As the number of people keeping various species of birds as pets continue to increase, the number of problems that people have with their birds also tends to increase resulting in more people asking for advice on various issues that they are having with their birds.
We have seen an increase in a number of questions relating to a range of common issues with birds but for today’s article, we are going to be focusing on why your bird is foaming at the mouth and some things that you can try to correct the issue.
If your bird is foaming at the mouth then there is a good chance that is has a disease called canker caused by parasites or is having some type of digestive or respiratory issue.
These can range from a relatively easy to treat infection to a blockage or tumor that can be more difficult depending on the specific situation.
All of these causes can end up developing to be very serious issues for your bird and will usually need intervention from a veterinarian to treat the condition with medication and potential surgery.
You can book a video call with a veterinarian to have them assess your bird’s condition and offer their professional advice if needed with these video calls usually being much cheaper than a trip to your local veterinarians while also being available within minutes.
Is It Normal For Birds To Foam At The Mouth?
Unlike some other animals that can hyper salivate when eating causing foaming at the mouth, it is not normal for a bird to foam at the mouth or nose and is almost always a sign of a serious problem that requires attention.
Although avian diseases such as canker are less common in some areas, they are becoming increasingly common in other presenting a very real problem for wild and domestic birds.
If your pet bird is foaming at the mouth then it is unlikely to be something that you have done wrong when caring for your bird and is likely to just be one of those things where the odds were against you.
As with most problems in birds and other animals, the sooner you start treating the problem the higher the survival rate is for your pet bird making it important to get professional advice from a vet as soon as possible.
As we mentioned above, the canker infection rates will vary depending on your location so this can flip the more likely cause from being a canker infection to an infection or blockage in your birds depending on your location.
Although less common than these three causes, some birds can develop tumors that can cause them to foam at the mouth with these being the most serious and often untreatable cause of the problem.
Why Is My Bird Salivating And Foaming At The Mouth?
If your bird is salivating and foaming at the mouth due to a canker infection then you will often notice watery eyes in your bird and constant swallowing.
If your bird is foaming at the mouth due to an infection then you may notice wheezing or swelling in your bird or a lack of appetite and different poops if it is due to an intestinal blockage.
It is usually a good idea to try and look for signs of these secondary symptoms if you are going to be getting advice from a veterinarian on the condition of your bird as they are likely to ask you questions of this nature to better assess the condition of your bird.
This is often related to the poop and appetite of your bird as any wheezing or watery eyes will be visible to the veterinarian during the checkup.
If you have noticed your bird vomiting or trying to vomit be sure to make your vet aware of this too as it is an indication that the problem is probably something wrong in the digestive system rather than canker or a respiratory problem.
Some birds can puff up and increase in size due to certain problems that can cause them to foam at the mouth too with this sometimes not being obvious if you are not familiar with the bird’s normal size so also make your vet aware of this if you notice it too.
How Do You Help A Bird That Is Foaming At The Mouth?
Any bird that is foaming at the mouth is likely to require assistance from a veterinarian to get the correct medication or treatment procedure due to the underlying causes that can cause birds to foam at the mouth.
Thankfully, the three more common causes, canker, respiratory infections, and digestive problems are easy to treat if you catch them early so your bird can have a good chance of getting better quickly.
It can be difficult to correctly diagnose your pet bets problem though with experienced bird keepers having problems sometimes and depending on your location, the required medication to treat the issue may be a prescription medication.
For example, some areas will have Ronidazole, Metronidazole, and Carnidazole listed as controlled substances with these being the three best treatments to deal with a canker infection in your bird meaning you have to get a vet involved to get the required medication.
Although less common, some of the medications for both upper and lower respiratory infections in birds that can have the symptom of foaming at the mouth can also be on controlled substance lists meaning they require a prescription.
In most areas of North America and Europe, a remote vet that you speak to via video call will be able to prescribe any required medication and ship it to you with next day or in some areas same day delivery to help you get your bird on its treatment as soon as possible.
Conclusion
That brings our article going over why your pet bird is foaming at the mouth and how to treat the illness to a close. As we have tried to stress throughout the article, this is usually a serious issue that will need help from a vet to confirm the problem and prescribe the required treatments to you. Depending on your budget and if you have pet insurance, this may end up being expensive if the problem is tumors growing in your bird and your bird will have a low chance of survival. Thankfully, tumors are the least common cause with canker and various types of infection being more common that are easier and cheaper to treat.
