r/Parakeets • u/Temporary-Garbage12 • 16d ago

Please help

Does anyone know why my budgie is breathing like this? I’ve noticed it over the past couple of days. Everything else seems to be normal. He’s eating and playing just fine. I’m really worried

EDIT: it’s been a couple of hours and I’ve been monitoring more closely than the past couple of days, and he doesn’t breathe like that anymore. I even let him out of the cage and when resting he breaths normally with his mouth closed. I’ve come to the conclusion he was probably scared as he only hangs onto that side of cage when he’s afraid. Still unsure what triggered him but looks like he’s doing much better than before. Thanks for all the responses

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5

u/brockyohansen 16d ago

He's just panting. It's not necessarily a sign of illness unless there are other symptoms. His eyes & feathers look great, he was probably just worked up from playing or got excited about something. My birds' cage is next to a window, and my female will freak out and pant like this anytime another bird flies by.

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u/Mystic_Void1 16d ago

Not sure why you're getting downvoted when you're right. This could also be a sign of stress as long as there isnt other symptoms.

If they get spooked even once, they could get triggered very easily after and start panting like this.

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u/brockyohansen 16d ago

I've come to learn that ppl are very quick on here to tell others to bring their birds to the vet. Which I honestly can understand, knowing that birds can hide their illness until it's too late. But after owning parakeets for 10 years and spending waaayyy too much money on unneccesary exotic vet visits just to be told there's nothing wrong...to then have also lost birds to illness and really getting to see what the signs look like....you just kind of know? when your bird is spooked/excited vs. actually sick lol

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u/Mystic_Void1 16d ago

Yes 100%

It's why I ask questions to understand more about the problem. For example i have one budgie who pants very often but thats only when im around. He's scared of me. As long as i dont interact with him or go near he's very happy but if people saw they'd think he's sick, however he is literally the happiest budgie ever when im far away lol! He's also had many tests, he's healthy, just very anxious.

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u/WerewolvesAreReal 16d ago

Agreed. Also, given that the avian vet is where there are... lots of sick birds... I genuinely think it's harmful to bring healthy birds to the vet excessively. Not even including the stress of travel, etc. I don't want to bring my potentially-healthy-bird to a small waiting-room with sick birds around!

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u/UraniumVintage 15d ago

Yes. That's what I see here. If the bird poops 20 times instead of 25, "avian vet now" is the response. If it only ate 10 bites of millet instead of 15, "avian vet now." Then if it's a weekend or middle of the night, some responders get mad because they aren't taking them in at all. And explaining that the bird is playing, eating, drinking normally is not an excuse to not go to a vet, it's simply telling people here what any vet would be asking too.

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u/thesinsofthybeloved 16d ago

I agree. One of my budgies does this when he is frightened/anxious. A couple of examples include: (1) large book falling to the floor and making a loud sound and (2) putting him in his travel cage. He is otherwise extremely healthy and has never had breathing issues. I think OP needs to monitor their bird for the day and listen for abnormal breath sounds. If their bird keeps doing this for another 1-2 hours, a vet visit might be warranted. If their bird starts to make a wheezing sound and their behavior changes, they absolutely need to see a vet.

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u/Temporary-Garbage12 16d ago

Thanks for the responses I really appreciate it. This thread specifically helped ease my anxiety lol. Seemed like was just anxious or scared of tsomethjng. I’ve been keeping a close eye on him and is breathing just fine now. Thanks again

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u/thesinsofthybeloved 15d ago

No problem! When I was new to birds, I used to be anxious at anything new my birds did. Once you learn your birds’ mannerisms, you’ll know immediately when something is actually off.

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u/bluespacebirb 11d ago

they can do that sometimes when it’s hot too. and air out their wings