Otis's Nostril

[Leila Benton]

Hi, I need to have some advice! Otis has a nostril that looks like it could be shut, I really can’t see an opening area he had some white oozy stuff a week ago, I messed with it now he will not even let me touch his nostril or he will turn his head or bite me. The white stuff went away.

Leila

[Keibird]

I would bring him in. Was the white stuff liquid. Sometimes they get down feathers and dander up thier noses. Also when you bathe them the can get water stuck in there. But if it was liquid and not after a shower definantly bring him in to the vet.

[Leila Benton]

It was swollen a little around the nostril and white around the nostril hole, more like liquid nothing thick. I will look for a vet in my location. I wished he would only let me look a little better but I put my glasses on and he get mad right off.

Thanks Leila

[Winged_Victory]

Take your bird to the bathroom set him on a perch and run the shower so you have hot steam in the room. Leave him in the steam for 30 minutes and see if the cere starts to open up. Dust, allergies will cause swelling of the cere. If the liquid from the cere is cloudy or off color (not clear) I would schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible. In the mean time try giving the bird some cayenne pepper in some soak mix and see if it helps.

I use the cayenne with one of my GW's and it helps.

Congestion (not just a runny cere) will take an antibiotic to get rid of!

[Monica]

Not to be harsh or anything, but please let Kimbear post first... The other 'Ask the Expert' forums are probably okay to post to since the 'experts' are not around much... Though Kim does a great job here, and prefers to at least be the first to post a message, if not being the only one.... she's great at what she does!

[Winged_Victory]

Originally Posted by Monica

Not to be harsh or anything, but please let Kimbear post first... The other 'Ask the Expert' forums are probably okay to post to since the 'experts' are not around much... Though Kim does a great job here, and prefers to at least be the first to post a message, if not being the only one.... she's great at what she does!

Monica............I did not see this was for Too experts, sorry.

[Monica]

I had figured that so not your fault... just watch where to post in the future.... here's the thread about it from Kim...
A reminder about posting on this board

[Leila Benton]

it looks better right now just the hole is really small but it's oblong not as big as the other side not anything coming out at the time, I had to get my hubby to hold him and us a magnify glass to see it. How do I do cayenne pepper in some soak mix? I am new at this Otis is my first Cockatoo. He loves to hang out on the shower rod so it would not be a problem with the idea. The color was just clear water looking stuff and just a little puffy in the area for a few days ago, now it is dry.
Thanks Leila

[KimBear]

Foods that contain hot peppers are sometimes useful in helping congestion, so if your bird will eat something with cayenne or other hot peppers, that may help loosen things up. This is probably what Winged Victory meant. When I'm particuarly stuffy, and I've already had my alloted amount of decongestant, I eat something spicy and my nose is running in no time.

You may be dealing with more than just a plugged up nostril, so it's never a bad idea to at least call your vet to see what they recommend. Because parrots will hide an illness for a long time, we don't always see the signs until they're really bad, so going in for a checkup may be warranted.

If your bird doesn't eat his hot peppers, here's another home remedy that you may be able to use, but to be on the safe side, run it by the vet first: Make a vapor mist with eucalyptus oil (very easy to find at health food stores). Put a few drops in a small bowl of water and place the bowl in the shower, run the hot water, and have your bird sit nearby. It shouldn't be so strong that it burns your eyes or is too overwhelming. If that's the case, you used to much oil.

Home remedies like this may help give him some relief until you can get to the vet. They're sure not meant to take the place of a vet's help.