Merlin is ill again.

[misssherlock]

The old forum I used to go on is closed and I was redirected here.

Merlin is a lutino budgie who is just over 2 and a half years old. He has been ill a few times over his life mostly with poo problems. He has been to the vets twice with his health problems. The last time he went to the avian vet because he was vomiting seeds and mucus and was very ill. We thought he wouldn't make it. They gave us baytril and also a proboitic to put in his water. He luckily recovered from this. This was in Oct 2011. Apart from being overweight his health has been reasonably ok until just now.

This morning I had to remove alot of dried stuck on poo from his vent. After this he then did two massive poos. Since this morning he has not eaten much at all hardly any seeds. He seems to be more quieter than usual. (Still talking and playing with his toys but not as much as normal) I'm not 100% but I think he vomited about 4 seeds so I'm concerned he may have what he had last time which they said was some digestive problem.

My problem is I can't get him to the avian vet for quite a while as my partner has just started a new job and won't finish work in time to get there and we have a young baby and I don't drive myself. So it would be at least a couple of days before we could get someone else to drive there with merlin. (Such as his parents who are away at the moment). Is there anything I could give him in the meanwhile? Anyway to encourage him to eat something?

Are they likely to give him baytril again and if so is it possible to get this without a persciption or is this a bad idea? Any probotics that I could get online? Both of the things from last time has since expired so would have to buy fresh.

How long can he go without eating? I'm very worried!

[misssherlock]

I think he is eating a little bit at the moment. Don't want to disturb him by going to look too closely. Just hope he doesn't bring it back up.

[misssherlock]

ok he is really ill again vomiting all his seeds and its the same as last time all mucousy. Don't know what to do.

[stace]

Vomiting indicates a serious problem in budgies and he really needs to see an avian vet. In the meantime, keep him really warm (maybe put a hot water bottle in the bottom of his cage and cover 3 sides with a towel or blanket), take away any fresh foods to leave only seed, millet and fresh water.

Give some warm sweet weak black tea or some warmed up non-fizzy electrolyte drink such as Gatorade or Powerade. Replace the bird's water with this and drop a little into its mouth every 1-2 hours. (To make up the tea use half a cup of warm water, add the corner of a tea bag till the water has turned light brown and then add a tablespoon of sugar.)

This is just to try to keep him okay until you can get him to an avian vet.

[budgiefriend]

Sending only the best thoughts and prayers for you and Merlin. Hopefully you can get him to the avian vet sooner. Keep us posted.

[samwiseg]

Don't know if you are on Twitter Miss Sherlock, but @avianvets are an online service you might be able to get some advice from? They helped me with some advice, if not on twitter alternatively you can contact them via 01565 654131 or [e-mail] - not sure if they give advice this way but worth a try. Best of luck to you and Merlin x

[Rachael Kellett]

Hi Claire, I am so sorry to hear that Merlin is ill again I would say that you definitely need to get him to the avian vet. Could you not book a taxi or is it really far away? Maybe you could take him to a nearer vets. It does sound like he needs immediate attention as budgies hide it when they are ill so when they are showing it they can go downhill fast. Let me know how you get on, you can always message me on facebook. xx

[barrieshutt]

I suspect that he has AGY and will never regain full health , baytril feeds this diseases .

I have never found a cure, or i should have said one that works.

Without a crop swab the vet is only guessing

[misssherlock]

Thanks for all your advice. It is really strange. I'm really baffled yesterday he seemed more himself back eating, pooing active etc and today he seems totally back to normal. I haven't given him anything so I don't understand the recovery as he seemed really ill. The only thing I did was removed some stuck on poo on the inital day he was really ill and gave him tons of attention and kept him warm. Can budgies just get upset stomachs like humans? ..And a strange question but can they get depressed? I know he doesn't get the same kind of attention off me now I'm a mum and I do think he notices this. He does seem to perk up if I shower him in tons of attention. I know in an ideal world I'd get him a companion but as it is my partners house I'm not allowed to.

Not sure what to do in the long term as his health is so up and down. I know there are various things you can put in their water to help their health is there anything anyone would recommend that I can use just to improve his general health and fight off potential illnesses? I suspect he won't have the longest of lives because of his ongoing health problems unlike redgie (our previous budgie lived for about 11 years but I don't think he ever had any health issues as far as I know...he was a grumpy old thing but quite a character) but I would like merlin to live as long as possible. He is such a character in himself and has picked up so many words and phrases.

If he does have AGY what would you recommend me do to help his general health if there is no cure?

Thanks for everyones advice.

[Marianne Marlow]

The usual pick me up recommended is Guardian Angel by the Birdcare company.

I do hope Merlin perks up.

[Hezz]

Animals including birds can surely suffer from depression. If Merlin had bonded with you and you now don't spend nearly the same amount of time with him, he certainly is going to be wondering what happened. I would suggest you find half an hour a day to spend with just him, and why can't he be around with you when you are being mum, especially if you have a baby, or toddler. The child will get to love him too and Merlin will have another person to seek attention from. Supervised carefully, he doesn't have to be kept away from another member of the family.

[misssherlock]

Hmm he has gone downhill again. His droppings have gone loose. The dark part is semi solid but the white and the clear stuff has gone liquidy.

Hezz - He still is in the same room as me for most of the day its just that before I gave him much more constant attention before talked to him constantly all day long, tickled his face etc. I think he fell in love with my hand like they can fall in love with toys as he would constantly preen it, regurgitate to it (not vomit). He does it sometimes to his favourite toy. So basically now I've a four month old I can't give him that constant one on one time we had before. I do try to spend a few minutes here and there giving him my full attention but it is alot more difficult now. I know the answer would be a companion bird for him but for now that isn't a choice I have so I'm just trying my best to give him some extra attention but still concerned about his health. :/

[Hezz]

Being a mum isn't all beer and skittles, I know. I do hope he pulls around for you, fingers and wings crossed for Merlin's recovery.

[misssherlock]

Not sure what to think. He is still not himself although being active and playful and talkative he is hardly eating anything. Not sure what to do. I was thinking of getting him something just to improve his general health. Everything is really expensive and I don't know what to get. I've been looking at guardian angel, avipro plus, and apple cider vingar. Which of these would be most benifacial for his health? I'm most concerned now about his lack of eating he is having a really small amount of seed. I've tried putting a millet spray in but he is just not interested in it. He touched abit of his trill topper and had a few trill seeds from his food container but nowhere near enough or would he would have usually. His poo is well formed again. I am not sure if this is relevant but is having a huge moult and just grown the two longest large tail feathers back in again which are still partially covered by the feather sheath. I am guessing those feathers in particular must be pretty unpleasent for the bird to have to grow out but I don't know if this would effect his health?

[Hezz]

Feather growth/moulting can take a lot out of a bird. It can also make them grumpy and quieter than normal. Growing new feathers is a real energy-sapper, so that may explain some of his problem. Protien is needed during these times so a daily feed of eggfood, either commercial or make your own (Marianne has put up a lovely eggfood recipe). The dried stuff can be either moistened and fed in a separate container, or some birds will eat it dry sprinkled over their seed.