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Post by samwiseg on Jun 24, 2013 9:35:15 GMT
Will keep my fingers crossed, hope his foot gets better real soon
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Post by birdguhl on Jun 24, 2013 20:39:23 GMT
Thanks, all, for your advice and good wishes. When I came in from work this evening, I really didn't like how Charlie was looking. He was a bit fluffed up and just not looking like his usual self. And I think he is less happy on his foot than yesterday. He is holding it up more. So, I decided that he should go into the little hamster cage I have which has a wide ledge. I wrapped the (unused) happy hut that I have in a teatowel and kitchen roll so that if he wants to he has a nice soft flat surface to sit on. I put his mirrors in which cheered him up straightaway, with a heat lamp on top. He's got some millet and Guardian Angel in the water. I'll try to get him seen tomorrow after work. Woody is sitting near him in the adjacent cage and has been doing some soft vocalising, almost as if he knows Charlie is not right.
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Post by birdguhl on Jun 25, 2013 12:05:09 GMT
I managed to squeeze in a visit to the vet with Charlie this morning (shhhh - don't tell my employer!). The findings were there is no break evident, but he doesn't have much strength in that foot. Best case scenario is that he hurt it in the tumble, worst case is that he has kidney disease and the enlarged kidney is pressing on the sciatic nerve causing pain. I think the vet suspects kidney disease and spoke about ways of trying to get him to take more fluids.
I have to give him metacalm for 7 days but let her know how he is by the end of the week. If it hasn't improved then it suggests underlying disease.
The trip I have planned (I would cancel it if it weren't for someone else relying on me) will make that difficult. But we'll see how it goes.
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Post by mizloco on Jun 25, 2013 12:19:25 GMT
Oh no poor Charlie and poor you too. Positive vibes it's just a sore leg from his fall.
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Post by sweetpea on Jun 25, 2013 13:08:02 GMT
Positive vibes being sent from here too....
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Apr 2, 2013 22:31:21 GMT
rockysmum
Normal Violet
Posts: 156
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Post by rockysmum on Jun 25, 2013 20:38:02 GMT
Fingers crossed Charlie's foot improves soon
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Post by tinksmum on Jun 25, 2013 21:20:39 GMT
I really hope its not kidney disease, sending love to both of you xx
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Post by Hezz on Jun 26, 2013 0:25:52 GMT
Ew, hope it isn't what they are thinking. How old is Charlie? What are his poops like?
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Post by birdguhl on Jun 26, 2013 7:30:51 GMT
Thanks, Hezz and everyone else for good wishes for this latest round of illness angst.
Charlie is 8 years old.
Since the protozoa thing, his poops have settled down and yesterday the vet considered them normal. From what I am reading about kidney disease, the effects on urine can be to make poops appear like diarrhoea (I always have to think: 'diarrhoea is awful really really hurry or else accident'). They certainly looked like that a couple of weeks ago, but presumably that was the protozoa.
On the plus side, Charlie is very perky this morning. He is in mirror heaven, while Woody is locked out and wondering what is going on. AND he is using his foot more. He is still lifting it a bit but has definitely been more willing to sit two-footed, albeit with it more opened out than normal. The skin on his other foot is showing signs of extra strain, evident on exam yesterday.
He has now had two doses of metacam - one direct into beak and one this morning on seeds. So both Woody and Charlie get a mini medicated pre-breakfast now!
I have another 24 hours with him (apart from going to work) before I have to go away for 2 days, but a friend will come and stay and will get a long list of instructions.
I am feeling a little bit hopeful this is not a dread diagnosis...
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Post by nat on Jun 26, 2013 19:12:03 GMT
That sounds good that hes using the foot again Birdguhl. Lets hope it was just a strain and the metacams great for that
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Post by Hezz on Jun 27, 2013 1:38:15 GMT
I agree with nat - at least there is hope at the moment that it is just been hurt, and not some sinister underlying gremlin. Keep us posted, please.
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Post by lousette on Jun 27, 2013 7:34:11 GMT
Echo what everyone else has said hoping it is just a sprain. You need to go away and enjoy yourself! I know it is so hard to do when you are worried about your birdies, but you have been through a lot and need to keep yourself healthy too. Sending healing vibes and hope all gets better soon. xx
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Post by birdguhl on Jun 27, 2013 10:27:46 GMT
Thanks so much, Lousette!
I am within 5 minutes of leaving my precious buds and heading woolly-wards!
Charlie's foot seems better again which makes it easier to leave...
Hopefully I'll get good news bulletins when I am away and a sure-footed Charlie will greet me on my return.
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Post by Hezz on Jun 28, 2013 0:48:08 GMT
I hope so, too.
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Post by birdguhl on Jul 4, 2013 8:04:59 GMT
Quick one to say I am happy to report that Charlie's foot issue seems to have resolved. Occasionally he appears to be about to lift it but then decides against it. So it appears that it was caused by an injury rather than kidney disease - MAJOR relief.
However, he is now realising that foot improvement means.... another bout of Mirror Withdrawal Syndrome.
He is a hardened mirror junky and will hang in the most awkward positions to get access to it (so attempts to make it too much bother not successful).
Perhaps I am too soft and have relented when he has been stressed or under the weather (protozoal outbreak then foot thing) but I feel this is the time to get him thru cold turkey.
There is always another challenge around the corner with the buds...
Next one is to move Charlie and Woody into living room next to Luee and Berry (but still sep cages) so I can get my home office back into use.
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