Post by boojman on Aug 16, 2014 17:02:26 GMT
Hi -
It has been ages since I posted anything and everything has been wonderful with my 2 budgies Booji (about 4 years old) and Bongo (about 3 years old now) until just recently and I could really use some help.
About 2 months ago I noticed a discoloration on the center of Booji's beak - it looked like a bruise. It started out a dull dark spot and in a few days turned darker - like what it would look like if you injured a fingernail. I took him to the vet and she thought he indeed banged it and told me it would grow out, but to watch that it did not break off as it did because it would become softer from the injury. She also cut his nails which he never had to have done before. So it began growing out and I noticed last week that it was very long, and the original discoloration had indeed grown out but it looked like there was a new spot above it starting. So back to the vet and she trimmed his beak and mentioned that although his liver felt fine, it could be the start of liver disease and if that were the case nothing could be done. She wasn't sure if the injury caused the soft beak or vice versa, and said to wait and see if his beak needed trimming again in a month or so. After I took him home I noticed that he had little red spots on his nails too that I hadn't noticed before. I also removed a toy from his cage that I suspected was one he banged alot with his beak.
Although I respect this vet's knowledge I took him to another vet for a second opinion (there were other issues why I did too this but not important now). The second vet agreed with the possible liver problem however suggested a diet change could be beneficial and preventative and gave me bird bread mix, red palm oil and told me to put him out in the partial sun now and then. She also trimmed his nails again and said they felt soft. His diet is mix of natural seed, nutri-berries, and ground pellets as well as broccoli, spinach and other greens, and now will be adding the bread. He has a cuttle bone and calcium block in his cage, which I noticed him using when we got home - not sure he had been lately - the first vet said when their beaks get soft and long they cannot physically use those items(?). I am concerned about the little guy. Both he and Bongo get to fly around in a room daily and so get exercise. They are caged separately when not out (both males). My main question is does this sound like it could be a diet issue or the start of liver disease even though his liver feels fine?
I will try and post a picture of him once I figure out how to do that.
Thanks so much,
Jackie
It has been ages since I posted anything and everything has been wonderful with my 2 budgies Booji (about 4 years old) and Bongo (about 3 years old now) until just recently and I could really use some help.
About 2 months ago I noticed a discoloration on the center of Booji's beak - it looked like a bruise. It started out a dull dark spot and in a few days turned darker - like what it would look like if you injured a fingernail. I took him to the vet and she thought he indeed banged it and told me it would grow out, but to watch that it did not break off as it did because it would become softer from the injury. She also cut his nails which he never had to have done before. So it began growing out and I noticed last week that it was very long, and the original discoloration had indeed grown out but it looked like there was a new spot above it starting. So back to the vet and she trimmed his beak and mentioned that although his liver felt fine, it could be the start of liver disease and if that were the case nothing could be done. She wasn't sure if the injury caused the soft beak or vice versa, and said to wait and see if his beak needed trimming again in a month or so. After I took him home I noticed that he had little red spots on his nails too that I hadn't noticed before. I also removed a toy from his cage that I suspected was one he banged alot with his beak.
Although I respect this vet's knowledge I took him to another vet for a second opinion (there were other issues why I did too this but not important now). The second vet agreed with the possible liver problem however suggested a diet change could be beneficial and preventative and gave me bird bread mix, red palm oil and told me to put him out in the partial sun now and then. She also trimmed his nails again and said they felt soft. His diet is mix of natural seed, nutri-berries, and ground pellets as well as broccoli, spinach and other greens, and now will be adding the bread. He has a cuttle bone and calcium block in his cage, which I noticed him using when we got home - not sure he had been lately - the first vet said when their beaks get soft and long they cannot physically use those items(?). I am concerned about the little guy. Both he and Bongo get to fly around in a room daily and so get exercise. They are caged separately when not out (both males). My main question is does this sound like it could be a diet issue or the start of liver disease even though his liver feels fine?
I will try and post a picture of him once I figure out how to do that.
Thanks so much,
Jackie
Booji is such a beautiful boy; look at how vibrantly blue his cere is! If it weren't for the length of his beak, I would swear you were worrying for nothing. But that doesn't happen for no reason. Does he get to chew on other things such as balsa wood blocks or anything similar?
. I may call the new vet Monday and talk to her about it. He had several infections when he was a baby and so I wonder sometimes if he is prone to certain things or has a weak immune system, but then I tend towards the neurotic especially when it comes to them (and the dogs, etc.) 
And thanks for the hopeful news. It seems Harrison's is a good product? I never heard of it before. I am going to check out their website and see what all they have. I don't want to switch too many things at once though. They ate some of the bird bread today which is good - the last time I made some from scratch they didn't touch it.