Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 26, 2022 17:48:21 GMT
Hey all. I've mentioned my Charlie on here before under an old account, he's a 12.5 year old English budgie with French moult. Let me say right off the top that unfortunately an Avian vet is out of the question... I've called around and the only ones I could get him to at even a push are not taking new birds on right now.
As the title says, today he has had a constant spasm/twitch in (seemingly) his left side. It has come on every 5-10 seconds or so as far as I can tell, occasionally slowing down but even then at least once or twice a minute. He hasn't been making any vocal signs of distress and has been playing and happy as normal throughout... that is until I go to leave him in a different room, then every twitch starts to upset him and he cries out until I am with him again. I think they scare him in that instance. He has had occasional leg spasms (in the same leg) throughout his life, though usually they're not constant and when he started having small seizures a few years ago it was always that same leg that he lost use of for a moment.
Any idea what might be causing this and what I can do to help him? As I say, being with me seems to comfort him so that's the most I can do right now.
He has also been preening his vent a lot in recent days. Last weekend he had a bout of runny droppings (I think polyuria?) which blocked it and I had to clean him a few times and trim the area, which I though was why he was picking at it afterwards. His droppings have been largely normal since if a bit on the runny side, with the odd loose one.
Could it be mites or calcium deficiency or something like that or is it likely a seizure?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
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Post by ladybird on Aug 26, 2022 18:19:05 GMT
Sorry I can’t help but I am sure others will be along to help……Can you get him to see an ordinary vet? Or could there be another Avian vet in a different town? My Budgie has been ill and I did have to make a 60 mile round trip to see an Avain vet , and I did have to beg a bit even then. In the meantime can you give him any pain relief?
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 26, 2022 18:26:41 GMT
Sorry I can’t help but I am sure others will be along to help……Can you get him to see an ordinary vet? Or could there be another Avian vet in a different town? My Budgie has been ill and I did have to make a 60 mile round trip to see an Avain vet , and I did have to beg a bit even then. In the meantime can you give him any pain relief? Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it even if you feel you can't help. Yeah, unfortunately all of the avian vets I was trying to contact are out of town, we don't have any local. I don't want to take him too far because of his advanced age (he'll be 13 soon) so a 60 mile round trip was about the maximum I was looking at but they've all (3) said no. Honestly he doesn't appear to be in any pain as he's been happily playing throughout the twitches but I have heard that cayenne pepper is a good natural pain relief for them so I'll have some to hand. My main concern with him right now is how he will be able to sleep and if his quality of life will rapidly diminish if he's unable to.
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Post by ladybird on Aug 26, 2022 19:03:07 GMT
I wonder if the Avian vet would at least let you send a video clip of him ….I know they can’t make a proper diagnosis like that but at least they might be able to prescribe something to help……it could be sent to your local vet . This did happen with my Charlie, so I know some will do it….. It could be caused by many reasons at his wonderful age. I know that Metacam could help if he was in any pain, and it would help him sleep too…….Sorry I am not being much use, but I do know how you must be worrying.
I don’t think you should use cayenne pepper….please don’t until more experienced members can help……..
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,805
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Aug 26, 2022 20:52:36 GMT
I'm really not sure whether it's a seizure or something else.
He does need to see an avian vet (I know you're saying that you don't have one available)
Might be worth seeing if you can get a video consult somehow?
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 26, 2022 20:55:43 GMT
I've never used it myself but it's widely recommended in a UK budgie care group I'm in and online in various places. I'm not particularly likely to use it in the current circumstances though tbh so I hope the thread doesn't get bogged down with that discussion as I do really need some advice here from the experienced folk!
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 26, 2022 20:58:10 GMT
I'm really not sure whether it's a seizure or something else. He does need to see an avian vet (I know you're saying that you don't have one available) Might be worth seeing if you can get a video consult somehow? Believe me, I've tried. I've asked about doing phone or video consultations and they've all said they don't offer it and are not seeing any new birds, I'm going to try again tomorrow but I'm expecting the same answer.
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 26, 2022 21:46:46 GMT
(I'm sorry if the above sounded like I was snapping, I'm very upset right now... it's quite clear he is not going to be able to sleep so I'm just worried about tomorrow)
I have asked in the aforementioned UK budgie group if anyone knows of an avian vet who will do a phone/video consultation, if anybody here has any names to hand then that would also be great.
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Post by Loz on Aug 26, 2022 22:22:23 GMT
I too have no access to an avian vet within reasonable travel. The nearest avians are not seeing new birds even if I could get there. I have to be satisfied with an exotics vet who I hope can seek advice from an avian when needed. I wish I could advise - as it is I can only speculate, which is not helpful. I do hope your Charlie can recover from this distressing condition. I'd be as worried as you are about my dear feathered friend.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 27, 2022 1:09:23 GMT
I've never used it myself but it's widely recommended in a UK budgie care group I'm in and online in various places. I'm not particularly likely to use it in the current circumstances though tbh so I hope the thread doesn't get bogged down with that discussion as I do really need some advice here from the experienced folk! I don’t know what you are referring to here, but cayenne pepper is a good natural pain reliever, although I’m not convinced it will help him much if, as you say, he has been prone to seizures and twitches all his life. These do seem to become more regular and severe as the birds age. It does sound as though he has some sort of ongoing neurological condition that is possibly getting worse as he ages, but to help him sleep without worry of him falling try a platform perch so that he can lie down, and lower all his perches so that if he does fall, he doesn’t fall as far, and some padding on the bottom of the cage to help soften any fall that does happen. He may also benefit from a heat lamp at one end of the cage (outside); heat can be very kind on older bones and bodies.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 27, 2022 1:12:01 GMT
Also, if he is still picking at his vent, it may be a little sore or itchy, a little soothing cream such as Savlon or even a dab of Vaseline could help with that.
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 27, 2022 2:30:05 GMT
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I can confirm Charlie is unable to sleep currently. I'll look into buying him a flat perch he can lie down on but he's such a creature of habit (always has to sleep in the same place etc) that I'm not sure he'll make the switch, but rather continue trying to sleep standing. Thus far he hasn't had any problems perching.
I'm planning to take him to my regular vet tomorrow, explain the situation that I think he has a neurological problem that I can't treat due to no access to an avian vet and ask their opinion on his quality of life and if its fair to keep him going. This would he an incredibly tough decision because he is still very bright and playful even at 12 years but obviously I don't want him to suffer.
Does that sound like the right thing to do?
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Post by Loz on Aug 27, 2022 6:39:42 GMT
End of life care is a deeply personal decision. How do you advise someone on this? 12 is a very good age for a budgie. Charlie has done well. In my opinion, if he is eating normally, playing, singing and such and the only thing that makes you question his quality of life is the seizures, I would wait on having him put to sleep. This is only my opinion and I have not looked after a budgie that has Charlie's symptoms so I am somewhat ignorant of your situation. I'm hoping others will provide their opinions and if you're uncertain of what to do, one of these opinions will feel right to you or at least, not very wrong. Best wishes to you and Charlie.
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Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
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Post by magpie on Aug 27, 2022 6:48:07 GMT
Thanks, it's more that it is preventing him from sleeping at all that is causing me to consider this. If it was only happening in the day and I could keep him happy then I wouldn't.
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Post by ladybird on Aug 27, 2022 8:00:32 GMT
Magpie I feel so sorry for you and Charlie, I do hope your regular vet can help you to give Charlie some medication to control the seizures……. I can imagine how upset you must be, it’s just so distressing when our buds aren’t well……. I have had a whole Summer of going backwards and forwards to the Avian vets, and my budgie Charlie being kept there for treatment. He has had seizures and they are so distressing to watch and now he has lost the use of his left foot….. Your Charlie could have Liver or Kidney problems and although not curable at his age…could be managed with the right drugs……. Does he come out and sit with you? My Charlie finds great comfort in sitting by my neck when he doesn’t feel too good………. Don’t give up Magpie, Keeping everything crossed for both of you xxx
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