Screech, then head tilt - what could this mean?

[sweetpea]

Hello all. I didn't really want to be back in the Budgie Health section so quickly....

I have a concern about Bezukhov. It's a difficult problem to describe. I am wondering if anyone has come across anything similar.

Firstly, it has happened before, but very rarely & randomly. However it happened yesterday & today. It starts with loud screeching from Bezukhov which immediately catches my attention. It's like he's in a fight but when I look he's on his own, nowhere near the others. He then pulls his head back & seems 'out of it', but this lasts for seconds only. Then he seems to shake himself out of it & is back to his normal self.

It's alarming to see, yet a great relief to see him completely normal seconds later.

Any ideas anyone?

If I took him to a vet he would obviously look completely normal, so I guess they would have to take samples & whatnot to come to some conclusion.

[starlingqueen]

My birds often do the screech like they are fighting but are all alone. The head tilt bit does sound worrying, almost like a seizure of some sort. Maybe someone with more knowledge can be more help. Hopefully it's just something he does that's nothing to worry about.

[Hezz]

Sorry, sweetpea, I have no idea. But you know your bird, and you know what is his normal behaviour. My first thought was the same as SQ's - a seizure of some sort, I'm sorry. Almost like a petit mal. A quick search indicates that birds can have petit mals and there does seem to be some indication that calcium/vitamin/mineral deficiencies can be a cause. Hope this helps.

[sweetpea]

Thank you starlingqueen & Hezz. My first thought was a stroke.... then I thought seizure too, but even that didn't seem right being as he completely recovered within seconds. However, petit mal is the nearest description - thanks for that Hezz. It will make it easier for me to describe to the vet as indeed a vet visit must be done. How, I don't know, as I've never ever caught Bezukhov & if someone asked me who my fastest bird was, I'd say Bezukhov!

[ffiscool]

I hope he is ok.. do you have a small travel cage that you could put something tempting in, so he would go in there?

[Hezz]

Good luck there, sweetpea. i do hope the vet can offer a more indepth and comprehensive explanation than the internet can. Hope Bezukhov recovers from this with no awful side affects.

[samwiseg]

That does seem very odd SP - my Alfie makes a noise like another bud is having a go at him when no-one is near him? I was wondering if he was doing it to grab my attention?

Not saying that Bezukhov is doing that but didn't know if it was a behaviour of some sort? It is a shame we cant email stace's exotic vet for advice as that may answer a lot about budgie behaviours.

Hope your Mr E Vet can shed some light on it and here's hoping it is nothing serious x

[OP]

From what you describe Sweetpea it does sound like some form of epilepsy. Seeing as Bezukhov doesn't drive or operate machinery and things he should be able to live a fairly normal life. If the cause isn't a tumour then it shouldn't cause great discomfort. I live with a form of epilepsy which is controlled by medication and I am able to drive and operate machinery. It is about 6 years since I had a seizure which was the vacant stare type. It only lasted seconds and then it was over. Hopefully it isn't what is wrong with your bud, but if it is it is not terminal or anything. Best of luck.

[sweetpea]

May 1, 2014 16:21:22 GMT ffiscool said:

I hope he is ok.. do you have a small travel cage that you could put something tempting in, so he would go in there?

As he's my biggest seed junkie here, I did think of starving him from seed for a few hours & maybe he would consider going in there for seed/sanity.

[sweetpea]

May 2, 2014 7:45:46 GMT samwiseg said:

That does seem very odd SP - my Alfie makes a noise like another bud is having a go at him when no-one is near him? I was wondering if he was doing it to grab my attention?

Not saying that Bezukhov is doing that but didn't know if it was a behaviour of some sort? It is a shame we cant email stace's exotic vet for advice as that may answer a lot about budgie behaviours.

Hope your Mr E Vet can shed some light on it and here's hoping it is nothing serious x

I hate to say it Sam, but I think your Alfie is just causing trouble.

Unlike Alfie, Bezukhov is my least troublesome bird. The most sensible of the lot (if a budgie can ever be described as sensible!) But yes, we certainly need a budgie pyschologist on hand.

[sweetpea]

May 2, 2014 8:16:43 GMT OP said:

From what you describe Sweetpea it does sound like some form of epilepsy. Seeing as Bezukhov doesn't drive or operate machinery and things he should be able to live a fairly normal life. If the cause isn't a tumour then it shouldn't cause great discomfort. I live with a form of epilepsy which is controlled by medication and I am able to drive and operate machinery. It is about 6 years since I had a seizure which was the vacant stare type. It only lasted seconds and then it was over. Hopefully it isn't what is wrong with your bud, but if it is it is not terminal or anything. Best of luck.

Thanks for this information, OP. Sorry to hear you have epilepsy, though good that it is under control.

Yes, I didn't read anything particularly ominous about these type of seizures. A tumour had crossed my mind also, but as this first happened awhile ago (can't remember when) I'd like to think a tumour is now ruled out. I will wait for another occurrence (it could be months) & then I will take action. In the meantime, I will definitely keep him away from driving/operating machinery.

[Hezz]

That is a very good plan for Bezukhov ...... no driving or operating heavy machinery. I probably misunderstood, in thinking you where going to get him to the vet in the near future. Hope all is good with the little guy for a long time to come.

[sweetpea]

May 2, 2014 10:57:06 GMT Hezz said:

That is a very good plan for Bezukhov ...... no driving or operating heavy machinery. I probably misunderstood, in thinking you where going to get him to the vet in the near future. Hope all is good with the little guy for a long time to come.

If he has another 'episode' soon, then he will be going to the vets soon! I do expect him to have another episode so in that respect, a vet visit is very much on the cards.

[OP]

Thank you for the sympathies Sweetpea, it's just something else I have to live with.
With regards to Bezukhov i hope the visit to the vet is successful in diagnosing the problem. It took a number of visits to GP's & hospitals before I was diagnosed properly, then it was because I had an episode whilst the Consultant was talking to me.
If it is infrequent with Bezukhov then it could be a difficult thing to diagnose, especially as he is unable to tell you what is happening. Plenty of maybe's as you will get from the knowledgeable people on here. Wishing you good luck.

[sweetpea]

May 2, 2014 12:48:36 GMT OP said:

Thank you for the sympathies Sweetpea, it's just something else I have to live with.
With regards to Bezukhov i hope the visit to the vet is successful in diagnosing the problem. It took a number of visits to GP's & hospitals before I was diagnosed properly, then it was because I had an episode whilst the Consultant was talking to me.
If it is infrequent with Bezukhov then it could be a difficult thing to diagnose, especially as he is unable to tell you what is happening. Plenty of maybe's as you will get from the knowledgeable people on here. Wishing you good luck.

Though unpleasant, it was very convenient for you to have an episode during a consultation. Now if I could arrange for Bezukhov to have an episode on cue, in front of a vet.... It's not even something I could get on film as it would be over before I pick up the camera.