Coughing zebra finch?

[nimbly]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. I joined because my zebra hen is having some sudden health issues, and this seems to be an active and helpful community.

A bit of background: Chestnut is about 4 years old, I adopted her when she was young, from a breeder who couldn't keep her with the rest of the birds because of a wonky leg. Despite not having use of one leg, she has thrived and learned to do things in her own way. She's also developed quite the personality!

Up til now, she's been fairly healthy except for the occasional trouble passing eggs (unfertilized; she has a cage to herself) but she always recovers and is back to normal within a day or two. Four nights ago, out of nowhere, she woke me up in the middle of the night making noise.. a loud, painful screeching sound. The best way I can describe it is similar to when you squeeze the air out of a balloon. She made the sound a second time a few minutes later, so I got up to check on her and she hopped up on the edge of her nest and started talking and beeping to me like normal. Next night, same thing happened.

The third night went by without any problems, and I actually thought whatever it was had cleared up on its own.. Last night I was proven wrong, when I woke up to her having a very bad coughing fit. I sat watching her for an hour, and she'd switch between soft coughs in rapid succession, and the loud screeching sound. She tried to tuck in and go back to sleep, but after a few minutes would start back up again. I noticed her beak hang open each time and thought it looked like she was retching or trying to vomit something up, but nothing came out. Soon as morning hit, she was alert, active, and talkative as usual. It was hard to believe she had looked so sickly just minutes before!

I took a video to capture the sounds she was making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_-5Lv3Pfcg

Right now I'm trying to find an avian vet in town, but I wanted to see if I could also get some advice from others who have kept finches and might know what's going on. Apologies for such a long post, I tried to be as detailed as possible. If there is any more info needed, let me know. Thanks for reading!

-Ashley

[fhgwgads]

nimbly I am so sorry to hear about your baby!!! The video sounds so sad!!!!! Does she have any other symptoms? I was having issues with my zebra finches as well.. one was making clicking noises while breathing and acting lethargic.. the other was doing that wretching thing.. but with no noises.

Here is a small guide to different respiratory issues:

Click here for guide.

I cannot help with what it could be.. but hopefully you can get her to a vet and figure it out! Best of luck with her.. and I am sorry you are going through this. Welcome to the forum... even though it isn't under the best conditions!!! Again, best of luck!! I hope someone else can provide some info or advice!!

[nimbly]

Thank you for your reply, and the link! Reading over the descriptions of various infections, I'm still not sure if any of them sound like what Chestnut has.. The only other symptoms I've noticed are that she is preening/scratching at herself a lot more now, and I do hear the clicking when she breathes, but only during an "attack".. There was a problem with her water dispenser that caused it to flood the cage recently, along with the paper that lines the bottom and any seeds and droppings that were there. I didn't get to it for a while that time, so that could have caused mold or bacteria to grow and make her sick

Did you ever figure out what was going on with your birds? It is so scary when you don't know what is wrong, but want so badly to help them out!

It sounds like air sac mites are pretty common in finches, so I'm thinking of buying a bottle of Scatt to treat Chestnut and see if she improves any. It says to eliminate the possibility of ASM first. There is no harm in using it if a bird is not infected, right?

[debbie276]

It should cause no harm treating your bird for ASM. Personally I don't think ASM are all the common. The symptoms for ASM are also the symptoms for respiratory infections and other illnesses.
good luck, hope the scatt does the trick

[monotwine]

I don't know if its just me but I don't hear much on the video, just a small sneeze?

She might have a slight respiratory infection / cold. A general antibiotic would clear that up, but as what you describe sounds much more serious, I would see a vet. A chronic respiratory infection would sound like constant wheezing in and out.

Hope you manage to find a vet that can help.

[nimbly]

Thank you debbie and monotwine Just to update: I did end up talking with the owner of a bird shop here, and after showing him a better video clip he also said it sounded like a sneeze. Ches is the only finch I've had and I was just so freaked out hearing such a sound come from her.. very different from a cockatiel's sneeze! The shop owner agreed that it was either air sac mites or a mild respiratory infection and advised me on how to take care of it. I picked up some Ivermectin along with a brand new, clean cage and nest, and a water bottle that does not leak.

She seems to be back to normal now, thank goodness! I just gave her the 5th and final dose of Ivermectin today, but by day 2 she was no longer waking up and having an attack during the night. Hopefully whatever it was has been cleared out. I know I will be a lot more diligent about keeping her cage clean and dry from now on!

Should I be treating her with the Ivermectin as a preventative every few months, or only as needed?

[monotwine]

Well rather over-react than under-react in my opinion! Good on you for looking after your little finch so well.

As a precaution all new birds should be treated for parasites (internal and external) and you can do a preventative every 6 months if you keep your birds indoors. I do a preventative every 3-4 months but my birds live outdoors and are exposed to wild birds.

Ivermectin is fine to use, but watch out for toxicity and obviously make sure you use the right strength and dosage rate. Some of my finches have responded to it quite radically. Moxidectin is somewhat safer with a wider margin for error.

Best wishes

[debbie276]

That's good news!
Glad you were able to help her
I only treat any incoming birds for ASM and haven't had the need to treat again. It's a personal choice whether to treat routinely or not.

[finchmix22]

Glad your finch is better. Did you also treat with antibiotics or was the Ivermectin sufficient? Sounds like she's doing better. Congrats!

[fhgwgads]

nimbly so glad to hear that your baby girl is doing better!!!!!! Mine are doing better too thankfully!!! It's so relieving! It certainly is a scary thing to go through especially when you don't know what to do and feel helpless. Best of luck with her!!! She seems like such a sweetie!