As time goes on, and as you get more familiar with your cockatiel, you will get pretty familiar with their habits and even how they breathe. So that is why it can be a little concerning when you start to see your cockatiel breathe quickly and fast. You may be wondering why they are breathing in this way since it is so out of the normal.
Why Is My Cockatiel Breathing Fast? One of the most common reasons why your cockatiel is breathing fast is that it does not feel good. This is a sign that the cockatiel is having some respiratory issues and will need immediate medical attention. Also, if you notice that they are lethargic or do not eat their food, this is another sign that your cockatiel is not feeling well. In some cases, the cockatiel may have difficulty breathing because it is scared, but for the most part, it is because it does not feel good.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons why your cockatiel is breathing fast, and then explore the steps you can take to help your cockatiel feel better.
Why Is My Cockatiel Breathing Fast?
Your cockatiel may be breathing fast when it feels sick. When the breathing seems to be fast or kind of labored compared to normal, this is a sign that your cockatiel is either really stressed or is not feeling well. Neither of these signs is suitable for your cockatiel. You may also notice other signs that your cockatiel is sick, such as a change in their voice, a change in their eating habits, or shivering. When you see this happening, it is time to take care of your cockatiel and get it to the vet.
There are several respiratory problems that your cockatiel can suffer from when it breathes quickly. This is the most common issue that will show up when your cockatiel has fast or heavy breathing. Your vet will be able to look at your cockatiel to find out why it is breathing so fast and give you medication for the exact problem your cockatiel is sick with.
What Signs Will My Cockatiel Show When They Have Trouble Breathing?
There are several signs that you can look for to see if fast breathing is related to your cockatiel having trouble breathing in the first place. A few of the signs to look out for are:
1. Breathing With Their Mouth Open
Your cockatiel should breathe through their nares. If they are blocked up by mucus during an infection, the cockatiel will open its mouth and try to breathe in that way instead. This is a big sign that your cockatiel is not feeling well and has an infection, so go and visit a vet when that happens.
2. Gasping and Wheezing
When the cockatiel is breathing, it should make a tiny, if any, sound. If you start to notice gasping or wheezing, it is all indicative of the cockatiel having trouble with breathing and is something that you need to treat immediately. Take the time to watch out for sneezing and coughing.
3. Tail Bobs Up and Down
While cockatiels breathe the same air that we do, the rest of their respiratory system is different. Cockatiels do not have a diaphragm, so their lungs will remain open most of the time. As a result, the chest muscles will compress, which will force the air into air sacs. If your cockatiel is upset, it may not be able to use these muscles, which will cause the tail to bob up and down. If this happens, you should visit a vet right away because this is something serious.
4. Voice Change Along with Coughing
As time goes on, you will begin to recognize the sound of your cockatiel voice. If you notice that their voice does not sound the same and that they cough quite a lot, then this is a sign that your cockatiel has some kind of breathing difficulty. With unnatural use of the tail bob to help them breathe, it is possible that the cockatiel is taking in too much air, more air than it needs. This can irritate the lungs and the throat. On the other hand, coughing is a sign of congestion that makes them feel bad.
5. Nasal Discharge
Whether it comes with coughing or sneezing, this will be a significant symptom that something is blocking your cockatiel’s airways, and you will need to get some relief with medication. Through all of these signs, you should look for a condition known as cyanosis. This is a bluish tone to the skin and is a sign that the cockatiel is dealing with oxygen deprivation. This can happen in severe cases. If you were looking for some of the clues above, then this is unlikely to happen.
If any of the above signs start to appear, then it is time to take your cockatiel to the vet to get checked out. When it is caught early, your vet will be able to give your cockatiel some of the necessary medication and can restore its health in no time.
Does Fast Breathing Mean That My Cockatiel is Sick?
Most of the time, when your cockatiel is breathing fast, it means that they do not feel so good. This may be a sign that they are struggling to breathe, which may be due to some kind of respiratory issues. When you notice that it is breathing heavily and you do not see anything else around that could make it scared or worried, this is a good sign that your cockatiel is not feeling well. You can also check out some of the other symptoms we had above.
Will My Cockatiel Pant?
You may sometimes notice that your cockatiel is panting. This is an indication that your cockatiel is afraid or worried about something. You will see that their breathing will happen with the beak slightly open and like they want to talk to you, but no sound comes out. It’s a good sign that shows your cockatiel is overwhelmed. If you notice something around your cockatiel that seems to make it feel anxious, or if you take it outside and the cockatiel starts to pant when you are with it, then this shows that the fast breathing comes as a result of anxiety and concern.
Is the Fast Breathing from Sickness or Fear with My Cockatiel?
For the most part, your cockatiel will breathe fast when it is sick. This is why you should take it in to the vet or another specialist to help give you some antibiotics that will keep it healthy. However, there are times when panting is from them being scared or nervous. The best way to tell this will be based on the other actions that the cockatiel does while it is pant.
If the cockatiel is panting because it is nervous or scared, you will notice a few obvious signs. They will flap or fly around their cage to get away from something that scares them, fear poop, or feathers that are very sleek and have wide-open eyes. These are significant signs that something is bothering your cockatiel. When you take away the thing that is making the cockatiel upset, it will calm down, and the panting will disappear.
When the cockatiel is sick, the fast breathing will not stop no matter what changes you make in the environment around it. For example, you may notice that the cockatiel is not eating, does not want to be around other people, or that it sleeps a lot. Many of the symptoms that we talked about above will occur when the cockatiel is sick, which is the reason for their fast breathing.
It is most likely that your cockatiel shows signs of fast breathing because it feels bad. A few times, they do this because they are nervous, but this is usually a short-term thing that will end pretty quickly. However, when the cockatiel is sick, you will notice that the breathing does not get better and will often worsen if you do not give it the proper medication it needs.
Helping Your Cockatiel When They Get Sick
Since it is most likely that the cockatiel will be sick with fast breathing, you must give it the proper care and attention as soon as possible. This will ensure that they receive natural antibiotics for healing, rather than dealing with being sick on their own and getting worse. As soon as you notice the fast breathing along with some of the other signs, take your cockatiel to a vet quickly as possible to have it checked.
