other hand, birds with mild nasal discharge and no other symptoms can be treated on an outpatient basis.

One or more of the diagnostic tests described above may be recommended by your veterinarian. In the meantime, treatment of symptoms might be needed, especially if the problem is severe. The following treatments may be applicable to some, but not all, birds with nasal discharge. These treatments may reduce severity of symptoms or provide relief for your pet: