Woody: Rehab begins

[birdguhl]

Thanks again to all of you for supporting me and Woody in the current challenge.

I got him home yesterday and it was only late last evening that I stopped feeling quite weird and a bit in shock.

The session with the vet was challenging. He is clearly a very bright guy and at times I thought he was mistaking me for a 4th or 5th year vet student!

Basically Woody's x-ray (they showed me it - amazing) and bloods show that he has some kind of infection, enlarged liver, way too much cholestorol and - totally unexpectedly - a broken leg. It seems that the broken leg has occurred in the last 6 weeks or so but more than 3 weeks ago given the degree of healing. I have no idea when or how this happened. I wanted to burst into tears at this news alone.

The vet wants droppings from all the others to test for this infection - ? clofidophola. (I really needed to be taking notes yesterday).

As for where we go from here: I have powder stuff to put on his food for his liver problems, and something called Sunshine Factor, a drop of which is to go into his mouth daily (slightly problematic as it seems to be virtually solid - will have to phone pharmacy about this). I have to keep weighing him everyday. He has had one antibiotic injection, and has to have five more at weekly intervals. I was quite taken aback at this. It is possible to get to the hospital when I am working normally but not easy. (Thankfully I am off work this week so have been able to do this otherwise, again would have been very difficult).

As for diet, I have been given a pack of Harrisons High Potency pellets (http://www.vetuk.co.uk/bird-supplies-harrison-s-bird-food-c-529_469/harrisons-high-potency-fine-p-2588)and basically along with a few seeds, and a lot of fruit and veg (somehow) this is The Future for all of them.

What can I say? I feel quite daunted at the prospect of managing all this. But of course I will do it.

The bill was pretty big and it's not over yet. But they have done a lot for the money and I have been very fortunate to have state of the art facilities and an expert on hand. Getting a plumber in for a few hours would have cost more.

Aside from the infection (?Luee), the main cause of all this is a seed diet. Woody has never looked overweight and until recently was flying a bit most days (although a lot less since Berry stopped flying). The message for others with mainly seed-fed budgies is obvious. I absolutely do not recommend letting things get to this point.

[samwiseg]

Thank god he is home. IMO I believe half the battle has been won as he is home which means he can only get better now as he is in familiar surroundings.

You are doing everything you can, well done you and keep positive x

[lousette]

Oh my gosh - what a comprehensive examination for Woody and follow up treatments. Unbelievable about his broken leg ... incredible how well they hide these things - poor little thing. I can imagine how devastated you must have been hearing that as well. So glad he is back home though.

You are a fabulous mummy going to great lengths for your little Woody - I hope he gets better soon with all of the injections and diet supplements. In human diet health issues are sometimes reversible, so I am hoping for him that his liver problems and cholesterol will get better if he eats better. Wish you could tell him that he NEEDS to eat his veg, they all prefer the seeds don't they.

You say you have to weigh Woody everyday - what does he weigh at the moment? (if you don't mind me asking).

[Hezz]

Glad Woody is home now, birdguhl, and really interested to know what the powder is that he is being supplemented with.

This is going to a hard time for you, and the best thing you can do is not lose hope and not give up. If I may make a suggestion, if getting Woody eating veggies just isn't working, the next step to try is to remove his seed for definite feed times during the day. Also if you can get some grasses/sprouts growing to supplement the veggies. My experience has been that once you get them going on the greens, they tend to be able to take it to the next level themselves.

I can only imagine how upsetting it was to find out he had broken his leg at some stage. Actually I do understand as my dog had the same thing shortly after we rehomed him - a previous break which had gone undiagnosed ............ But not to have known he was suffering this as well as everything else going on in his little life, you would have felt really low! *Hugs*

Are you able to get a spelling on the infection Woody has? Please forgive all my questions, but I do this in the hope it may save others from going through the same thing.
Keep us in the loop when you can, please. We are thinking of you.

[birdguhl]

Thanks, Sam and Lousette. It is so helpful to have the vote of confidence as ending up with Woody having all these problems has hugely knocked my budgie-mummy self-esteem.

I have spoken to another vet about the solid sun factor stuff and she said i have to warm it up in hot water. I was told that yesterday but forgot. I feel like I got about 10% of the info given.

The last time I weighed Woody (approx a week ago) he was 41gm and this was low for him, also confirmed by vet's feeling his keel bone as sharp. I forgot to ask what his last weight was in hosp - should have found out so i know if he has lost again.) I guess he used to be at least 45 judging by the fact that i could hear the perches taking his weight as he jumped on to them. In comparison Berry is tiny and flits around noiselessly like a finch! Luee is more like an exhibition budgie (although obviously not in danger of winning any prizes - thankfully for him IMO!) I have read an article on Barrie's site that says 45 is more typical for an English budgie.

It seems like it is a good idea to know what your budgie normally weighs as any unexplained loss is an indicator of illness. So - everyone - get weighing your buds!

[lousette]

Apr 5, 2013 11:08:13 GMT birdguhl said:

Thanks, Sam and Lousette. It is so helpful to have the vote of confidence as ending up with Woody having all these problems has hugely knocked my budgie-mummy self-esteem.

I have spoken to another vet about the solid sun factor stuff and she said i have to warm it up in hot water. I was told that yesterday but forgot. I feel like I got about 10% of the info given.

The last time I weighed Woody (approx a week ago) he was 41gm and this was low for him, also confirmed by vet's feeling his keel bone as sharp. I forgot to ask what his last weight was in hosp - should have found out so i know if he has lost again.) I guess he used to be at least 45 judging by the fact that i could hear the perches taking his weight as he jumped on to them. In comparison Berry is tiny and flits around noiselessly like a finch! Luee is more like an exhibition budgie (although obviously not in danger of winning any prizes - thankfully for him IMO!) I have read an article on Barrie's site that says 45 is more typical for an English budgie.

It seems like it is a good idea to know what your budgie normally weighs as any unexplained loss is an indicator of illness. So - everyone - get weighing your buds!

Oh interesting. Hob weighs 55grams so I am wondering if he is overweight then. He seems pretty spritely and flies around loads, but he doesn't eat nearly enough veg even though he has access to it.

[stace]

Oh birdguhl, this must be so upsetting. I know very well what it is like to go to the vet and just seem overwhelmed with a cascading series of problems, seemingly without end. I came back from the vet a few times and just had a good cry. Felt much better after that.

I actually took notes. It makes it so much easier to take it all in. Especially when you've got multiple problems to deal with all at once.

[birdguhl]

Thanks, Stace. And thanks, Hezz. I'll get some more info re infection. There has been some crying.
I feel like I am in a bit of a bizarre world esp as a very good and old friend was admitted to psychiatric hosp yesterday on an emergency basis. I am in the business and I didn't know she was ill. When I get a bit lost in budgie illness world I have to reorientate to that.
Right now i am looking at Charlie (in quarantine) and wondering if he is ill as well as he has (short) periods of being a bit wabbit-looking. I think I might be losing it a bit myself! I have to take the dropping samples up there this afternoon anyway, and i think he might be coming with me.

[stace]

That word you were looking for....Did the vet say Chlamydophila psittaci ?

[birdguhl]

yes - think that's it

[nat]

Oh goodness, what an awful lot of stuff to deal with! Poor you :-(

I had to have all my birds tested for Chlamydia 4 years ago after taking Nutnut the plucked hahns to the vet when I first got him. He was also diagnosed with liver disease and I was told veg and harrisons were the way forward. It cost a fortune and all the droppings were negative. I was in such a panic as the vet said as all my birds had come from different places there was high risk that something would have it and pass it on! I understand where you are at right now!

Having had to change the hahns onto pellets I know how hard it can be.....and worrying. Heres a couple of ideas for the transition
maybe soaking them in water and mixing the seeds in with them so they get used to the taste with a bit of grated carrot, sprouted seeds, greens and sweetcorn in as well. Then gradually cut down the soaking time until they will take the pellets dry. They will inadvertently take some soft pellet while trying to get to the seeds.

I think Harrisons also do an organic bird bread mix. All the same ingredients but you can make it into bread shapes which could be threaded onto a skewer so its kinda toy like. It might make the new eating experience a bit more enjoyable for them.

I wish you the best of luck with the food transition and everything you've got to deal with in the next few weeks.

[skysmum]

Oh birdguhl, i think my head has just exploded just reading about it. You have done so incredibly well doing what you have done for Woody, they are very lucky buds, please don't get down. Take one thing at a time and don't let it get on top of you. Hug from me too.

[mizloco]

Birdguhl I really feel for you, it can be so hard to take it all in when being told lots of information. I have been reading this as my two do not really eat veggies, but i am going to look through the posts about veggie ideas and they are going to start. You are a good budgie mummy as you wouldn't be worried and upset and paying out huge vets bills if you wasn't. Your little buds will be well looked after and loved. Big hugs.

[birdguhl]

Thanks so much everyone. I am really touched and heartened by the encouragement you are giving me.

Tomorrow I am going to go through the practical stuff from the last few days and make a list of things to get and do.

Meanwhile, I can report that Woody has had a quiet but okay day, I think. The last time i looked in on him he was sitting looking at a dish of sprouted seeds + ground up harrisons + grated carrot + mashed peas. I bet he was pretty selective in what he ate but he is at least getting a close encounter with Food Future!!!

Darling wee Charlie (who despite my earlier panic seems to be okay - couldn't see a vet after all - but perhaps he just has an afternoon nap as at 8 he is a bit of an old fella) seems fine and has been flying to my hand when I am holding his fancy new double perch mirror. This is great. I decided that after a little bonding with it this new toy is going to be integral to his exercise regime. Yes, Charlie - you're going to have to do a little work for it!