Jan 24, 2012 19:45:41 GMT
misssherlock
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by misssherlock on Jan 31, 2012 3:04:40 GMT
Thanks Hezz. He seems to have eaten a fair bit more of his topper and his seeds this evening and seems fairly active/chirper. Going to get some of that Guardian Angel then at least I've something to give him if I feel he needs it. I wish I just knew why his health is always so up and down. We seem to have a few months where he seems to be fine then he just gets really ill again and it happens quite alot. I don't know if he has a chronic disease or something as that is what seems to come up when I research the things he has. If thats the case I'm not really sure what I can do. Some of his toppers have egg on top but I have given him all of those now. I will have a look at the recipe etc. Thanks for your advice.
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Post by stace on Jan 31, 2012 3:31:30 GMT
It does seem that Merlin is quite ill.
As Barrie said earlier, the symptoms you describe possibly point to AGY, - avian gastric yeast. This used to be called Megabacteria. However, we can't diagnose that on the internet - and it could be something else. Proper tests would need to be done to confirm.
If that is what Merlin has, it is difficult to treat. From what I've read it usually crops up and takes hold after the bird already has some kind of other underlying health issue.
I've never had to deal with it before, so if it is megabacteria (AGY), I can't really advise you on what you could do.
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Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Jan 31, 2012 10:07:55 GMT
Misssherlock, where do you live? Maybe someone near you can recommend a vet that is good and maybe near enough to you to get him there sooner? The vet I now use (and was exceedingly lucky to find) is mobile and covers quite a large area running clinics from various veterinary surgeries and also from his home. Could be possible that there is someone near you providing a similar service but if we know your location we can help you more... Best wishes to you and Merlin xx
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Post by Hezz on Feb 1, 2012 2:00:52 GMT
I can only suggest another vet visit for Merlin. So many bird symptons of ill health can fit so many different illnesses. As Sarah has mentioned there may be someone on here who has had good experiences with a clinic and can help you out. In the meantime you can only treat his symptoms, keep him warm and entice him to eat and drink. Cold weak tea is supposed to be good and guardian angel to provide extra nutrients while he isn't feeding as normal.
It must be hard having to see him go through all this and not be able to do a lot, and a vet may or may not be able to help. Good luck and hope he rallies around soon.
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Jan 24, 2012 19:45:41 GMT
misssherlock
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by misssherlock on Feb 1, 2012 2:22:27 GMT
Well the good news is today Merlin seems to be mostly back to his normal self he has eaten quite abit this evening including more than half of his topper which he keeps going back to eat more from and he has eaten abit of trill as well. He has been chatty, active, alert, moved around his cage quite abit and is responsive to me. His droppings look reasonably normal again. I ordered the guardian angel anyway so I will have something to try to give him for if he gets ill again. I do wonder if he has the chronic version of AGY because of some of the symptoms he has had and with him keep recovering and then getting ill again a few months later ...but can a budgie with AGY still be overweight? It seems to suggest that they lose weight with this disease but in oct the vet told us he was overweight and I don't think he has lost much since then. I'm glad to see he seems to be more himself but I am very wary and am going to have to keep a really close eye on his health.
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Post by Hezz on Feb 1, 2012 2:38:22 GMT
It is really good that he seems to have picked up again. Can he have AGY and still be overweight - I have no idea. But you know, being overweight is not going to help him when he does have down times, so maybe when he is back to his normal self you could try getting him exercising more and eating more greens etc. Also I am not sure on the make-up of the toppers, but I would check that there isn't a lot of fat or sugar in them. I could google them, but you have them on hand, so check their makeup. They may be loaded with sugar. I make my hen do at least a dozen laps of the very large room they have access to every day, otherwise she will just sit and eat. Hope Merlin stays healthy this time and good luck. Let us know how things go.
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Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on Feb 1, 2012 10:19:52 GMT
What is merlin's weight? Can you get him onto a scale and find out what it is? An electronic flat kitchen scale set to grams is what you need. Put a few seeds or something on there to encourage him on, or one of the toppers he loves so much maybe. However if it is a heavy item don't forget to tare the scale before he gets on!! Then monitor it so you can see if he's overweight first of all, but it will also help you as another indicator of his health. Hezz is right about the exercise too.
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Post by Hezz on Feb 2, 2012 1:36:32 GMT
Too right, Sarah. I am monitering my birds' weights on a semi-regular basis, to keep track of both Blue and Smudge. Once or twice isn't enough, and the same time of day helps too. I use a small piece of millet to entice them onto that weird white thing - after the first time, it is easy. I did get the feeling that misssherlock has been told Merlin is overweight. True???
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