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Post by tinksmum on May 21, 2013 20:04:04 GMT
Hi, I came across this wonderful forum while trying to do some research. I have a 5yr old male budgie named Tink, who has been out of sorts, sleeping & fluffed up alot, not very energetic, at 1st i put it down to him not appreciating his cage being moved & that i'd recently decorated, but after a week Tink had still not perked up. Last Wednesday i took him to the Vet who said it was a respiratory problem & prescribed Baytril, of which 0.4ml to be given twice daily, vet informed it was pre-diluted, we are on day 6 of 7 day meds & it doesn't seem to have helped him very much, if at all. Other symptoms include: runny poops, lethargic, not as chirpy, although he is eating & drinking well, and between sleeps he is preening more than usual (not scratching). Tink is seed fed, i have kept budgies on & off all my life but he is the only feathered friend I have had that refuses to eat fresh fruit & veggies, although will eat millet, seed treats, fruit cocktail seed mix & the herb & fruit trill toppers. Another note to add is that he will still come to us, so trust hasnt been lost giving meds, but he sits with us for longer, where as before he'd get bored & fly off & do his own thing. There are no other pets in the house. I also dont think the stress of having to be hand held to take meds is helping, although understand the lesser of 2 evils, so to speak. Think ive covered everything. Can anyone here please give me a bit of advice? want my happy birdy back. Here is a recent picture of Tink with my daughter, not looking very happy.
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Post by mizloco on May 21, 2013 20:35:16 GMT
Welcome to you and tink. Sorry tinks not feeling 100%. There are lots of experienced budgie owners/breeders on here so I'm sure you will get some advice soon. I just wanted to welcome you and your little bud.
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Post by tinksmum on May 21, 2013 20:47:51 GMT
Thankyou Mizloco, I really hope so, my vet isnt open until 8.30am so will be consulting her in the morning.We only have one avian vet in the area, who works at the surgery i use, but trying to get an appointment with him is a nightmare. The Vet who saw us last week did say if he wasnt any better after the baytril she would consult her colleague (the avian vet) so fingers crossed, i just want him treated before its too late. Any advice would be welcomed, ive even considered putting my facial steamer near his cage to see if that helps, but not sure if it would cause harm. (Lovely photo of your birds btw)
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Post by birdguhl on May 21, 2013 21:56:35 GMT
Aw - sorry to hear Tink isn't feeling well. He looks very sweet (and your daughter). Is it possible to give him a bit of extra warmth at the moment? Am no expert but I have had that emphasised to me when one of mine has been ill. Really hope the return visit to vet is more useful. It is awful when you're worried about these wee guys. Welcome to the forum too, of course!
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Post by stace on May 21, 2013 22:49:12 GMT
Hi there, sorry to hear Tink is unwell. Those symptoms could be a number of things.
Is your vet an avian vet? It's just that normal vets really don't know anything about birds. If not, really make an effort to find an avian vet. Where do you live in the UK?
In the meantime, keep Tink extra warm, remove any fruit and veges you may be feeding him and only feed seed and millet sprays.
Warmth is needed as they use all their energy rapidly when ill.
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Post by tinksmum on May 21, 2013 22:50:55 GMT
Thankyou Birdguhl, I have swapped Tink's usual brushed cotton cover for a thicker fleece cover since he has been poorly, he doessnt nibble his cover so i think thats safe, heating is still coming on even though the rest of us are sweltering in the fine weather we are getting at the moment! and I'm making sure he gets plenty of rest, also adding vitamin to his water, but its as if he knows when its medicine time, even though i draw his medicine in a different room. Thankyou again, its nice to find somewhere where we all share a common love for our feathered family. Ive enjoyed reading stories & viewing the photos this evening, has helped take my mind off over-thinking. Tink seems content eating some red millet as i type.
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Post by tinksmum on May 21, 2013 22:57:21 GMT
Hi there, sorry to hear Tink is unwell. Those symptoms could be a number of things. Is your vet an avian vet? It's just that normal vets really don't know anything about birds. If not, really make an effort to find an avian vet. Where do you live in the UK? In the meantime, keep Tink extra warm, remove any fruit and veges you may be feeding him and only feed seed and millet sprays. Warmth is needed as they use all their energy rapidly when ill. Thankyou. The veterinary surgery i use has an avian vet but its a nightmare trying to get an appointment with him as he is the only one in the area, the vet which saw Tink said if he hadnt perked up in 1 wk to phone & she would consult her colleague. As mentioned, thicker cover at night & im still keeping heating on, should i remove fruit seed stick? I also read somewhere to put a warm hot water bottle in the cage (covered) but again not sure if this is a good idea? although he does not like going to the bottom of his cage, think he has king of the castle syndrome, like to be high up where he can see everything going on. Nosey little thing. He is demolishing his red millet, so appetite is still good and he is drinking as normal. EDIT: oh & he has a calcium block in there too which he only nibbled on earlier.
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Post by stace on May 21, 2013 23:06:42 GMT
Seriously, an avian vet is the only way to go. Normal vets only know to prescribe baytril, which covers many illnesses and infections. but not all.
A covered hot water bottle is fine. With the cage covered or partially covered it will keep the warmth in. You can also use a desk lamp positioned right next to the cage with the warm bulb providing extra warmth.
It's just fruit and veg to take out. I'd take his seed stick out too. It's just because he might have something like an infection and is dribbling on his seed stick and re-eating it, hence re-infecting himself.
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Post by tinksmum on May 21, 2013 23:23:44 GMT
Thankyou Stace your advice is very much appreciated, Tink also has an uplighter floor lamp in the corner behind his cage, not sure if this creates much heat for him, but will do the water bottle now. I always fully cover him at night. Hopefully once i speak to the vet who treated Tink last week, in the morning, maybe her sway will get us an appointment with the avian vet in the surgery, its St James Vets Group (Swansea, UK) im using,they have 5 surgeries in the area, and only 1 avian vet, so as you can imagine he must be very much in demand. I never thought of that about the dribbling (cant see any, but who knows what he does when my back is turned)...now removed, kettle boiling and just had Tinky kisses.
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Post by stace on May 22, 2013 0:02:06 GMT
It's just that if they have something like a crop or e-coli infection, they can reinfect themselves from their saliva. It happened to my bird when he was sick.
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Post by Learner on May 22, 2013 0:42:46 GMT
It's just that if they have something like a crop or e-coli infection, they can reinfect themselves from their saliva. It happened to my bird when he was sick. I hope Tink is very soon feeling back on top-perch. Sounds a lovely bird. I'm sure you are doing this but just to minimise the risk of any possible e-coli infection passing from Tink to other family members do make sure everyone washes their claws hands after playing with & handling Tink. (Sorry... it's the ex-teacher in me... still trying to *teach grandma to suck eggs. *What an awful analogy!)
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Post by budgiefriend on May 22, 2013 0:57:45 GMT
Tink is much too cute to be sick. Hope the vet has the solution. Keep us posted.
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Post by Hezz on May 22, 2013 1:09:50 GMT
Hi Tinksmum. Sorry Tinks isn't improving but I would be hassling the vet for an appointment with the avian vet, even if it means taking him in and leaving him in the surgery until the A/V has a chance to look at him. Not sure if this is an option, but I know my vet surgery is very approachable when it comes to sick birds. Warmth, seed & millet only, water and rest are the main things to provide while he isn't well. I feel I have to come to the defence of all the regular vets out there, there are those who do work with birds and know what they are talking about, not all of them are useless. But it would have helped if your vet had consulted with the colleague as a first, rather than a second.
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Post by tinksmum on May 22, 2013 7:41:55 GMT
Thankyou so much for all your replies, Just a little update, spoken to the Vet who treated Tink, and she is going to get the Avian vet to phone me this morning. Will keep you posted. And look forward to sharing happier times here. Much love Helen & Tink
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Post by sarah*glittergirl2212 on May 22, 2013 9:03:43 GMT
Poor Tink- just been thinking and wondering if the "under the weather" symptoms started after you'd decorated- I'm only thinking that it might be worth mentioning that to the vet as a change to his living environment if the two could be connected. You are doing well with the meds and keeping him warm etc, I hope the vet can get to the bottom of it.
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