Birds with infections in the lungs or air sacs may have difficulty breathing. "A bird with increased respiratory effort generally shows an up and down bob of its tail with each breath." Some birds with respiratory disease will have watery eyes; still others will sneeze, wheeze, cough, and have nasal discharge.
How do you treat a respiratory infection in budgies?
"Supportive care and appropriate antibiotics are treatments of choice for serious infections," Dr. Burkett said. "Antibiotics should be chosen based on culture and sensitivity. Supportive care includes heat, oxygen, rest, fluids and gavage feeding."
What can I give a bird for respiratory infection?
The drugs of choice for respiratory infections are penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, trimethoprim-sulfa, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, macrolides and for anaerobic infections clindamycin or metronidazole. 1 Antibiotics can be administered through nebulization techniques and nasal flushes.
What are some signs of respiratory distress in a bird?
Tail bobbing, open mouth breathing, coughing, exercise intolerance, general lethargy and a fluffed appearance may indicate disease. These birds are often easily stressed when handled, so physical exams may need to be shortened and oxygen therapy will need to be provided.
What causes respiratory infection in budgies?
Aspergillosis disease is caused by the fungus Aspergillus, and its spores are what cause respiratory problems in birds. The fungal spores can be present in contaminated food, water, nest boxes, incubators, other nesting material, and unventilated areas. However, birds can also catch the infection from the environment.
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