My older Amazon parrot has a clogged nostril. What should I do?

Question

Our yellow-nape amazon has what we think is a clogged nare. We have been trying to gently flush what we think is a combination of food, dust, dander from her left (nostril) nare. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions? Thank you. Pet's info: Bird | Amazon | Female | unspayed | 37 years and 8 months old | 1lb

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for your question about Beanie. Many birds do get clogged nares, and material like what you mentioned is often quite common. If you have tried to gently flush it without success, it may have hardened into a lump of material that is now stuck. This is called a rhinolith, and these typically require a veterinarian's assistance to remove as it can require specialized tools to remove them. I saw Beanie's age, and I would be concerned that maybe she is not able to pick her own nose anymore, which then would predispose her to getting build up. They often pick their noses with their feet, and older birds can get arthritis in their feet (similar to how older people can in their hands and feet). If their joints hurt or are stiff, they may not pick their noses like they should. I would recommend taking Beanie to a veterinarian for evaluation, not just for the material in the nose but to evaluate her for potential arthritis. Due to her age, they may also recommend other diagnostic testing, such as blood work to evaluate systemic health. If she has arthritis, they may recommend treatments to relieve pain and inflammation associated with it. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and that Beanie feels better soon!

My older Amazon parrot has a clogged nostril. What should I do?

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