Sids beak... again...

[Tacey]

I'm really at a loss with Sids beak now. For the last few months I've had to clip it almost weekly... and it still just gets worse. Now it's gotten thicker as well as longer and I'm afraid to clip it, the pressure of the clippers make him scream and I don't want to hurt him... I've tried filing it but it seems to do very little. Not only this, the lower part of his beak is now looking very odd... and when I picked him up just now to file the top part a little the lower part began to bleed (only a little). It's really hard to see whats actually happened because he's so small and the lower part of the beak is surrounded by fluff... argh. I've tried to get some photos.

He's complete unphased by it all... straight after the bleeding I popped him on top of the cage with some millet and he's happily sat there stuffing his face!

Here's a photo showing the length and shape of his beak now..


And a picture of the lower part, not a great picture but you can sort of see something is not right...?



He's just finished another course of the liver tonic, I've been making sure he has plenty of calcium and D3, as well as the healthiest diet I can give him... he appears fine in himself and his droppings are perfect. It's just the beak

[Hezz]

Hopefully someone will have some advice for you soon, Tacey. Poor Sidley, poor Tacey - you are the one fretting.

[stace]

I don't know what is happening Tacey, but making the beak softer before you cut it could help in the meantime. Like our nails, a little bit of warm olive oil and/or a warm soaked cotton pad to soften it up before cutting.

Poor little Sid.

[barrieshutt]

That is a typical sign of PBFD Tacey

[Tacey]

Oct 28, 2011 6:51:55 GMT barrieshutt said:

That is a typical sign of PBFD Tacey

I have thought about that, but it's been going on for quite some time and his feathers appear to be completely fine... also as PBFD is extremely contagious I'd have expected to see signs of it in the other two but they're completely healthy so I don't think it can be that. But I don't know

[Tacey]

Oct 28, 2011 1:16:35 GMT Hezz said:

Hopefully someone will have some advice for you soon, Tacey. Poor Sidley, poor Tacey - you are the one fretting.

Thanks Hezz, I'm constantly fretting over this bird lol

[Tacey]

Oct 28, 2011 1:32:39 GMT stace said:

I don't know what is happening Tacey, but making the beak softer before you cut it could help in the meantime. Like our nails, a little bit of warm olive oil and/or a warm soaked cotton pad to soften it up before cutting.

Poor little Sid.

Hmm I wonder if that would work? I'l give it a go next time I come to clip it... thanks

[adf]

Hi dear Stacey,
Sid's story is really so stressful. I would like to say something encouraging or a good advice.
As I know there is only a few reasons for such an excessive beak growth. Inner organ malfunction, a virus, the beak bone damage, nasal infection or tumour of the beak.
We had been talking about inner organ malfunction. There were obvious symptoms for it (brown patches on the beak, beak growth).
Now the situation got worse. I understand Barrie's remark very well in spite of the fact that such a progress of the disease is really very uncommon. Normally a beak defect follows feather loss at very late stadium of PBFD. Now we do not see any feather changes and you confirmed it.
However, the second picture can tell us something. Do you see lower part of the beak? Well, tooth shaped edge of a beak is a symptom of a viral infection. I know it sounds strangely but it is true.
I do not accept any premature judgements. I think that now we need really an exact veterinary blood test. Certainly a lever disease can be a trigger for the latent viral illness.
Sooner or later you will have to do a decision and the rapid beak growth does not grant you too much time for it.

I am sooo sorry for your poor Sid and I keep my fingers crossed for him.

Sorry for my very long post but perhaps it can help.
Ales

[budgiefriend]

Only the best thoughts and prayers for you and Sid. Hope you can find the cause and a solution to the problem.

[Tacey]

Oct 28, 2011 14:23:22 GMT adf said:

Hi dear Stacey,
Sid's story is really so stressful. I would like to say something encouraging or a good advice.
As I know there is only a few reasons for such an excessive beak growth. Inner organ malfunction, a virus, the beak bone damage, nasal infection or tumour of the beak.
We had been talking about inner organ malfunction. There were obvious symptoms for it (brown patches on the beak, beak growth).
Now the situation got worse. I understand Barrie's remark very well in spite of the fact that such a progress of the disease is really very uncommon. Normally a beak defect follows feather loss at very late stadium of PBFD. Now we do not see any feather changes and you confirmed it.
However, the second picture can tell us something. Do you see lower part of the beak? Well, tooth shaped edge of a beak is a symptom of a viral infection. I know it sounds strangely but it is true.
I do not accept any premature judgements. I think that now we need really an exact veterinary blood test. Certainly a lever disease can be a trigger for the latent viral illness.
Sooner or later you will have to do a decision and the rapid beak growth does not grant you too much time for it.

I am sooo sorry for your poor Sid and I keep my fingers crossed for him.

Sorry for my very long post but perhaps it can help.
Ales

Thankyou so much for your reply Ales I'm so glad you do not think it is PBFD... at least this means it is hopefully nothing transferable to my other birds. The nearest Avian vet to me is very far, however there is a vet near me that will see birds. I will ask him if he is able to do the blood test.
If it is a viral infection, is there anything I can do for this?
Currently Sid is still very happy... but if at any time I see a change in this I will consider having him put to sleep because I don't want to put him through anymore stress than he's already suffered.
Thankyou again
Stacey

[theswann]

Stacey are you in Bath? Because there are several avian vets nearby:

The Veterinary Surgery
32 West Hill
Portishead
Bristol
BS20 9LN
Tel: [phone]

Zetland Veterinary Hospital
32 Zetland Road
Redland
Bristol
BS6 7AB
Tel: [phone] or 01454 250111

And one in Stroud which isn't TOO far:
Lansdown Veterinary Surgeons
Clockhouse Vererinary Hospital
Wallbridge
Stroud
GL5 3JD
Tel: [phone]

Apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick here...

Really hope you can get some good help for Sid.

[adf]

Stacey,
I probably did not explain it well. It is because of my horrible English. PBFD is just a viral infection!!!! Therefore only blood test can confirm our suspicion.
I am so sorry I had to write it like this.
Ales

[adf]

Oct 28, 2011 14:59:28 GMT Tacey said:

Currently Sid is still very happy... but if at any time I see a change in this I will consider having him put to sleep because I don't want to put him through anymore stress than he's already suffered.
Thankyou again
Stacey

You think about it too soon Stacey.
It is necessary to manage his beak growth for the time being. And an opinion of a vet could help us.
Ales

[BudgiesBuddy]

It looks really bad Stacy. Hope you find a cure soon.

Here is some info about Psittacine beak and feather disease.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacine_beak_and_feather_disease

[Tacey]

Oct 28, 2011 15:17:45 GMT adf said:

Stacey,
I probably did not explain it well. It is because of my horrible English. PBFD is just a viral infection!!!! Therefore only blood test can confirm our suspicion.
I am so sorry I had to write it like this.
Ales

Ohhh I'm sorry I read your post wrongly
I personally think it is not PBFD... I shall try to get a blood test though so I can be sure.