You may have heard or observed a parrot breathing noisily, coughing, sneezing, or releasing discharge.
Unsanitary living conditions are a common cause of respiratory infections. If cage husbandry is absent, parrots are at risk of Aspergillosis, psittacosis (parrot fever,) and respiratory parasites.
An unbalanced diet can also cause respiratory conditions. Hypovitaminosis A damages the mucous membranes, making the respiratory tract more vulnerable to disease-causing pathogens.
Some respiratory infections are spread through airborne particles, perhaps due to exposure to wild birds.
Causes of Respiratory Problems in Parrots
Respiratory infections often have similar symptoms, but some conditions are more severe than others. Identifying what’s wrong and getting prompt treatment can improve the prognosis.
Aspergillosis
The inhalation of Aspergillus fungus spores causes aspergillosis. Fungal spores multiply in areas with limited ventilation and can contaminate water supplies, as evidenced by mold and mildew.
While Aspergillosis is a respiratory condition impacting the lower respiratory tract, the issue can spread. Mycopathologia explains how mortality is likely if Aspergillosis spreads to the liver and kidneys.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Aspergillosis include:
- Labored breathing and panting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Lethargy and depression.
- Sudden loss of weight.
- Change to the parrot’s voice.
- Eye and skin infection.
Prolonged exposure to aspergillus spores leads to more severe symptoms, including:
- Malformation of the neck and head.
- Lack of mobility and muscular coordination.
- Inflammation of the air sacs.
Causes
The most common causes of Aspergillosis are unsanitary living conditions and a lack of ventilation. Aspergillosis can also occur due to hypovitaminosis A, a deficiency of Vitamin A.
Treatment
Initial treatment for Aspergillosis in parrots is a course of oral anti-fungal drugs, most often Itraconazole, Terbinafine, Clotrimazole, Amphotericin B, or Clotrimazole.
This course of drugs will run for several weeks or months. Surgery may be required to remove fungal plaque build-up, but this will only be performed if life-critical.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Avian influenza is highly contagious in wild birds, as it constantly mutates.
It’s comparatively rare for companion birds to develop avian influenza, although the virus can be spread by importing parrots from overseas that the virus has infected.
If you suspect a parrot has avian influenza, it must be quarantined and assessed by a vet.
Symptoms
Some parrots are asymptomatic carriers of a mild strain of avian influenza. The symptoms include:
- Wheezing and panting when breathing.
- Loss of appetite.
- Streaming discharge from the nares.
- Can’t retain body heat.
- Swelling of the eyelids.
- Diarrhea.
- Lack of muscular coordination.
If a parrot displays these symptoms, handle it wearing gloves and a face mask.
Causes
Avian influenza is spread between parrots through physical contact and inhaling airborne particles. The virus can also live in infected birds’ fecal waste and food supplies.
If neither you nor your parrot has encountered wild birds, introduced new parrots to your home, or infected domestic poultry, you’re unlikely to be at risk of contracting avian influenza.
Treatment
A vaccine against avian influenza is available, but it’s unclear if it’s effective for parrots. As with all influenza vaccinations, there’s no guarantee it’ll be effective against new mutated strains.
Diagnoses of avian influenza are treated with prescription antiviral drugs like zanamivir and oseltamivir. An infected parrot must be quarantined for 40+ days after being declared virus-free.
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Macaw Asthma)
Many species of parrots, like blue and gold macaws, can develop hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It’s called macaw asthma, which resembles chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This issue causes acute respiratory, making it difficult to breathe without assistance. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis also weakens a macaw’s immune system, leaving them at risk of secondary infection.
Be mindful of ventilation and air quality if you care for a macaw. This is important if you house other parrots, especially those that produce powder down, as this triggers macaw asthma.
Symptoms
The signs of hypersensitivity pneumonitis include:
- Gasping for air.
- Coughing.
- Inability to maintain warmth.
- Muscular weakness.
The result of hypersensitivity pneumonitis resembles an asthma attack.
Causes
The causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis are similar to those of COPD in humans: poor ventilation and the forced inhalation of allergens that irritate the respiratory tract.
According to the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, the more bird dander in your home, the higher the risk of breathing difficulties a macaw will face.
Treatment
If a macaw has acute respiratory distress, it’ll need assisted breathing through an external oxygen source.
Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed to reduce the likelihood of further attacks and minimize the risk of permanent scarring of the lungs.
Newcastle Disease
Newcastle disease is a respiratory condition caused by the spread of paramyxovirus. It isn’t zoonotic but can cause conjunctivitis in humans.
Parrots can develop a strain referred to as Exotic Newcastle disease. This is rare because federal law dictates that parrots that enter the U.S. must be quarantined and declared free of the virus.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Newcastle disease include:
- Sneezing.
- Breathing through the beak and panting.
- Discharge from the eyes and nares.
- Diarrhea, often bright yellow or green.
- Loss of appetite.
- Lack of muscular control, including tics and spam.
- Bending the head and neck into unnatural positions
Many birds with Newcastle disease won’t live long enough to display any symptoms.
Causes
Newcastle disease can be spread through airborne particles. If a parrot inhales viral particles from the air supply or contaminated food, water, or feces, it’ll be at immediate risk.
Parrots can get Newcastle disease from humans that carry the virus. Avoid contact with parrots if you keep poultry and struggle to keep the birds alive or have conjunctivitis (red eye).
Treatment
There’s no cure for Newcastle disease. Infected parrots must be immediately quarantined and left to see if they can overcome the virus with natural antibodies.
Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)
Psittacosis, also called parrot fever or avian chlamydiosis, is a respiratory infection caused by a bacterial organism called Chlamydia psittaci. This condition can kill parrots if left untreated.
Any parrot can develop psittacosis, but it’s most common in Amazons, budgerigars, and cockatoos. The disease is usually spread through bird droppings.
If psittacosis infects a parrot, the bacteria will bind to its cells. Psittacosis isn’t easy to treat and can lead to further health concerns. StatPearls warns how psittacosis can evolve into pneumonia.
Symptoms
While some parrots with psittacosis are asymptomatic for a while, the signs include:
- Sneezing.
- Streaming discharge from the eyes and nares.
- Lack of appetite.
- Diarrhea and discolored feces.
- Sudden weight loss.
Always test a parrot at the first sign of psittacosis symptoms to prevent its spread.
Causes
While psittacosis is contagious and can be spread by contact with infected humans or animals, stress is the most common cause in captive parrots. Be mindful of the following stressors:
- Small, cramped cage.
- Sudden changes to diet.
- Lack of stimulation and social interaction.
- Sharp contrasts in temperature.
- Regular laying of eggs, whether fertilized or otherwise.
- Unwanted handling.
- Presence of other pets.
The parrot’s cage should also be cleaned regularly, taking particular care to remove fecal waste.
Treatment
Keep a parrot’s living conditions sanitary and provide a stress-free lifestyle.
If treatment for psittacosis is required, the parrot will be prescribed doxycycline. A vet will diagnose the most suitable remedy based on blood and fecal tests.
This treatment will last 45+ days and can leave a parrot at risk of yeast infections, so secondary drugs may also be prescribed. After 45 days, the parrot will be re-tested for psittacosis.
Respiratory Parasites
The most common respiratory tract parasites are:
- Air sac mites (Sternostoma tracheacolum) live in the air sacs around the lungs.
- Gapeworms (Syngamus trachea) attach themselves to the trachea wall, depriving a bird of oxygen and leaving them “gaping” for air.
- Sarcocystosis is a protozoan parasite that forms cysts around the respiratory organs before spreading to the muscles.
These parasitic infestations are uncommon but can be deadly.
Symptoms
The symptoms of respiratory parasites include:
- Sneezing.
- Wheezing when breathing.
- Gasping for air.
- Excessive salivation.
- Lethargy.
- Regurgitating water.
Parrots don’t initially show symptoms of respiratory parasites.
Causes
The most common cause of respiratory parasites is wild animals or pests in the home. For example, a rodent or cockroach infestation can lead to pests accessing the parrot’s food.
Contaminated water can lead to an infestation, so consider getting a water purifier.
Treatment
Traditional over-the-counter parasite medications designed to rid a parrot of gastric parasites won’t always be effective against respiratory parasites. Specialist medications must be prescribed.
Rhinoliths
Rhinoliths, also known as proliferative nasal granulomas, are solid stones that form in a parrot’s nares, restricting its ability to breathe freely.
Rhinoliths shouldn’t be confused with an everyday crust that forms around the nares. This crust can be resolved with a syringe of water and regular cleaning.
Rhinoliths are a more significant concern, often signifying another respiratory problem.
Symptoms
Rhinoliths can frequently be observed by sight. The symptoms of nasal blockages include:
- Panting and breathing through the beak as the nares are blocked.
- Foul smell from the nares.
- Unexplained epistaxis (nosebleeds.)
- Aggression as a result of pain.
If you notice these signs, shine a torch into the parrot’s nares. Then, seek veterinary advice if you encounter a foreign object obstructing nasal breathing.
Causes
An unsanitary environment or airborne toxins usually cause rhinoliths.
Dust, cigarette smoke, colognes, and air fresheners can cause rhinoliths. Keep the air clean to protect the parrot’s delicate respiratory tract.
Ensure the parrot is fed a varied and balanced diet, as hypovitaminosis A can cause rhinoliths. Be mindful of epistaxis (nose bleeds) because dried blood in the nares can harden and form rhinoliths.
Treatment
For a small rhinolith, the parrot will be sedated with a local anesthetic, and for a more advanced procedure, general anesthesia will be used. Then, the stone will be surgically removed.
Always get rhinoliths removed because the larger the stone becomes, the more invasive the surgery. To remove a prominent rhinolith, a vet must permanently enlarge the nostrils.
