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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 13:42:42 GMT
I woke up this morning, and after a few small things went to do the budgie chores. However, Just as i came over, I noticed a long dark, brick-reddish stripe along the back of my oldest budgie Loulou (7 years). I realised very quickly that these were blood stains. There were small bits all along the top of his back. I'm not sure if they're from the bottom of his head feathers or the top of his back. They blood is dry but Loulou is weak and struggling to balance properly. It seems he is trying to sleep but he cant as he nearly falls of his perch every time he is about to doze off.
I can't find what would have caused the bleeding and I'm very worried. I'm not sure if the weakness is a side-effect of the loss of blood or if it means i only have a couple hours left with him. He has been a little poorly recently, and obviously he's quite old, but I don't understand what would have caused him to bleed this much.
I've tried moving him to a flat area in his cage, but he musters the strength to climb back up to a perch despite the fact that he can't sleep when he does so.
Another massive worry of mine is how he'll potentially recover...He's been too tired to go to his food or water and just seems to want sleep.
Could bleeding be an underlying side effect of some other issue? Is the bleeding the reason he has a lack of balance? How can I help him recover?
I would ideally like to take him to a Vet, but I don't have the money; I can't drive, and moreover, I'm worried he'll die in transit or at the place.
Just looking for help,
thank you all
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
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George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,805
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Oct 23, 2022 14:04:02 GMT
Can you check his toenails? in my experience these are the most likely for bleeding, or does he have a lump near his wing or vent that he has picked at?
If you lower all of his perches, so he cannot climb high and fall and hurt himself.
Cover his cage on three sides and top so he is encouraged to rest. Place food (millet spray) and water very near to him so he does not have to use energy to get to it. If you have some then guardian angel in the water.
He obviously needs an avian vet (I know you have said that you cannot get to one, but it would be remiss of me not to mention it)
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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 Oct 23, 2022 14:08:21 GMT
If you have a syringe (needle-less) then you can syringe him some water.
Or this:
Home-made Lactated Ringers electrolyte solution for sick birds (rehydration)
• 8oz warm water • ½ tablespoon sugar • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Mix all together in a jar, stir well and refrigerate. Will keep for 2-3 days in fridge.
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 14:12:28 GMT
Can you check his toenails? in my experience these are the most likely for bleeding, or does he have a lump near his wing or vent that he has picked at? If you lower all of his perches, so he cannot climb high and fall and hurt himself. Cover his cage on three sides and top so he is encouraged to rest. Place food (millet spray) and water very near to him so he does not have to use energy to get to it. If you have some then guardian angel in the water. He obviously needs an avian vet (I know you have said that you cannot get to one, but it would be remiss of me not to mention it) I've moved his water quite close to him, as well as provided nearby millet and seeds. I'll cover the cage now. His toenails aren't bleeding. I'm not quite sure what you mean by a vent, I'm probably just being stupid but is it possible you could elaborate on that?
I've moved the higher perches down and he's perching quite low to the ground. I don't have guardian angel, is it something I could buy quite locally?
Thank you very much for responding, I was just wondering as well if you knew whether or not weakness and tiredness is a symptom of the loss of blood or do I possibly need to be worried that there's a greater health problem.
Do birds that lose blood often become disorderly?
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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 Oct 23, 2022 14:19:17 GMT
It's possible that if he lost a lot of blood this could make him weak, yes. Impossible for me to say if there are other issues contributing to this, only a vet could tell you that after examining him.
Did you find a lot of blood in his cage?
The vent is the area this his droppings come from.
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 14:26:35 GMT
It's possible that if he lost a lot of blood this could make him weak, yes. Impossible for me to say if there are other issues contributing to this, only a vet could tell you that after examining him. Did you find a lot of blood in his cage? The vent is the area this his droppings come from. That's the strange thing. I've looked all over, and I cannot find where the source of the bleeding comes from. Maybe a broken blood feather? I don't know, but if it was a blood feather, i don't know why the bleeding moved across his back.
He's making the occassional chirp and is standing up more straight, but he's still tilting back and forth and is closing his eyes when left undisturbed.
I'm quite worried, and will try your water syringe technique if he remains dormant for a couple more hours.
He's an old budgie and was a little poorly, but this was a very drastic step up from previous ailments.
I've checked his vent, it's not bleeding but it almost looks slightly yellow. His stool is normal though
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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 Oct 23, 2022 14:33:46 GMT
Could the bleeding be from one of your other budgies? I'm wondering if there was a night fright and one of your other budgies bled (possibly broken feather) and it went on him?
Night fright is when all the budgies flap all over the place, throwing themselves to the sides of the cage. Sometimes caused by a loud noise outside.
He could have been very scared and traumatised by it.
Just a guess, but check your other birds.
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 14:44:02 GMT
Could the bleeding be from one of your other budgies? I'm wondering if there was a night fright and one of your other budgies bled (possibly broken feather) and it went on him? Night fright is when all the budgies flap all over the place, throwing themselves to the sides of the cage. Sometimes caused by a loud noise outside. He could have been very scared and traumatised by it. Just a guess, but check your other birds. I've examined the others, and I don't see any sign of bleeding, although I guess its quite possible that Loulou injured himself last night during a Night fright. I usually wake up to them, but I was out quite hard last night and so it's possible I just didn't wake up.
Loulou just fell from his perch and climbed back up. I'm wondering if the back injury that caused the bleeding might have damaged his spine?
One of my budgies that died became more and more tired on their final day, and when they fell from the perch, they didn't have the energy to get back up to the perch. Loulou seems to have a lack of balance, but he's still able to become active. I've observed him move around from perch to perch when the others bother him or he loses his balance.
It makes me wonder if the back injury hurt his spine, and has made him less stable
I'm not sure. I'm just hoping he shows signs of recovery. I'm going to try the water syringe in a few minutes, and will see about that homemade remedy you mentioned
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 14:55:21 GMT
He doesn't seem to be eating, but I only came to do their cage at 10:30. I cant tell if he has lost his apetite or if he had exerted effort into making it to the food bowls earlier
He's trying to preen but keeps losing his balance
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 23, 2022 15:26:23 GMT
The other birds keep bothering him. Should I place him in a temporary cage?
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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 Oct 23, 2022 16:01:21 GMT
Yes, if you have a smaller cage that you can put him in (with low perches) that would be good. Also if you do not already have it, a towel at the bottom under the paper would be good in case he falls. The other birds keep bothering him. Should I place him in a temporary cage?
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 24, 2022 9:10:50 GMT
Yes, if you have a smaller cage that you can put him in (with low perches) that would be good. Also if you do not already have it, a towel at the bottom under the paper would be good in case he falls. The other birds keep bothering him. Should I place him in a temporary cage? Loulou is still drinking enough, and eating a little, but something has caused him to lose full control of his balance and I don't know what it is. He's been using his food bowl to support him as he sleeps, and he's been moving around the side of the temp cage, falling asleep while anchored on the walls. I'm going to see what I can do about getting vetinary care, but is there any advice you can give me for how I can help him in this state?
I'm desparate.
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Post by loulouandscooby on Oct 24, 2022 11:19:56 GMT
I've ordered some Guardian Angel. He hasn't eaten or drank since roughly 8:30 and he's opting to attach to the sides of the walls of the cage, but I'm keeping very close tabs on him. Ill continue to give updates
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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 Oct 24, 2022 14:51:53 GMT
Is it possible to share a current photo of him?
Did you manage to find a vet?
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Post by Hezz on Oct 24, 2022 18:45:50 GMT
It is always best to separate a sick or injured animal. Put him into a small space - a carry/ transport cage would be ideal. Remove any perches and pad the bottom with a soft sheet or similar. You can bunch it up so that his feet have something to grip on to or lay a perch down on the floor so that he can perch without the risk of a fall. Hang a millet spray right beside him and make sure his water is easily accessible without risking him falling into it. If he is having trouble balancing in the floor, a “horseshoe” shape of rolled tea towel placed around the front and sides of him will help keep him upright and will keep his head up.
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