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Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Feb 28, 2012 11:02:39 GMT
Poor poor little Boo. Maybe he'll wake up feeling much better tomorrow.... Let's hope so and fingers crossed for the all clear on Tuesday. I'm wondering whether to take out the cage paper now and just wash the plastic trays in the base of the cage every day instead... It's very worrying how easily they can get into trouble with stuff isn't it! It's very heartwarming how Boo takes so much comfort from you Stace, bless his little heart
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 11:20:33 GMT
I've never had a problem with the paper on the cage bottom, and neither have many others. So if there's no issue, they should be fine.
Having said that, in the vet surgery with me was a female cockatiel with the same foreign body obstruction/ blocked gizzard problem, just not quite so bad. She'd suddenly started eating the paper on the bottom of her cage.
Boo was feeling an awful lot better by the time bedtime came around.
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 11:31:34 GMT
Here's this, from my vet on gizzard blockages:
Your bird has been diagnosed with a blocked gizzard. This is a life threatening disease and your bird may need to stay in hospital until it starts eating. It may take as short as one day, or as long as three days to unblock the gizzard. When the blockage has been present for too long, or when excessive amounts of material are blocking the gizzard, it may be impossible to save your bird. Soft materials and plastic objects may be difficult to unblock as they become impacted and “cement” in the gizzard. Recent sand, wood or dirt blockages are more likely to be unblocked. We manage to save more than 90% of birds presented to us with a blocked gizzard or foreign body obstruction.
Foreign body obstructions occur mostly in perfectly healthy birds who are inquisitive and playful. The most common causes of foreign body obstructions are toweling, rope fibres, toys, paper, and plastics found within the birds play environment. Foreign bodies also occur after cold spells and in birds who have behavioural problems, such as boredom or sexual frustration. These birds like to chew on wood and tear up paper. Nutritional problems may also cause birds to chew on abnormal objects.
What are the signs and symptoms of a blocked gizzard?
The symptoms of a foreign body obstruction and a blocked gizzard are similar. The first signs are an increased thirst and fluffed up appearance. Birds will develop a stomach ache and will lean forward on the perch. Droppings will have no faecal component and may be watery and appear clear or white. Birds may vomit and stop eating. Symptoms of a blocked gizzard or foreign body obstruction appear suddenly, over a period of a day or two. It is important to recognize these symptoms early, so treatment can be implemented as early as possible. The likelihood of recovery is dramatically increased when the problem is identified and treated early. If left unattended for a period of time, the chances of recovery are slim.
How is it treated?
A blocked gizzard or foreign body obstruction must be treated as an emergency. Treatment starts by injecting a lubricating feed mix into the crop, using a crop needle. The birds must be hospitalized in a warmed cage and fed three times a day, in an effort to flush the obstruction through. A high energy formula is incorporated in the feed mix and is critical in re-establishing the sick bird's mineral and fluid levels.
At this time it may also be necessary to give anti-spasm injections, antibiotics or additional fluids. A culture of the droppings is taken to treat concurrent infections and help identify any underlying cause. The procedure of unblocking the gizzard with an injection into the crop may be stressful to critically ill birds and birds with a longstanding obstruction or low resilience. Unfortunately, shock and sudden death following this procedure is possible. We make every effort that this does not occur.
We can recognize when the blockage has been flushed through by the re-appearance of a faecal component (green) in the droppings. If no faecal component is seen after three days of treatment, the likelihood of recovery is poor. It may not be possible to clear longstanding obstructions. We will keep your bird hospitalized until a normal dropping has been passed.
Are there any long term problems?
Long term obstructions can harm the kidneys and liver and leave the bird susceptible to illness in the future.
Copyright © 2004 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 28, 2012 11:49:48 GMT
Great info Stace. It will help others.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 28, 2012 11:51:54 GMT
By the way who could have thought about this. I am removing a few toys from the cages. How is Boo feeling today?
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 12:06:24 GMT
By the way who could have thought about this. I am removing a few toys from the cages. How is Boo feeling today? It's night time here in Sydney, so he's sleeping. I'm hoping to see improvement in him when he wakes tomorrow and over the coming days. By the way, BB. Rob Marshall had his book in the waiting room, called The Budgerigar. It's a big hardback book with lots of pictures illustrating different common and uncommon budgie conditions, particularly as they apply to aviary and show birds, as well as pet birds. This could be good for you as a reference, since you have no avian vets to help you with things.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 28, 2012 12:48:29 GMT
By the way who could have thought about this. I am removing a few toys from the cages. How is Boo feeling today? It's night time here in Sydney, so he's sleeping. I'm hoping to see improvement in him when he wakes tomorrow and over the coming days. By the way, BB. Rob Marshall had his book in the waiting room, called The Budgerigar. It's a big hardback book with lots of pictures illustrating different common and uncommon budgie conditions, particularly as they apply to aviary and show birds, as well as pet birds. This could be good for you as a reference, since you have no avian vets to help you with things. Thank you Stace This sounds very good and may solve a lot of my problems if it illustrates the budgie health issues with pictures. Obviously it will not be available here so is there an online link or something?
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 17:49:31 GMT
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 28, 2012 19:46:40 GMT
Thank you Stace I will go through all the links.
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 22:24:57 GMT
Update...Boo feeling better again this morning. So much so he has just bitten me hard on the nose. Can't believe I'm actually happy to have him do that. Up till now he's just been sooky all day.
Poops still not right, but hoping this will clear sometime in the next week. I guess it depends if this blockage is reducing in size. So, not out of the woods yet, but moving in the right direction.
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Post by budgiefriend on Feb 28, 2012 22:35:20 GMT
Way to go, Boo! Keep up the good work. Hugs to you, Stace.
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Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Feb 28, 2012 22:42:55 GMT
Baby steps Stace. His poor little body has taken quite a battering... I'm sure he'll be back to his old self soon. You'll probably feel much happier after his final xray. What a lesson to us all about their nosy little natures, shame poor Boo had to learn it for us though.
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Post by stace on Feb 28, 2012 23:39:09 GMT
I want him to drink more of his meds, so while replacing his medicine laden water, I've dipped his bunch of seeding grass and his slice of carrot in the medicine water in the hope he'll get some of it in that way. The stuff the food has touched gets thrown out, so don't worry about contamination.
Gee it would be great to know how to safely syringe feed these little guys.
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Post by stace on Feb 29, 2012 0:16:08 GMT
He's looking pretty darn good here, just before bed. Come on Boo. Poop this thing out!
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May 18, 2024 4:49:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 0:32:30 GMT
just looked at the vid ....he's such a little character....... totaly lush...... ....
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