Moulting question - Now liver & breathing problems

[sweetpea]

Hello all. I know that moulting can sometimes take a lot out of a bird. I am just wondering how bad they can get?

Bezukhov has been very lethargic today, so much so that I have booked a vet visit tomorrow (would have been today had his vet been available).

Any thoughts?

[jellybean]

My two were quiet for about 10 days, they had little bursts of activity where they would fly and play, then sit about, they napped more in the afternoon too.
Then about a week ago they started to moult, small downy feathers and a few wing feathers
Now, even though they are still losing some downy feathers they are back to being their usual happy boisterous selves.
With my boys I think the period before the moult takes more out of them than the actual moult itself.

[budgiefriend]

Sounds like it might just be the molt. Hope that is all that it is. Good luck at the vet. Keep us posted.

[Hezz]

I think it is an individual thing, individual birds and individual moults within the same bird. Some take more out of them than others and some birds seem to feel it more than others. I would be surprised if it were any more than a heavy moult.

[sweetpea]

Unfortunately for Bezukhov, it is more than a heavy moult.

He has been diagnosed with air sacculitis & likely liver disease. He also has medication for chlamydia. The vet thinks the chylamydia is causing the liver & breathing problems & that the liver is failing to flush out toxins resulting in his random seizures (that was in another thread I think!)

On the plus side, after a gruelling day, leaving B behind to be x-rayed, & worrying about the risk of the anaesthetic etc., Bezukhov is now back home & back in the manor, beside his ol' mucker, Cagney.

[Hezz]

Oh! No good! I wonder if I missed a thread regarding his seizures or I probably lost the info in my forgetfulness.

At least the air sacculitis should be reasonably easy to treat him for. Do you have a nebuliser? I see these recommended for this condition as well: The birds should also be treated with antibiotics administered by nebulisation as it is a stress-free and effective method for drug delivery. The droplets produced by the nebuliser should be less than 5 microns or the air sacs will not be penetrated. I did also find this: The bird is usually nebulized two to three times a day for 15 minutes at a time. Nebulization is usually done in only the most severe cases. May need to ask the vet??

Good that the poor boy is home again; hope he is behaving with his meds as well.

[budgiefriend]

Poor Bezukhov. I was so hoping it was just the molt. He wll be much happier now that he is home. Hugs to you both.

[stace]

Oh no, sweetpea. That's not what you wanted to hear.

[OP]

Wow Sweatpea, you really are such a caring person looking after Bezukhov like you do. Sorry that he is such a poorly budgie.

[samwiseg]

Hugs to you all and especially to Bezukhov xx

[Shirls]

So sorry to hear that sweetpea, fingers and feathers crossed for a speedy recovery. Hugs to you both.

[sweetpea]

Sept 25, 2014 1:00:09 GMT Hezz said:

Oh! No good! I wonder if I missed a thread regarding his seizures or I probably lost the info in my forgetfulness.

At least the air sacculitis should be reasonably easy to treat him for. Do you have a nebuliser? I see these recommended for this condition as well: The birds should also be treated with antibiotics administered by nebulisation as it is a stress-free and effective method for drug delivery. The droplets produced by the nebuliser should be less than 5 microns or the air sacs will not be penetrated. I did also find this: The bird is usually nebulized two to three times a day for 15 minutes at a time. Nebulization is usually done in only the most severe cases. May need to ask the vet??

Good that the poor boy is home again; hope he is behaving with his meds as well.

Thanks Hezz. The vet said to nebulize with F10 3 times a day (ideally). She suggested I have him in his travel cage & have a bowl of hot water with the F10 outside & have a cover over the cage & the bowl. She also said about 15 mins a time.

The thread on his seizures was here:
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/8616/screech-head-tilt-mean

Unfortunately he had another little one today... He also fell off the perch(?) He's hardly eating either... Right now he's fast asleep on the side perch on Phinny's cage (who is currently locked in) & Cagney is fast asleep beside him. I have just rigged up the electric blanket over the manor as his feet felt cold earlier. The blanket isn't a very good one... well, I'd be disappointed if it were on my bed as it never gets hot, just slightly warm at best, but I think a gentle heat might be comforting to Bezukhov.

[sweetpea]

Sept 25, 2014 7:47:48 GMT OP said:

Wow Sweatpea, you really are such a caring person looking after Bezukhov like you do. Sorry that he is such a poorly budgie.

Thanks, OP. Yes, I do care about them but that doesn't seem to be enough to stop them getting sick....

I am also wondering if that nasty new Trill has had a hand in this. I know it wouldn't have caused Bezukhov's problems but perhaps it contributed to a lowering in his immune system & thereby triggering his latest illness. Who knows? I only used about half a box of the new Trill & diluted it heavily with the old. From last week, all traces of the new Trill were discarded & they are now on the old version (picked up a few boxes locally).

[sweetpea]

Sept 25, 2014 7:57:47 GMT Shirls said:

So sorry to hear that sweetpea, fingers and feathers crossed for a speedy recovery. Hugs to you both.

Thanks Shirls. Unfortunately, the vet said not to expect a speedy recovery. I know it's only day one of the medication but this is definitely his worse day so far...

[budgiefriend]

Only my very best thoughts and prayers for you and Bezukhov. Hopefully the treatment will begin doing its magic soon. I know how worried you must be. Keep us posted.