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Cockatiel Hiccups

I have a 19 year old cockatiel and have noticed that he sometimes opens his beak and it looks like he has hick-ups. I can hear air come up from his crop. He seems in good health and is eating well. Do you think this is a sign of illness? Hope to have a reply soon, thanks.

There are several problems (infections, obstructions, etc.) that can cause a cockatiel to exhibit the symptoms that yours has. Birds are skilled at masking signs of illness, so I am most concerned about any unusual behavior I observe in a bird. I would recommend that you have your ‘tiel examined by a qualified avian veterinarian as soon as possible.

Dr.Cook

About Ellen K. Cook, DVM

Dr. Ellen K. Cook has been practicing small animal medicine since 1975. In 1998, she rescued Merlin, a six-year-old Moluccan cockatoo with many undesirable behaviours, and soon began focusing primarily on avian veterinary medicine and behavioral issues.

Dr. Cook is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the International Association of Trainers and Educators, the Animal Behavior Management Alliance, and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists.

She has published numerous articles over the years on avian veterinary and behavioural care, and serves as on online consultant for the World Parrot Trust. Dr. Cook has been teaching basic behavior classes to parrots and their caregivers since 2009, and is the founder of Parrots Anonymous, an organization dedicated to educating those who live with companion parrots.

To book a consultation with Dr. Cook, visit the Cicero Veterinary Clinic at http://www.cicerovet.com