Sick vomiting budgie

[jennie]

I can't believe I haven't heard of the ACV before now-it looks like it's a great immunity support regardless of whether your bird is sick or not. Will be giving it both in Louise's water and our dog's for his itchy ears. Thanks again for all the support.

[Deleted]

I am so sorry that Thelma didn't make it. RIP little one x

[Deleted]

I don't know any avian vets near you jennie as I live in the South but wonder if it would be worth you contacting your area budgerigar society to see if they could advise. I've pasted the link for you.

www.lcnwbs.co.uk/contact

[ninz1]

I am so sorry for your loss. Thelma is in heaven, flying and picking on millets!

The Avian vet you mentioned sounds awful! If she was losing weight, they would have noticed that her crop was empty or that she did not look as bright as she should. It's so frustrating that they did not pick up on anything. Vomiting is very serious.

I know I shouldn't be saying this but I sadly lost both my budgies this year. Soon as I read vomiting and the budgie looking for food, Megabacteria comes to mind.

It sounds like your budgie was starving and was unable to keep the food in, which is what megabacteria does. It unfortunately does not go away.

I would definitely have your other budgies tested for Megabacteria... problem is that it does not always show on the crop test or on the droppings.

I recommend what Marianne shared about the Apple Cider Vinegar, it helped our Huckleberry to go on for a little longer.

I would also recommend using F10 disinfectant which you can easily find online- it is affective against megabacteria and not toxic to budgies.

[Hezz]

I am so sorry, Jenni. Thelma definitely deserved better from a so-called expert.

RIP little one. xx

[Deleted]

The trouble is with some vets call themselves avian vets but the aren't. They are vets that will see birds. To me that is an important distinction. I took my Squawk to a local 'avian' vet who did not have a clue and just kept prescribing antibiotics. In the end I did take him to a well known avian vet and I swear Squawk is only still here thanks to him. I also had a similar bad experience with my previous budgie Bubble with yet another 'avian' vet 2 years ago.

You've done a good thing jennie joining this forum for advice. I wish I'd have joined it when Bubble was ill, and subsequently Squeak. It may not have changed their outcomes but I would not have felt so alone with the problem.

[jennie]

ninz1-it is interesting to hear what you think it may have been. I've just done a quick google and the entire description seems to fit Thelma's symptoms. I am worried that it may have been passed to Louise, but it seems that the only way of knowing is to test fecal matter and even this isn't correct 100% of the time. Is there a cure for megabacteria?

Jane-thank you for the contact, I have sent an email so should hopefully hear back soon!

[Deleted]

Mega bacteria is now known as Avian Gastric Yeast. It is not curable - you can only manage it. My bird Bubble had it. No sugary foods as that will feed the yeast. Fecael tests needs to be 3 days samples at least as it doesn't always show up. My vet prefers to use a crop wash to test. Lots of info online.

If you get stuck looking for a vet or no response here is my vet. His credentials on the first link and email address is the second link. He's in Andover but may be able to signpost you to someone nearer you. He responds quickly to emails. Always worth a try. Good luck.

antonvets.co.uk/exotics/189-2/

[e-mail]

[ninz1]

Jul 26, 2016 17:09:23 GMT jennie said:

ninz1-it is interesting to hear what you think it may have been. I've just done a quick google and the entire description seems to fit Thelma's symptoms. I am worried that it may have been passed to Louise, but it seems that the only way of knowing is to test fecal matter and even this isn't correct 100% of the time. Is there a cure for megabacteria?

Jane-thank you for the contact, I have sent an email so should hopefully hear back soon!

I would repeat what Jane has told you.

I am really sorry to know that your budgie fitted the symptoms for Megabacteria. The name still makes me feel a little sick!! 

The only thing I can say is that you must now be super vigilant. 

Firstly, wash your cage, toys and perches with F10 disinfectant. You can buy this online or here www.northernparrots.com/

F10 is amazing because it is not harmful to your budgie, even if the budgie was to drink it. I would use the F10 from now on, as far as I know, I think it is the only disinfectant that prevents Megabacteria.

The other thing is to put Apple Cider Vinegar in your budgies water. I am hoping someone will post the dosage. As my huckleberry was already diagnosed with MB, we were told to put 16ml of vinegar in 1000ml. This is quite strong and the vet only recommended it for a week on and off. On days that he had the vinegar, he seemed to keep the food in and felt a little chirpier. 
Again, this is not a cure but a member on here told me that her breeder told her to put ACV in the water everyday and the budgie would never get MB. Everyday feeding would be less vinegar!!

Sadly, we cannot tell if Louise has MB. Was she exposed to it? E.g. when Thelma vomited, did Louise ever clean her? Things like that could mean that Louise may have it.

Like Jane said, no more sugary foods. 

My last major advice is for you to weigh Louise every week. If you don't have this then please get something similar.
www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Weigh-CSB5KG-Cuisine-Removable/dp/B00ESIVBT4

If Louise loses a bit of weight, that is normal. It is abnormal if the budgie continues to lose weight, that is a big tell-tale sign!

My vets are:

CJ Halls
15 Temple Sheen Rd,
London
SW14 7PY

There are two vets there called Matthew and Alan. Matthew has reached the highest level of veterinary practice. He also has pet finches which is nice. It is an exotics vet surgery as they see hamsters, lizards, tortoises and everything in between. 

Matthew knows of someone who is not a patient at CJ Halls but this budgie has Megabacteria. Sadly the owner said her avian vet cannot get hold of the MB medication so she always comes to Cj Halls for the medication. Matthew has it ordered in from Australia I think as the manufacturers have stopped making this or something along the lines of that. 

Again, like Jane, Matthew and Alan are both there to get back to you if you need any help, even if it is for advice! 

Lastly, stress is another factor, make Louise as comfortable as possible as stress makes the MB take over.

Good luck and I'll be praying hoping that Louise does not have it xXx

[jennie]

Thanks for all your help-will do as you've all said. Louise seemed to stay away from Thelma while she was ill, so hopefully it has not been passed on. I will do my research online and fingers crossed find a good vet nearby.
While I'm here, does anyone know what this behaviour means? This is Louise, who we hope is well and doesn't have megabacteria!

[jennie]

Also, does it matter which F10 I get? I can see F10 SC and F10 SCXD and am not sure what the difference is..

[jellybean]

The F10SC is the one I use Jennie

[jellybean]

Jul 27, 2016 9:53:43 GMT jennie said:

Thanks for all your help-will do as you've all said. Louise seemed to stay away from Thelma while she was ill, so hopefully it has not been passed on. I will do my research online and fingers crossed find a good vet nearby.
While I'm here, does anyone know what this behaviour means? This is Louise, who we hope is well and doesn't have megabacteria!

There's nothing to worry about there jennie, he is just getting a little bit amorous with his perch 

[ninz1]

Jul 27, 2016 11:38:03 GMT jellybean said:

Jul 27, 2016 9:53:43 GMT jennie said:

Thanks for all your help-will do as you've all said. Louise seemed to stay away from Thelma while she was ill, so hopefully it has not been passed on. I will do my research online and fingers crossed find a good vet nearby.
While I'm here, does anyone know what this behaviour means? This is Louise, who we hope is well and doesn't have megabacteria!

There's nothing to worry about there jennie , he is just getting a little bit amorous with his perch 

Great way to put it 

[jennie]

That's what we thought!! Just wanted to check-feeling paranoid after Thelma and didn't know if females got randy!