Canker Info

[outnumbered]

Dec 10, 2012 18:26:06 GMT eve said:

Dec 10, 2012 9:16:07 GMT outnumbered said:

Thanks Hezz. I had kiwi about 18months and Lilly about 11 months. They were both fine before this the only problem was Lilly had french moult as a baby, the breeder told me this but I still took her as she had that something special she recovered quickly and you woudn't know it now. I am a big girl Hezz and can take crtitcism ;D I guess I am just terrified of this happening again and keep reading, hearing different stories and that is what is making me upset and very, very frustrated. When Kiwi was ill I also contacted a couple of local breeders to ask if they had any trico buy until mine got here, but nothing. One of them told me it could be metal poisoning and that cages from China are well known for being cheaply made. I told him mine was made in Italy but he explained how it may be made in italy but they import the parts from China How am i supposed to check all of this. I guess I am just emotional at the moment and in a little while everything will be clearer

Outnumbered, I feel for you. I know the overwhelming pain, tears, and suffering when we lose one of our babes. I went through the same thing last year.

I'm not a big expert on budgie diseases, but I have worked in the medical field for 20+ years.
1. This disease that Kiwi had is caused by a protozoa, which lives in moisture. There is no way that a metal cage can cause that unless it had been moist when you first used it and your birds came in contact with it at that time. I highly doubt that. That person was talking about metal poisoning which causes vomiting. Your little guy had a fishy smell......which means trich, not metal poisoning. (This is also a disease that humans catch from one another by one giving the other the gift of that particular protozoa, with the "giver' being a possible asymptomatic carrier for years.)

2. He probably had that when you got him, as those beasties can live for months in a bird/animal before becoming evident by symptoms. That's why using what Barrie said to use (upon getting a new bird and on 6 mos intervals), will take care of any latent beasties in your bird's system.

3. Unfortunately, not all breeders are knowledgeable about bird diseases.....they merely breed to sell. Neither are all vets knowledgeable. The best weapon is a knowledgeable owner.
The man (a new breeder) I bought my Billyboy (last year) from fed him millet on a daily basis (I found out later), and which he insisted upon eating after we got him home when we were giving out treats. His begging for it was hard to deny. I wrongly had forgotten how fattening millet is, and yes I do think it is fattening. An autopsy showed that Billy died of a fatty liver which could have only been from the excessive millet he demanded and which we stupidly acquiesced to give him b/c of his begging for it. His other diet was seed sprouts, daily veggies, a balanced seed (Nederland's Vita Seed), Basil which I grew myself, dandelions and milk thistle (when available).
When I called this man up to tell him that Billy was sick, he didn't even know what a 'budgie" was......he kept saying that Billy was a parakeet. (Parakeet is the name of a group of big to small species of parrots, of which "Budgie" is a variety of that group.)

3. You did everything you could to save your little bird. I agree with Hezz....don't beat yourself up. You did everything you could to save him. I'm not too sure the meds would have helped even if you had gotten them. He was so far advanced. A lesson for us all.

4. Your little bird has taught many of us the need to keep items such as F10SC and Tricho Plus on hand. I think Barrie has on his site a first-aid kit to keep on hand as well.

5. Sanitation and preemptive use of Tricho is the best thing to keep this problem down, and it seems that you are already doing that. You just had a monster in your house that you were unaware of.

I grieve for you and your fresh pain. Take care.

A very informative and easy to read post Eve. Thankyou soo much

[Hezz]

Just a reminder to all those ordering Tricho Plus at the moment .......... check the use-by date. I have a feeling that this has a short shelf life. I can't, obviously check that from on-line suppliers, but this is a niggle my brain is sending me from possibly another time canker had reared its ugly head.

[outnumbered]

Dec 11, 2012 0:20:14 GMT Hezz said:

Just a reminder to all those ordering Tricho Plus at the moment .......... check the use-by date. I have a feeling that this has a short shelf life. I can't, obviously check that from on-line suppliers, but this is a niggle my brain is sending me from possibly another time canker had reared its ugly head.

Good point Hezz, I have a bad habit of thinking meds last for ages. Just checked mine and it expires 6 months so glad you mentioned that

[Hezz]

Thanks for checking for me, Outnumbered. I feel a number of people will buy up and put it in their budgie box and not look again for another ........ how many years?? Even if you treat now and get another treatment in before the expiry time, that's two doses max. This is where it would make sense of pet stores/ budgie clubs/ people living close enough together to share to get in one lot and allow others to access when they need to.