Lovebird Sneezing and Nasal Discharge ( Find out!)

Last Updated on May 10, 2022 by Ali Shahid

Do your pet lovebirds sneeze or show other signs of respiratory problems?? You may find it scary when your feathered friend seems ill, and to make matters worse, you are probably clueless about how to handle the situation. How can you make your lovebird stop sneezing, and what does it cause?

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Lovebirds can still contract illnesses even though they generally live long lives. Birds may sneeze for some reasons that you should be aware of. It is important to know these causes to identify the root of the problem and determine how to proceed.

Causes of Lovebird Sneezing

Dry Air

Sneezing and other cold-like symptoms may also occur in lovebirds living in low humidity environments. They may also lose some feathers and their skin may dry out. If a humidifier is placed in the same room as the cage, this problem is easily addressed.

Place a humidifier nearby if this is the problem and you will see an immediate difference in their behavior.

Fragrances

Some fragrances can cause lovebirds to sneeze. Humans possess strong respiratory systems, but lovebirds don’t.

Sneezing may be triggered by artificial scents, such as candle scents, incense, perfumes, etc. To be on the safe side, you should avoid any artificial scent around your bird.

In contrast to natural scents, artificial smells can cause greater irritation to the lungs and nasal passages.

Allergies

It is a known fact that lovebirds are prone to sneezing because of allergies. When something in the air irritates your lovebird, it may cause your bird to experience sneezing, coughing, or hacking.

There is even the possibility of experiencing allergic reactions to air fresheners, furniture cleaners, candles, and even perfumes. Through the process of elimination, you might be able to identify the source of their allergies.

Bird food may cause allergies in some lovebirds. Having a bird that sneezes a lot after eating a certain brand of food might indicate that the food is not right for your bird so you might want to try something else. Generic, low-quality food is especially problematic.

Dust

Lovebirds with nasal passages lined with dust are more likely to sneeze when they get exposed to dust. Whenever dust accumulates within their enclosures, their noses become itchy, causing them to sneeze due to the irritation.

Sneezing on your bird can lead to several small problems, so make sure that the air surrounding the bird is clean and dust-free. Despite the hectic pace of most people’s lives, cleaning your bird’s environment is essential.

I would recommend that you clean their cage and around the furniture with a feather duster to get rid of most of the dust. To minimize the amount of dust in the air, you should also replace the air filter every month.

A speck of dust, mold, and bacteria can no longer be removed from the air when your air filter remains unchanged for more than 30 days.

Mites

An infestation of mites can also cause lovebirds to sneeze. In the case of allergies to mites, your bird may sneeze. Nobody wants their bird infested with mites.

You will also notice your lovebird plucking and picking at its feathers when they have mites.

It is advisable to seek advice from a qualified veterinarian if you believe that your bird has mites.

Mimicking

Lovebirds can mimic their owners’ behavior when they think they are sick. Your lovebird may mimic your sneezing, coughing, and hacking behavior if you catch a cold.

The cold you have is not contagious to birds, as the vast majority of viruses that are spread from humans do not spread to birds.

It is perfectly natural for lovebirds to sneeze now and then, just like humans. Some birds sneeze several times a day, while others do so only occasionally.

Some owners rush their parrots to the emergency vet clinic after their helpless lovebirds experience one of these episodes.

You don’t generally need to take such drastic measures; however, you should still figure out the reason behind the sneeze The following are other factors that may result in a sneezing lovebird:

• Intranasal tumors
• Feather dust
• There is a blockage in the sinus cavity caused by seed fragments
• Hyperkeratosis, especially due to malnutrition, deficiency in vitamin A
• There is an aerosol allergy
• Mycoplasma infections
• Rhinoliths
• Fungal Infection
• Bacterial infections
• Viral infection
• Chlamydiosis
• A smoker owns the property

 Birds may sneeze as the first symptom of a serious illness. If a bird sneezes frequently, it must be treated immediately. Birds rarely sneeze without other clinical symptoms from viral infections. Sneezing is a sign of many serious viral infections in birds.

We hope that using the factors listed above will allow you to identify and fix the cause of your lovebird’s sneezing.

The reasons for birds sneezing are mainly due to these conditions, but some birds may do it randomly without any apparent reason.

To ensure there are no other symptoms, keep a close eye on your loved one. Your lovebirds need to be taken to the avian vet if they show any signs of a health issue.

Symptoms of Lovebird Sneezing and Nasal Discharge

It is completely normal for birds to sneeze in certain situations, but when they occur more often, they may indicate an infection or respiratory illness. You may notice the following symptoms if your bird has a respiratory infection or disease:

• Feathers getting fluffed up
• Lethargic behavior
• If there is continuous and persistent sneezing, it may be a sign of something more serious
• If nasal discharge is clear and thin, it is normal, if it is thick or colored, it is not
• Asthma
• Not perching
• It sounds as if a bird is coughing when it makes its sounds
• Changes in voice
• Watery eyes
• Eyes closed
• A “bob” tail can be seen with difficulty breathing

Diagnosis of Lovebird Sneezing and Nasal Discharge During the diagnostic process, you will likely be asked to provide a detailed history of your lovebird lifestyle, which includes your bird’s feeding regimen, type of feed, enclosure cleanliness, exercise, and behavior.

In addition to examining your bird physically, your veterinarian will observe both at a distance and up close the clinical signs it displays.

There may be subtle changes in posture, wing position, breathing patterns, and respiratory rate that he will observe as this information can potentially be translated into clinical information.

Various clinical signs will guide the vet in making his diagnosis. Diagnostic testing is likely to be ordered by your vet.

A thorough blood count, serological testing for conditions such as chlamydiosis and aspergillosis, and possibly a throat or nasal cavity scan are standard procedures.

There are a lot of procedures that can be recommended for the treatment of Lovebird Sneezing, including x-rays, CT imaging, endoscopic direct visibility of the respiratory system, and medications.

Treatment of Lovebird Sneezing and Nasal Discharge

 If you observe severe symptoms in your bird, such as difficulty breathing, lethargy, and loss of appetite, it should be hospitalized and treated for a significant period.

When a bird has a mild nasal discharge and no other symptoms, outpatient treatment may be appropriate for them. These treatments may provide relief to your pet and reduce the severity of symptoms:

• By flushing the sinuses with saline solution or with forceps, dry secretions are removed, or foreign objects are removed. Anesthesia may be required.
• A nasal spray or injection of antibiotics or antifungals. It may take weeks or even months to complete the treatment.
• Infected birds may be treated by flushing the nostrils and sinuses with antibiotics or antifungal solutions.
• Remove tumors surgically. Most benign tumors can be removed surgically, and the bird will be cured. There are many tumors that we find in birds’ nasal cavities in the form of malignant and infiltrative tumors.

You need to follow all directions your veterinarian gives you as soon as you bring your bird home. If your lovebird still has symptoms after the medication is given, make sure you continue to take it for as long as the medication is directed.

Make sure you also let the medical professional know if the nature of discharge changes. The sudden worsening of the condition of not seeing any improvement in the condition should be reported immediately.

At Home Care

As long as your bird is not exhibiting any other symptoms and he is exhibiting a clear, thin discharge, there are several things that you can do to help:

• For your bird to thrive, it needs to be in a healthy environment. Dust and debris can build up in its nostrils since they are on top of its head. It can be prevented by bathing. Airspace with feather dust-producing birds (cockatoos, cockatiels, African gray parrots) is not recommended for sensitive birds.
• Additionally, it is also a good idea to invest in good air filters.
• It is also possible to alleviate the problem by humidifying your bird’s territory.
• Lovebirds are highly sensitive to the smoke and fumes associated with cigarette smoking. You should avoid exposing them to cigarette smoke and fumes.
• Poor-quality diets, especially those that consist solely of seeds, are thought to make birds more prone to respiratory diseases. Infectious agents can more readily invade the nasal cavity when vitamin A deficiencies affect the nasal cells.