Strange lump in mouth corner

[anni]

Hi! I have recently noticed a small brownish round lump in the corner of my budgie's mouth. At first I thought it was just a seed that's stuck but now I think it's some sort of cyst. What could it be and is it dangerous? How can we get rid of it?
Sometimes, especially when he is eating, it is very prominent and can be seen easily; other times, when he is just perching, it's either hidden in his feathers or maybe it disappears inside his mouth? I've added a photo.

[Marianne Marlow]

Can you upload a photo?

[anni]

[Hezz]

Without seeing a photo of the bird, I am going to jump in and say that you need to get this seen to. Yes, it is possibly dangerous, it is possible that it is a cancerous growth. You would need to talk to an avian vet on how best to diagnose and any further treatment that might be needed.

[Hezz]

Okay, the photo has now loaded for me. I wouldn't change what I have already written, but I do need to add that your budgie's beak is very overgrown, the most common cause for this being fatty liver disease. I suggest you have a vet give your bud a full health check as it would appear that there are a few different health issues happening there.

[anni]

Thank you, I have now added a photo. I've spoken to our vet and they haven't got any appointments in the next few days and we are going on holidays soon (of course, our budgie always gets health problems when we are about to go on our annual holiday), so I wanted to ask the 'collective' mind whether this is something they've seen before and if it might go away by itself, or do we need to look for an emergency vet that can see him immediately.

[anni]

Yeah, we know about the beak - he's just been for a full check and beak trim 3 weeks ago - it grew again really really fast. We tried giving him pelleted diet but he just refuses to touch it, and we didn't want to starve him too long - he's obviously not very well.

[helenmat]

I would ring back your avian vet and insist your bud be seen before you go away if that is possible. Its beak looks like it could struggle to eat properly, if its grown that fast in 3 weeks.

[Jane]

Did you gradually introduce the pellet diet anni? You have to crush some up, sprinkle a bit of water on it to start so that when you add it to the seed it sticks for him to develop the taste. Do that for s few days then gradually increase the amount of pellets (no need to add water) until after a week or two he is on just pellets. I used Harrison Lifetime superfine. Also you can buy some Denes milk thistle powder (for cats and dogs but it’s ok for budgies) and put a pinch of that in his food each day to support the liver. Keep his diet very simple, no millet or those surgery treats, just a few herbs now and then. He needs his beak trimmed without delay. I would call around and find someone that can do it. I would think a regular vet or some nurses could do that. If you get stuck maybe call local breeders and see what/who they suggest to help. However, as Hezz said there are a few things going on for your bird so he really needs to see an avian vet, preferably ASAP before your holiday. Good luck and keep us posted.

[anni]

Thank you, all. I've managed to persuade the vet to see him today. Thanks for a tip about the pellets and the powder. I used to mix in a few pelles with his usual seed mix, and then mixing it up a fair bit so I assumed that he was eating both, but when I gave him just pellets he kept going to his bowl, looking in it, and then leaving without touching a single pellet, that lasted all day so I got soft seeing him so sad and hungry and just gave him his seed back. He absolutely loves spinach and has some every day, but we couldn't get him interested in any other fruit or vegetable. He is so fussy - he wasn't interested in either corn or broccoli even though these seem to be budgies favourite foods. I'll let you know what the vet says and thanks again. I hate seeing him looking so scruffy! He used to be a really handsome bird. He still is to us.

[Marianne Marlow]

The lump could possibly be related to the liver condition. Hope it goes well at the vet.

Dill and celery are good for the liver. Don't feed celery too often though as it'll make the droppings runny.

[helenmat]

Please let us know how you get on at the vets.