Jul 23, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
jennie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10
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Post by jennie on Jul 24, 2016 8:01:00 GMT
Hi,
About 6 weeks ago we noticed that one of our 2 budgies (2yo) was sitting fluffed up on her perch, not acting herself and spending a lot of time on the floor of the cage. We took her immediately to the vets, who said it was probably just a moult that she was feeling under the weather with, but gave us some Baytril to administer 0.1ml daily for 7 days just to be sure. We did this, but saw no improvement in Thelma. Since this, she has been consistently fluffed up, though still eating and having spats with our other budgie. In the last few weeks however, she has been bobbing her head and retching up her food, which is in a milky liquid in her vomit. She is spending a lot of time sleeping and on the bottom of the cage. She is also behaving very strangely picking at nothing on the sandpaper in the bottom of her cage. Our other budgie remains well. Thelma continues to eat and drink, and poos look normal. Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong? Our vet didn't seem to suggest anything was wrong other than a moult, but this is clearly more than a moult as it has been 6 weeks now. Hate to see her suffering and would appreciate any suggestions to improve things for her!
Thanks
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 24, 2016 8:16:03 GMT
If she is picking at the floor then she's probably not retaining enough food and she's desperately trying to find something to eat that she will not vomit.
I would find another avian vet as an emergency, she's probably lost a lot of weight. Tell them all that you have told us. Time is key here, if you wait, she will most likely not survive.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 24, 2016 8:17:53 GMT
If you have spray millet then put that in her cage. Also you should separate her from the others as they might catch whatever she has.
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Jul 23, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
jennie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10
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Post by jennie on Jul 24, 2016 9:16:06 GMT
Thanks for your advice Marianne. Very difficult to find an avian vet on a Sunday, and the last one didn't seem to be able to figure out what it was as he just said it was moulting! What kind of thing can an avian vet do for such a small animal? Thelma has been like this for weeks now so it seems unlikely that our other budgie will catch it? Which makes me think perhaps it isn't contagious.. Should we try to clean her up or leave her be? Her front is all messy from the vomit. Thanks again
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Post by Hezz on Jul 24, 2016 9:51:40 GMT
Try to clean her up, but not so that she is wet and soggy. To pass off a sickly bird as being due simply to a moult is criminal, in my opinion! As you say, it is probably too late for the other budgie, if what Thelma has is contagious. Sometimes sick budgies will go overboard on grit, but what you can do is give her some sort of heat source - lamp, heat pad etc - and a smaller compact cage can make this easier; if you can get her eating some dry eggfood or hard-boiled egg, that would be good. At this stage she needs food with the best nutritional value possible, so high protein and easily digested is the best - egg, eggfood, and millet sprays.
I am sorry that you have been put into this situation; an avian vet should not dismiss an bird owner's worries as something as silly as a moult! I do hope you are able to get some help from another with some sense of your buds' needs.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 24, 2016 9:53:17 GMT
If they are a good avian vet then they can attempt to find out the cause, give her a crop feed and re-hydrate her.
The vet you saw does not sound like a good vet. Can you perhaps find a vet for Monday then if not today? Where are you located in the world?
Budgies hide illness, so even if the others are infected, they would not necessarily show symptoms right away.
If you think that you can clean her up and not stress her further then by all means do it.
I weigh my birds each week and so I notice a weight loss, but you wouldn't notice one if you did not do that.
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Jul 23, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
jennie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10
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Post by jennie on Jul 24, 2016 10:21:25 GMT
Hi guys, Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately Thelma deteriorated rapidly throughout the morning, to the point where she was too weak to stand up and was lay on her back dying. With no access to a vet on a Sunday we took the decision to make it quick and humane rather than have her suffering. Will definitely not be returning to the same avian vet again. Is there anything we should do to ensure that the other budgie does not have anything sinister? Like I say they have been in the cage the whole time Thelma was ill and Louise shows no signs of illness. I wondered about a dewormer, as I heard that they can have worms? I am totally guessing here. Thanks again for your help, I wish it could have ended in a better outcome, but it was so difficult to see her suffer and I am at least relieved she is not suffering any more.
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Dec 7, 2015 13:13:53 GMT
maz66
Normal Violet
Posts: 187
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Post by maz66 on Jul 24, 2016 10:28:36 GMT
Hi Jennie, I am very sorry to hear about Thelma, at least now she is no longer suffering. Are you sure you visited an avian vet as there are a lot of vets who have no experience with budgies? When Billy was sick the vet told us to put apple cider vineagar into his water, which I still do a few days a week with Bertie, so you could try that with Louise however I'm sure more experienced people on here will give you more advice. RIP Thelma.
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Jul 23, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
jennie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10
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Post by jennie on Jul 24, 2016 10:33:37 GMT
Thanks maz66. Yes it was an exotic and avian specialist (supposedly). What is the apple cider vinegar for? Will try that with Louise-like I say she's showing no outward signs of illness now but I'm scared she could have caught something from Thelma.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 24, 2016 10:43:13 GMT
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Post by sweetpea on Jul 24, 2016 10:56:24 GMT
I am very sorry to hear about Thelma. Fly high little girl. I find there is confusion over whether a vet is an 'avian' vet. Typically, 'exotic' vets will treat birds but they are not necessarily experienced in that area. However, there are good exotic vets around who do a lot of research & as Hezz points out, would not dream of saying it's probably just a bad moult. Was her temperature taken? Was she weighed? Did he listen to her heart? Did he feel for lumps/bumps? Etc.? If you give us your location someone on here may be able to recommend a vet. If so, you could always take Louise for a general check up.
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Post by jellybean on Jul 24, 2016 10:59:10 GMT
I'm so sorry nothing could be done to help your little bird. Rest In Peace Thelma x
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Dec 7, 2015 13:13:53 GMT
maz66
Normal Violet
Posts: 187
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Post by maz66 on Jul 24, 2016 11:01:59 GMT
Marianne's given you the link for ACV, our vet said 15ml for 1000ml. I make it up and then keep it in the fridge. Hopefully Louise will be ok.
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Jul 23, 2016 19:19:55 GMT
jennie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10
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Post by jennie on Jul 24, 2016 11:04:04 GMT
Thanks everyone. The 'avian' vet listened to her heart and had a good feel of her, but didn't take temp or weigh her. All we can do as pet owners is trust in the vet, and it is disappointing to hear that he may not have been the best person to treat Thelma. We live in Manchester, UK-we went to Pennine Vets in Tottington. If anyone could suggest a good avian vet that would be great! Whilst I'm here, can I ask about Louise's cere? It is looking a little crusty and dry, though not pitted as I think scaly mites look like? I can put a photo up if that helps, but wondered if this is something wrong or normal?
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Jul 14, 2016 10:36:44 GMT
sandyxrs
Normal Violet
Married
Posts: 116
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Post by sandyxrs on Jul 24, 2016 11:05:00 GMT
So sorry for Your loss. Fly high Thelma. Apple cider vinegar I use it 3 times a week in my Dogs water it helps with tear stains
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