Please help me figure out Martin's breathing/clogged nostrils problems

[Dan]

When I used to have him before, water would go into his nose while showering and so he'd have a bit of trouble breathing for a short while, since his nostrils would be plugged up.

However starting shortly after I got him again in mid-August, this has been happening quite a lot, and not just after showers. He'll do it at least once a day if not twice a day. His nostrils will for some reason get plugged up and he'll have trouble breathing (sometimes for quite a little while). He'll sneeze a few times and eventually it'll go away. During all of this, he's overall perectly fine, doing other stuff and even flying around (which causes him to have to breathe more rapidly and thus makes the problem a bit more obvious but it doesn't seem to bother him too much).

I thought maybe water is getting in there becasue he has a water bottle instead of bowl. As of this morning he now has a bowl so we'll see if that makes any difference. He just had some breathing problems now but I think it's because some of the eye drop antibiotic ran down into his eye (which also makes me nervous. He's also managed to drink a good 3 drops or so since this started, and his eye spot has not gone away -- though it's not gotten worse either). But to be honest I didn't see any of the drop going into his nose so I don't know. Earlier he also did this a bit even though he hadn't even drunk any water, so I'm a bit lost. Twice in just a few hours is more than how often it's been happening lately. This current one actually seems to be bothering him a bit more than these things usually do, and it's lasting a good while... edit: he seems to be fine now. One more gone... Edit again: he napped a bit and then I went over to say hi and he got active again, and then it came back again for a bit, but now it seems to be ok again... I don't know. Update, 2 hrs later: he'a fine but his nose is still a bit clogged. Could this just be a dragged out cold?

About three weeks ago Martin had a full check up, including x-rays and a general blood exam, right when this problem first began (when he chewed some paper and then had some problems and eventually threw up -- but this seems to be unrelated to what has been happening recently). Everything was perfectly fine with those.

Sometimes when this problem happens he'll grab a cage bar with his beak and tug, and also rub his beak on the bars a lot trying to clean them up. Not sure what the tugging is, but he only does this sometimes.

Does anyone have any tips with regards to this clogged nose/breathing problems, and maybe even the eye spot (more info here) and whether it's dangerous that he's consumed some (and maybe got some in his eye)?

I'd really rather not take him in tot he vet again, at the rate I've been taking him there they're going to think I'm a horrible owner. I'm starting to think that already, to be honest.

[pixibubbles]

i know eye problems and resp problems are often related in infections- but the eye issue wasnt inection was it?

could it be his food? sparks sometimes gets food up her nose (at least i think it's that) but she gets badly bunged up nares a LOT.
First thing to dry is a damp cotton wool bud and wipe gently.
then you can use an edge of your finger nail
or my personal favourite a bulb syringe... little bit of water softens everything up nicely
my vet actually has had to clean it a couple of times with a pick... and told me to use the blunt end of a clean needle... but i'm too scared to try it on a teeny lovie.

[Dan]

Nope, the eye thing was on the surface and probavly an injury (though the eye drop is an antibiotic...to oprevent a possibl infection I guess?).

So you wash out your bird's nostrils with some water? How often does she have this same problem and how often do you do this? This is just so common now with Martin (that he never had before--though I'm not sure how it was with Nikki and Danielle) that I get so worried! But nothing else has changed and he seems to be fine overall, as the other tests showed, so I don't know.

[Sir Peter of Canada]

I'd really rather not take him in tot he vet again, at the rate I've been taking him there they're going to think I'm a horrible owner. I'm starting to think that already, to be honest.

Maybe it's just me Dan, but if I was a vet and someone was bringing a bird in frequently...which I've done...I would think they were a good owner whose first thought was the health of their bird, and not a bad owner as you are saying...

[pixibubbles]

darn
just typed whole long reply and caught the refresh button... BLAST!

will try to summarise- sorry if short.

sparks has it a lot- really freaked me at first and she was probs at vet weekly. she clicked and wheezed with it, but airways and resp system were always clear. vet actually used to groan and bit and ask What NOW? tough luck lol

he cleaned nares out with a pick (they didnt actually LOOK clogged) and it stopped instantly. he gave her back for some snuggles and calming and all gone- not a click or wheeze

she actually has it again now- noticed a slight wheeze and occassionally click last night, and of course on chekcing was slightly blocked at least one nare. bit of a clean up, and seemed ok, am sitting here now and think i might be hearing the occasional click so am going to go bug her in a min!

dont WASH the nares- i didnt explain right. the cotton bud should be damp- and wipe it away. if its too wet you risk getting water actually up the nares (how do you like it when you inhale water? and remember birds cant cough either!) the damp will let you wipe away any dust or dry stuff... and soften up any (wait for the medical term)...... cruddy stuff

then you can wipe it away with the dry end or use the bulb syringe to suck it away or the edge of a nail or something similar.

i think sparks is partly caused by being in collar and not being able to reach it, and partly food. she is enthusiastic eater- beak down tail up and she crumbles pellets. so i think she gets that up her nose. so i give her less food and clean a couple of times a day, and give her two bowls, so less food there

[NeapolitanSixth]

Martin never did that, but Winston in the past has, and the vet flushed his nose out with water. Sometimes Winston's nares will look clogged, and (by vet's recommendation), I will lightly mist his face with warm water to help loosen anything up.

-Nikki

[Dan]

Well he just woke up a few min ago and already ths morning he's having some trouble after having started to eat and drink a little bit. Not much yet, and after I posted yesterday he had no problems even when eating/drinking, but it definitely seems to be related to when he eats and drinks...

[Skittles]

What does he eat Dan?

If you seem to notice it more when he eats specifically, if it is a dry sort of food like pellets or a seed mix, I would try getting a new batch of food. The seeds could be slightly mouldy and the pellets might be old too.

[crouton]

to me, it almost like allergies.

[parrotsRmyLove]

Dan - I agree with Peter, I think the vet would commend you on being such a loving owner. Martin is lucky to have you.

Have you ever tried an air purifier in his room. I keep one running in my bird room to be on the cautious side and keep the air in that room nice and clean.

[pixibubbles]

how about steaming him? dont let him in the shower if he gets water up his nose...
just run the shower hot and let him sit in there and steam nicely. Helps sparks a bit. just make sure next room is really warm... think how bad it is for you to get out the shower into cold room.

try making food dishes shallower/use a plate and see what happens.

If it keeps happening vet check might be in order just to double check it is the nose and not a crop issue.

Also- here is one to make you popular lol. get a magnifying glass and have a good look at his nares. Then next time he's making the noise get hold of him again and see what looks different... you can sometimes see sparks dinner up her nose lol. It doesnt suprise me tho- she's the messiest eater i've known in the bird world. never met another fid who gets cherries stuck to her lower mandible EVERY time she eats them lol

[Dan]

What does he eat Dan?

If you seem to notice it more when he eats specifically, if it is a dry sort of food like pellets or a seed mix, I would try getting a new batch of food. The seeds could be slightly mouldy and the pellets might be old too.

Actually I just thought of this last night as well! This problem only really started after I took Martin to the vet the first time around. And that was also when I bought Harrison's for the first time. I started putting that in with his normal Zupreem food. They didn't have the large version so I got a slightly smaller version. I didn't think it would be a problem but maybe these break up a bit too easily and go into his nose (though he doesn't eat much of it)? I am going to feed only Zupreem for a few days and see if that makes any difference...

[pixibubbles]

try it yeah
sparks has harrisons too
but she managed to have the same issue with any decent food.
qand get a bulb syringe.... so so so much easier than the other options

[Dan]

He had a clogged nose again today and this time when he sneezed snot came out.
Could this be a cold then?

[~Lori~]

Maybe, from the change in seasons, Countries? I would see the vet again Dan.

[pixibubbles]

ewww snot.
definahtely not normal for a fid
call the vet and see what he thinks, and whether you need another visit or not
always rains all at once doesnt it? lol

[Dan]

No kidding. But that was the only time I saw snot. Just now he was sitting calmly just preening himself - no problems at all. Then he went to eat and drink and as soon as he started eating/drinking his nose got clogged and started having breathing problems (though it didn't seem to me like he was eating messily or anything like that at all). What do you all think? It's so weird...

But yeah, it's looking like we'll have to go to the vet again. I'm running out of money, this is so expensive. But necessary so I'll figure it out. His wellbeing is more important than anything else.

[boomer girl]

I really do hope Martin is OK, I would be off to the vets with him Dan if I were you. They are expensive and it seems like you might be taking him too often but breathing troubles like Martin is having really do require a vets visit. Hopefully it is just allergies which I know a few birds that have them and they do get snotty but to lean over and eat and then get clogged, that is odd and snot is reason enough to take him to the vets.

[pixibubbles]

like i said call the vet.
i have a good relationship with my surgery (unsupriosing after HOURS spent there)
If i call up and say this is the problem then they advise me.
Ususally it's bring her right in... but sometimes it's stop worrying so much mom... or feed her from a plate and give her a water fountain...

that said.... worse case scenario if something were wrong and i hesitated over a few pounds... wouldnt EVER forgive myself

[Dan]

Definitely. I wish that doing something simple like removing the Harrisons would have solved the problem but sadly not.

And the stupid eye spot still hasn't gone away, even though it's been a week now since I started with the eye drops (and thus they are done). No worse but no better either.

[Psychotic Parakeet]

Some of my cockatiels get gunked up nostrils and even my cockatoo has one nostril that gets plugged up faster than the other. He lets me fish out the dander junk out of the nostril and he is a happy camper.

[pixibubbles]

Some of my cockatiels get gunked up nostrils and even my cockatoo has one nostril that gets plugged up faster than the other. He lets me fish out the dander junk out of the nostril and he is a happy camper.

what do you use to do it?
i'm interested to see what tricks other people have!

[Dan]

It's happening a lot more today.

We're going to the vet tomorrow morning, 9.15.

[Skittles]

Oh dan!! Finger's crossed and big hugs your way!! I know everything will be fine with Martin!

[boomer girl]

Poor Martin Have you tried steaming him at all, I hear this makes them clear up a bit but with Martins shower troubles it may not help him like it does some.

I am so sorry, must be hard on all of you to see him like this.