Inflamed area near anus; female cockatiel

by Antony
(Kansas)

Lately I have grown concerned about an inflamed spot on my 10-year-old female cockatiel. This inflammation is directly to the left of her anus and appears to be slightly smaller than the size of a small marble. I have noticed no adverse health effects from this--she eats normally, is as active as usual and her droppings are consistent and not abnormal. The inflammation itself is not a bump; it feels soft and does not seem to have any defined shape--it just looks and feels inflated.

I have noticed her getting slightly inflamed in the past, when she would lay a clutch of infertile eggs, which is why I didn't worry much. But this inflammation has persisted past her egg-laying phase, and I am beginning to wonder whether it could possibly be anything else. Does anything come to mind? I have decided to be better safe than sorry and am taking her to the vet in the next week, but I would like to know if you have any suggestions as to what may be happening.

Thanks in advance for any help!

- A.W.

(I've included a picture of the affected area for your convenience. Sorry about the water; she had a little bit of poo there and I washed it off.)