Just a bad moult?

[ruthpaton]

Pepito has been moulting very heavily for the past week and a half or so. It's one of the worst I've seen him have, poor wee fella! It's been a feather carpet around here. I've been keeping a close eye on him because of his megabacteria problem and gave him guardian angel for a few days to give him a boost. He's been pretty much his usual self, playing, chirpy, cuddly etc. He has rested more, slept a bit more in the day, been scratchy and irritable at times but nothing more than I'd expect. I've not let him out so much to encourage him to rest and given him either a spray shower or a bath every day. (if he won't have a bath he gets a shower!)

Yesterday I noticed he had a bit of staining above his right nostril. He washed it off when he had his bath and I had a close look a few times but couldn't see any mucus in his nostrils. I know that respiratory infections can be serious though and so thought we'd be off to the vet today if it was the same. However, although there is still a suggestion of staining above the same nostril it looks less today!

So here's my dilemma. I rushed him to the vet twice in recent months after he became very sleepy for a day both times. He was given antibiotics which may or may not have been needed as the sleepy spells were always just for a few hours then he'd be back to normal - he then had a crop inflammation which the vet said was down to the antibiotics and needed an inflammatory. Since he finished that he has not had a sleepy day in two months - woohoo! I don't want to rush into getting him more antibiotics now if he could get over this as his moult settles but neither do I want to leave things if he has developed a problem through being a bit run down with the moult.

He seems to be eating and drinking fine and his droppings have been his usual greenish and wet (which is known to be down to the megabacteria) but on the the good side of usual which has been encouraging considering the bad moult!

If the staining above his nostril worsens, or anything else, I will head to the vet, but otherwise I'm thinking I will continue to keep a close eye on him for a few more days to see if he picks up as the moult settles. But I'd appreciate knowing what people think because I'm trying to make the best decision for him. I wish sometimes these things were more clear cut! :/

[samwiseg]

Budgies are NEVER clear cut!

I think you are doing the right thing Ruth As you know sometimes our buds can have quite hefty moults other than the normal ones and what I call "mini moults"

But understand your concern because of the history of the little guy. Just keep doing what you are doing, you know him best with his routine and how he feels. As for the staining above the cere keep an eye on it - it sounds like to me that it is because he is in moult. If he wasn't in moult then I might be a little more concerned.

I hope that helps x

[ruthpaton]

Yes it does thankyou! Sometimes it just helps to know what someone else would do in your situation.. I'm inclined to worry a lot too and don't want it to be anxiety that takes us to the vet rather than real need, if that makes sense. I know if we go they'll likely treat him as a safeguard and I really don't want him on antibiotics if he doesn't need them. Right now he looks like a little scruffball but he's happily running around the table chucking all his toys onto the floor.

[birdguhl]

I can understand your worries re Pepito. My last two trips to vet were in retrospect probably worry-driven rather than actually needed (I bet they've got the over-anxious owner box ticked now!) I've had the brown staining above the cere in Charlie and a bit in Woody prior and during a big moult as well. Mu buds are all looking a bit skew-whiff. Pepito sounds like he is quite happy in himself as well.

[ffiscool]

Bailey has the staining 75% of the time. I think it's just him. He went to the vet a few times because of it. I up his vitamins at its worst. It does coincide with him moulting, which he is going through again. Obviously you are keeping an eye on it, especially with Charlies's history, but I think it could be the moult. Bailey also rubs his head a lot, making it worse.

[samwiseg]

Dont worry birdguhl ruthpaton, I am in the same group as the "over worried budgie owner" too

[OP]

So am I

[birdguhl]

What are we like?! A bunch of budgie-loving worry warts! It is just as well we can all be mad together here, isn't it?

[ruthpaton]

That's what's so great about this forum - you know you can come on here and say what's on your mind and people will just get it.. My sister looked at Pepito and suggested the staining above his cere could be because he's rubbing it against his perch due to the discomfort from his moult. It doesn't look like blood exactly but the feathers around there are spiky and untidy. I don't see any obvious discharge from his nostrils so I'm just not sure. He's had a fairly good day in spite of everything - chuckled his way through Britain's Got Talent! He loves the tv..

[stace]

That area just above the cere goes tend to look different when they moult. That's where the darker blood in the new feathers is particularly obvious, and if they rub that area because of the itching it looks worse.

[Hezz]

I don't think it would hurt for Pepito to be given some extra vitamins, egg or eggfood, or course, or even a probiotic (which is in the GA anyway) to help him through this time. I completely get that you don't want him on yet another course of AB's just because you took him to the vets.

Also, is the staining in two definite sprays coming from the nostrils or is it more generalised?

[ruthpaton]

Jun 8, 2014 1:24:48 GMT Hezz said:

I don't think it would hurt for Pepito to be given some extra vitamins, egg or eggfood, or course, or even a probiotic (which is in the GA anyway) to help him through this time. I completely get that you don't want him on yet another course of AB's just because you took him to the vets.

Also, is the staining in two definite sprays coming from the nostrils or is it more generalised?

Hello Stace and Hezz!
The staining started above one nostril and then spread a bit so it's over the whole cere area. It's sort of a dark yellowish colour. It is no worse today and doesn't seem to go as far up as it did on Friday. It's definitely not two sprays above the nostrils.

He's getting eggfood, prebiotics and he is always on the probiotic prescribed by the vet for his megabacteria anyway. I gave him Guardian Angel for 4 days last week as it definitely seems to perk him up a bit!

Since this moult started he has not been sleeping on his swing, which is his usual 'bed', but seems to be sleeping on the perch at the front of the cage or even on the little toy he has right above the door which seems strange as he's a bit squished looking when he sits up there! He sits on his swing during the day quite happily. Is he maybe just more restless in the night just now so moving around a bit? He's always slept on his swing up till now. I'm not worried about that, just wondered!

[Hezz]

That's right. I remember now you saying he was on a beefed up diet. Sorry.

I think a photo is needed, Ruth. If you hadn't said that it washed off with his bath, I would be inclined to think it was simply the moult, new feathers etc. Is there anyone at the vets that you feel you could simply talk to about this, rather than take him in yet again? Maybe he does have a slight respiratory infection.

[ruthpaton]

Pepito now has a small bald patch above his cere where he has rubbed off the feathers but the staining seems to have gone. I think it was more likely to be moult related now that I see that. I think he's starting to feel like his old self again as he's perked up a lot yesterday and today so maybe the moult is almost over! He doesn't look his best but it's good to see (and hear!) my wee friend back..

Hezz, I will definitely be keeping an eye on him to see if the staining reappears and I will call the vet if it does. I could ask for advice but I've done that before and they said they really need to see him to know what's going on which I get. It would be too easy for them to get it wrong I guess. The good thing is that they were willing before to give an antibiotic but for me to wait a few days and watch him to see how he was. That was when he was having his sleepy spells and, when he had another one a few days later I just went ahead and gave him the antibiotics. Thankfully, despite the severity of this moult, he hasn't had one of those sleepy spells during it which I'm hopeful is a sign that problem is over with, whatever it was! The last one was 2 months ago and he was having at least one sleepy day a week for a couple of months.

Thanks everyone for the help these past few days, it makes a huge difference!