Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Feb 24, 2015 15:45:19 GMT
I have a 10-year old male budgie. In the past two months, his beak has been growing very quickly with a black splotch. I took him in to an avian vet to have his beak trimmed and his toe nails as well. At the time, his poop was also bright green. She diagnosed him as having some sort of liver ailment; to determine exactly what it is would require blood tests/swab etc.
She could not feel a tumour but thought he might have a fatty liver (as she advised, I am introducing pellets into his diet; he seems to like them) and also felt that he should be tested for Chlamydiasis psitticosis (Parrot Fever). Though there's a swab test that is minimally invasive, I was warned that it is not that reliable and that a blood test for this disease is more reliable. However, this test requires that blood be drawn from his jugular (I think) and there is a minute risk that he could pass away from this procedure. I do not want to expose him to this risk. However, I have four other budgies (all my birds are adopted from the local animal shelter) and am concerned that if he has Parrot Fever, that they may get it too.
I will be taking him in to the vet next week for another beak/nail trim and will need to let the vet know how I want to proceed.
• Any idea what the likelihood is that he has Parrot Fever? I have had him for two years and the only ailment that he has shown (and was treated for along with the rest of the flock) was scaly feet mites. Also, his poops are no longer bright green.
• Has anyone done the swab test for Parrot Fever?
• Is Parrot Fever deadly or will a healthy bird's immune system deal with it?
Any other advice will be greatly appreciated.
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Post by jellybean on Feb 24, 2015 16:50:46 GMT
I'm sorry I can't help with this one yasmin, but I'm sure people with a lot more knowledge will be along to help you very soon.
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Post by skysmum on Feb 24, 2015 17:07:08 GMT
Hi, i have had no experience with this but it is my understanding that this must be treated with anti B's. If he has got Parrot Fever you also run the risk of catching it along with your other birds, the other birds will need to be treated as well. I do hope it isn't but for peace of mind i think you need to know, its a tough one .
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Post by Hezz on Feb 25, 2015 1:03:07 GMT
From my understanding, neither the swab or the blood test are 100% accurate, as the disease can go into a dormant phase and the bird will not be shedding anything containing the organism. For myself, I would look at getting the swab test done, as it isn't invasive, but at 10 years of age, putting him under a general anaesthetic would be asking for problems. As you have gotten him as a rescue bird, there really is no way of telling what the likelihood of him having Psittacosis. Would the vet be prepared to treat all birds for it without having the blood test done? It can lie dormant in a healthy bird, or send them rapidly downhill, depends on the bird. This is a very good article explaining everything much better than I can: www.birdclinic.net/avian5.htm
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Feb 25, 2015 20:15:48 GMT
Thank you for all of your replies.
The article you recommended, Hezz, is very informative – better than all others I have read. I agree, the swab test is the only test that I will consider but at over $150 to get it done, it will probably be worth doing only if he is still actively showing symptoms. The only symptom he has displayed is the bright green poop and his poop isn't that colour anymore right now.
I will also do some research to find out if treating all of my birds with doxycycline (via water) has any downside or any upsides (would it treat other potential issues?).
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Mar 3, 2015 20:33:51 GMT
Took Snowy in for another beak/toe trim. Decided not to request any testing or meds. Vet noted that he had gained weight and that his poops look better. (?)
Six weeks ago after the vet noted that he might have fatty liver disease and that I should switch his diet over to pellets, I started all of my budgies on Harrison's super fine pellets (still gets seeds with a teaspoon of pellets – read that budgies with liver issues shouldn't be on a complete pellet diet ?) and I have also been providing a few milk thistle seeds (read that it helps the liver) with every meal. Wonder if this has helped? Perhaps if he can go two months without a trim then I might conclude that the diet is working.
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Post by lemonade on Mar 3, 2015 21:28:11 GMT
My little Apple, who is no longer with us, had liver issues. I crushed my milk thistle seeds as I felt they were too hard for the budgies to crack open. It did help. I also used alcohol free milk thistle drops in water. 0.04ml per 50ml. He never had the swab but got the blood test, it came back negative, but humans can get it if the birds are positive. Remember what Snowy eats could also affect poop colour. Lots of green leafy foods can make poop green. But unfortunately so does liver issues. I also mix Harrison's superfine with seeds but how much they actually eat of it I don't know! I hope Snowy will be ok Keep us updated
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Post by Hezz on Mar 4, 2015 0:50:45 GMT
Yeah, I had the same issue with the milk thistle seeds, just too hard for a budgie to crack. I used to crack them open as well, but don't think Blue was ever really fussed on them. I would be inclined more towards the drops in the water as well - a few seeds in the mix can easily be avoided, but adding to their water, they can't get away from.
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Mar 4, 2015 21:55:25 GMT
Thanks for the advice re: milk thistle. I wonder where I can pick up alcohol-free milk thistle drops. Do I need to get it from the vet or is it sold for human use at a regular pharmacy/drug store?
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Post by Hezz on Mar 5, 2015 0:56:57 GMT
Poop, just lost all my post. Okay, start again. I bought mine on-line as I couldn't find it anywhere near me, or even in Australia, but now having a look see that apparently we can buy it ...... but that's not what you want to know ...... this is the brand that I bought, a few years ago and I think it might even be the same company I bought it from. I have dealt with them a couple of times and never had a problem, which could easily happen with importing "supplements" into Australia. It is an American site, so should be good for you. www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Answer-Milk-Thistle-Alcohol-Free-1-fl-oz-30-ml/5159
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Mar 9, 2015 20:32:17 GMT
Thanks Hezz. I will check out some of the local herbal supplement stores for it.
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Mar 1, 2015 10:37:17 GMT
porthos
Normal Violet
Posts: 213
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Post by porthos on Mar 10, 2015 21:26:52 GMT
milk thistle capsules are good to cause you open the capsule and just sprinkle on the food, also I have heard of swabs for aspers but with parrot fever you normally have to collect poo smaples for 5 days and they get sent of to the lab
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Mar 17, 2015 21:00:50 GMT
Thanks porthos. So far, Snowy is doing well. Really doubt he has Parrot fever – poops look normal now so, unless the PF has gone into remission, looks like something else is causing his liver issues (assuming that's what's causing his beak overgrowth). Let's see how long it'll be before he needs his next beak trim.
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Post by Hezz on Mar 18, 2015 1:29:45 GMT
Hopefully just a hiccup, and his liver is now doing what it is meant to be doing. Good luck.
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Feb 23, 2015 22:52:16 GMT
yasmin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by yasmin on Oct 1, 2015 20:53:32 GMT
Just an update. Snowy has been once again to the vet for a trim (I think I took him in August) but not much needed to be done. I have taken the advice to try milk thistle. I put a few whole seeds on their food each day and have upped the ratio of seeds to Harrison's Super Fine. I really think this is working for him; the rate of overgrowth of his beak has slowed down significantly. Though the vet says he has not lost weight and that he has a bit of fatty accumulation on his chest plus the beginnings of a heart murmur, he has been doing very well. (The vet suggested that I put a bowl with only the Harrison's in it to see if they're eating it but one of them keeps dumping the bowl. )
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