Pigeon Cold Medicine: What to Feed a Parrot with a Cold

Section 1: Symptoms of Parrot Cold

The initial symptoms of a parrot's cold are often quite noticeable. Typically, you'll observe a lack of energy, decreased activity, and the bird may spend extended periods standing still on its perch. Other signs include a loss of appetite and sneezing.

As the illness progresses, the parrot may start to fluff up its feathers, and clear, watery discharge may begin to appear from its nostrils, commonly referred to as a runny nose. The mucus can accumulate on the small feathers around the nostrils, causing them to stick together.

Excessive mucus can lead to nasal blockage, affecting the bird's normal breathing. This can result in openmouth breathing, rapid breathing, coughing, and a hoarse call when breathing.

Section 2: Treatment Methods for Parrot Cold

1. Upon noticing cold symptoms in your parrot, it's crucial to isolate the sick bird from healthy ones and move it to a warm, comfortable indoor space. This prevents the cold from worsening due to exposure to cold temperatures. If the cold is solely due to temperature changes, ensuring proper warmth and feeding the bird glucose and vitamins can often lead to a quick recovery. If the symptoms persist, further medical treatment may be necessary.

2. Increase the parrot's diet with its favorite oil seeds. You can also add a small amount of egg yolk powder to its food to boost nutrition. In the drinking water, add a small quantity of longacting sulfadiazine, dissolving 1/10th of a tablet in 10ML of water. Change the water 12 times daily and continue this for 5 days.

3. Alternatively, you can use tetracycline, erythromycin, or any other antibiotic to treat the parrot. Administer 1/4th of a tablet, crushed into a powder and dissolved in boiling water. Adding a little sugar can improve its palatability. Continue this treatment for 5 days.

4. If the parrot's nostrils are blocked, first gently clean the area around the nostrils with a cotton swab. Then, use medical gauze to create a thin strip, which you can use to remove the mucus from the nostrils. Afterward, apply a small amount of vegetable oil to the nostrils to lubricate them and improve breathing.

For more information on parrot cold symptoms and solutions, you can read on in "Can a Parrot Recover from a Cold on Its Own?"