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My pet cockatiel is shaky and panting and squinting his eyes. I have just bathed him, these symptoms started after this. Do you know what is wrong and how to treat him? Has he got a chill?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Cockatiel Gender: Male Age: 8 Name of Bird: Spike Already Tried: Put him in his cage and covered the cage with a blanket. He can stand on his perch but is very weak and shaky
I am sorry to hear of spike's issues.Can you tell me is he regularly bathed? if so does it usually stress him? Anything used aside from plain water in his bath? Have you dried him off?Also has he been feeling well prior to this episode with normal appetite, activity, vocalization, and droppings?
He is bathed regularly and always seems to enjoy it. I dried him off but the symptoms persisted. It is possible that there may have been traces of soap or other household chemicals in the water, but this is unlikely as I washed the basin before I put him into it. I bathed him this morning and he has not improved greatly throughout the day. He seemed fine before this happened.
It is possible that he may have aspirated some of the water or that he did get a chill following his bath.Often birds can hide illness and not show symptoms until something pushes them over the edge. It is possible that he was covering an illness that the chill from the bath made more evident.I would recommend keeping him warm and in a cage with a low/padded perch until you can get him to your avian vet for an exam.Has he been eating or drinking at all today?
Experience: 1995 UC Davis grad emergency medicine, surgery, and general practice with avian and exotic interest
We kept him warm in his cage as you said and he slept for a while. After waking up he seems a bit better; he is eating and drinking now. We will take him to the avian vet as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your time
I am glad to hear he seemed to feel a bit better and is eating and drinking. Best of luck to Spike's full recovery.