Sept 2, 2019 16:16:19 GMT
stella123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 18
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Post by stella123 on Sept 2, 2019 16:22:11 GMT
Hi, my 9 month old budgie became unwell a few days ago and I would really appreciate your opinion. I have already taken him to a vet but I’m not sure he’s receiving the right treatment. I thought, with your experience, you may have seen his symptoms before and be able to advise. The first thing I noticed is that there were a lot of feathers in his cage one morning last week and he was over-preening the following day. I took him to the vet who suspected parasites and gave him a dose of ivermectin (3 drops between the shoulders to be repeated every fortnight x 3). The following day, he was still very itchy and had also started tail-bobbing. I was concerned about his breathing so I returned to the vet who gave him a general spectrum antibiotic in case it was a respiratory infection. It is now 3 days later and his symptoms are not improving. He is still itching a lot, he is sleepier than usual and I can see that his breathing is quite laboured. He still has several active periods during each day when he eats, drinks, chirps and moves around his cage but not as much as usual. He isn't pulling his feathers out, just itching a lot (which occasionally releases small, downy under-feathers) and rubbing his head and beak on is perch. I have not been letting him out like I normally do as I was worried that flying around would exhaust him. He has a mixed diet of fresh herbs and vegetables and Trill nutritional budgie seed. I have been googling his symptoms to distraction as I am so worried about him but I can’t find any specific references to the seemingly conflicting symptoms of itchiness (would suggest parasites yet he has already had an ivermectin treatment) and problems with breathing and tiredness (would suggest a respiratory infection?). Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.
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Post by Hezz on Sept 2, 2019 19:20:41 GMT
It sounds to me as though he is simply going through a very heavy moult. The itchiness, the feathers at the bottom of the cage, feathers dropping when he scratches himself and general tiredness. To help him through this some form of protein in his diet will give his body the extra energy needed to produce healthy new feathers. Usually hard boiled egg or dried eggfood are the preferred choices.
I am also concerned about the amount of Ivermectin the vet has given. The standard dose for external parasites (mites) on a budgie is one drop of 0.1% Ivermectin on the back of the neck each week for three weeks. If he has been over-dosed, it is possible that this has affected his breathing somewhat. Was the vet avian?
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Sept 2, 2019 16:16:19 GMT
stella123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 18
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Post by stella123 on Sept 2, 2019 19:54:56 GMT
Thank you for your reply. No, it wasn't a specialist avian vet but she said she often sees budgies in the practice. It didn't occur to me that it was was a moult because it started so suddenly and he already went through a (more gradual, less extreme) moult about 4 months ago, when he looked like a mess for a couple of weeks with feathers sticking out everywhere and lots in the cage. How frequently can they moult?
That is very interesting about the ivermectin. Have you heard other cases of it affecting a budgie's breathing?
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Post by Hezz on Sept 3, 2019 7:46:09 GMT
Sorry, my post might have been misleading ... I did mean this to be a question ... "If he has been over-dosed, is it possible that this has affected his breathing somewhat.
There was a member a while back whose budgie had a severe reaction in the form of seizures to an Ivermectin injection. Not the same, I realise, but does make me wonder.
Since you have an antibiotic for a possible respiratory infection, I would finish that course and in the meantime if you feel he still needs some help, you can put him into a hot steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes.
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Sept 2, 2019 16:16:19 GMT
stella123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 18
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Post by stella123 on Sept 4, 2019 9:45:58 GMT
Thank you for your message. I have taken Bobby to an avian specialist vet now. He has been kept in overnight. They phoned me this morning to say that, whilst his itching has stopped and his breathing has calmed down quite a lot, he is not eating or drinking and they have also noticed green urates. They are feeding him with a pipette, keeping him comfortable and doing a test for chlamydia today. If that comes back negative, they have said it will likely suggest a more serious problem. My heart is breaking. I love him so much and it is a desperate situation. I am grateful for your help. You made me realise how important it was to get him to a specialist.
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Post by ladybird on Sept 4, 2019 10:28:07 GMT
Fingers crossed for little Bobby that he will be fine. You have done all the right things so don’t feel bad. Is a shame that we have so few avian vets, my nearest one would be 30 miles away. Bobby is now getting excellent care, they are little fighters..... Sending lots of good vibes his way, and a big hug for you 😘
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,780
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Sept 4, 2019 14:07:02 GMT
Oh, poor Bobby When the vet says it could be more serious than avian chlamydia, then that is bad, because avian chlamydia is Psittacosis and that is pretty bad in itself. Fingers and wings crossed for your budgie boy xx
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Post by Hezz on Sept 4, 2019 19:25:38 GMT
Thank you for your message. I have taken Bobby to an avian specialist vet now. He has been kept in overnight. They phoned me this morning to say that, whilst his itching has stopped and his breathing has calmed down quite a lot, he is not eating or drinking and they have also noticed green urates. They are feeding him with a pipette, keeping him comfortable and doing a test for chlamydia today. If that comes back negative, they have said it will likely suggest a more serious problem. My heart is breaking. I love him so much and it is a desperate situation. I am grateful for your help. You made me realise how important it was to get him to a specialist. While this is not good news, it is the best thing you can do for him. He is getting the professional care that he requires to be back to full health. Will keep my fingers crossed for you and Bobby.
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Sept 2, 2019 16:16:19 GMT
stella123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 18
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Post by stella123 on Sept 6, 2019 9:32:55 GMT
Thank you so much for your kind, encouraging messages. It means a lot to feel so supported at this critical stage. The vet phoned me yesterday with an update. She said that Bobby is stable but he still isn't eating and drinking so they are continuing to feed him with a pipette. He had a high count of a particular type of fungus when they ran some faecal tests so they have started him on anti-fungal treatment and also some metacam to help with his irritated skin. There doesn't seem to be anything else they can do now except to wait and see if he responds to the treatment so I asked if I could bring him home as I felt that he might start eating again if he was in familiar surroundings. As soon as I got him back, he tucked into his millet and ate some broccoli, which is a positive start. He is still in a very sorry state though - he is so unbelievably tired and falls asleep after the slightest exertion. Giving him his medication is also a massive stress as he absolute hates it and I feel like I'm torturing him. However, he is warm and as comfortable as he can be and I am sure that being at home is best now. I am trying my hardest just to leave him alone so he can get the rest he needs. I don't know which way this is going now and I am just praying that he starts to show more signs of recovery soon. Despite this incredibly difficult situation, he is still making me laugh so much. He told the dogs to get out of the kitchen this morning (one of his favourite phrases!) and said 'hello darling, you look nice today' when I came into the room! He is such a little trooper. Many thanks again for your kind words.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,780
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Sept 6, 2019 9:46:08 GMT
It sounds like he's perked up a little being home with you. You're doing your best for him, giving the meds and trying to get him to eat.
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Post by Hezz on Sept 6, 2019 11:00:50 GMT
At least he is in the surroundings he knows and with the ones he loves. Fingers crossed that he makes it over this hurdle and is back to his normal self very quickly. Obviously more than just a heavy moult, a parasite infection and/or a respiratory infection going on. We will be thinking of you and Bobby.
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Post by ffiscool on Sept 6, 2019 15:54:52 GMT
Everything crossed. It’s great he ate!
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Post by bud9 on Sept 6, 2019 18:39:33 GMT
My thoughts are with you at this crucial time, you are doing everything you can.
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Sept 2, 2019 16:16:19 GMT
stella123
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 18
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Post by stella123 on Sept 6, 2019 20:19:55 GMT
I phoned the vet again today to get more details on exactly what they'd found in his faeces. I was shocked to learn that it was macrorhabdus, which is the yeast responsible for AGY or megabacteria. The vet had been so upbeat about Bobby's treatment but I have done my own research and this is the worst news as I know it is a fungal infection that is extremely difficult to treat, if at all. Bobby is being given nystatin at the moment but I understand he would have a better chance on amphotericin B. I then found out it is not available in the UK but thanks to this amazing forum, I found a thread about it and read that there is a vet in Dover that stocks it. I have no idea how to tag another username but thank you to 'samwiseg' for posting this valuable information. I quickly phoned the Dover vet and they had some in stock but wouldn't release it without speaking to my vet, who was in consultations all afternoon. I finally managed to get them speaking to each other at 4.10pm, by which stage the Dover vet only had 20 minutes to get the package to the post office for next day delivery before the 4.30pm cut-off time. She phoned me back 15 minutes later, out of breath and very pleased to announce that she'd made it just in time. So if nothing goes wrong with the post, Bobby will be starting amphotericin treatment tomorrow morning. He is still eating and drinking, he is very tired and has a lot of naps with his head by his feet but has also had a few chatty moments too whilst sitting on his swing. I know the odds are hugely stacked against him but I've got one more go to get him through this with the amphotericin. Darling Bobby, there is still a tiny chance we might pull you through this.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,780
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Sept 6, 2019 20:29:42 GMT
I hope the treatment helps. I'll tag samwiseg for you
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