Health

Do Parrots Sneeze?

Parrots-Sneezing do-parrots-sneeze

There are two different types of sneezes a parrot can have. It is important to distinguish which your parrot is experiencing because that will determine your next course of action. Your parrot can have a dry sneeze where it is just air, or a wet sneeze (this is serious).

Dry Sneeze Causes

  • Dry air – If you live somewhere where the air gets dry during winter or is generally dry your bird could be reacting to the dry air. Parrots naturally come from a more humid environment so that is what their respiratory system is designed to thrive in. Click here to learn more about humidity and parrots
  • Dust – Parrots produce a lot of dust on their own, mix that in with natural human life dust that is bound to happen you could have a sniffly bird – an air purifier can help with this.
  • Allergies – If you notice your parrot sneezing after eating something there could be a chance, they are allergic to something in their food. This is not something super common but it is possible. They also could have inhaled a bit of a seed hull or some dust from their pellets.
  • Imitation – Parrots are highly intelligent. Sometimes people notice after they have a cold their bird imitates their sneeze.

Wet Sneeze Causes

  • Respiratory problems – It is very common for parrots to get upper respiratory infections. Regardless of how diligent you are about doing everything you can to keep your parrot healthy it happens. It could also be viral, bacterial or even parasitic so it is crucial you get your bird seen by a vet as soon as possible – this is absolutely worth a trip to the emergency after hours clinic if everything is closed or booked.
  • Parrot fever – is caused by the bacteria chlamydia psittaci and is highly contagious from bird to bird as well as bird to human. Ensure you are limiting your contact with your bird until you know exactly what is causing the sneezing.
  • Mites – a symptom of parasites often is wet sneezes
  • Other more major health conditions like tumors

Wet Sneeze Solutions

  • Contact your vet immediately as they will most likely veterinarian treatment. Breathing is crucial to your parrot living so please don’t take this lightly and wait this out.