Squeaking budgie

[cyane182]

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice about my budgie Sunny, who has been breathing with a squeaking noise which is sometimes loud. I can see she's breathing quite quick as well, although she's eating, drinking and acting normal apart from this. I took her to the vet last week and they gave me some Baytril which is now finished and it doesn't seem to have done anything:( I got some anti-parasite spot on, because the list of air sac mites symptoms sounds very like Sunny's symptoms. I gave her that earlier and the squeaking seemed to be improving, although in the last half hour or so, it's getting louder again. I'm really worried about her, has anyone got any other ideas what it might be? Thank you for you help,
Amanda

[cyane182]

By the way, that's Sunny in the photo

[Hezz]

Does Sunny have an iodine block to chew on? Sometimes an iodine deficiency can cause them to develop a squeak, as well. Get some iodine tincture 25mg/ml concentration from your pharmacy and add three drops to 100mls of water ....... make this Sunny's drinking water for a week (new water every day, of course) and see how she goes.

I am guessing the vet wasn't a bird specialist? And how old is Sunny? Unfortunately many vets give out baytril when they don't know what else to do for, for birds. Did the vet give you any feed-back at all???

[tinker]

My best advice is to try another vet. Honestly. Some claim they are the vet practices bird know-it-all but really they don't know zilch when it comes to what is bothering your bird. You will eventually find a vet that knows about your birds condition or is willing to research. Breathing problems are one of the conditions that kill pet budgies most often as they are very susceptible - so it pays to get it sorted out asap in case it's serious.

[cyane182]

Sunny is about five years old, I got her when her last owner had to give her up and she was only young then. I did buy an iodine block recently but neither of my budgies has seemed very interested, so I sprinkled some over their seeds. The vet just said it was hard to tell with birds and said it could be any number of things. She said the prognosis wasn't good though, which was upsetting to hear:( I will try the iodine tincture, thank you for your replies:))

[phoebe]

I think I also would go see another vet, preferably an avian vet. Antibiotics are hard on the birds system your bird may be fragile at this point, after a course of them. I know they sell aids online to strengthen the digestive system after antibiotics. Unfortunately I can't find a place that is allowed to send them to Canada so I don't know if you are able to order some. www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+5992+6015&pcatid=6015
www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13418

They are not allowed to ship this to my country but I think they are good products for birds that have had antibiotics.

[cyane182]

Thank you for those links, they look like good products but I don't think they ship to the UK unfortunately. I'll look around for something similar to that though, thanks for your help:)

[Hezz]

So from your reply I am guessing the vet wasn't avian?? Have a look through this site and see if Sunny fits any of the symptoms. She may simply have a iodine deficiency as yet, but a goitre also produces the squeak. I would be getting her to an avian vet if that is at all possible. They are not easy to come by, but we do have a list of avian vets on the forum. I just have to find it. First the info on goitres and iodine deficiency:
www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2755

And avian vet list ....... hope this is of help.
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/252/list-avian-vets

[cyane182]

The vet wasn't avian unfortunately, I checked the list but there aren't any anywhere close to me. I would definitely go to one if I could. I looked through the list of goitre symptoms, and she does have the squeak. I've also noticed her sneezing a lot too. She is squeaking a lot less though, I noticed that yesterday and today, so that's good to see. Thank you for those links:))

[kikkinu]

Jan 22, 2014 13:34:00 GMT cyane182 said:

Sunny is about five years old, I got her when her last owner had to give her up and she was only young then. I did buy an iodine block recently but neither of my budgies has seemed very interested, so I sprinkled some over their seeds. The vet just said it was hard to tell with birds and said it could be any number of things. She said the prognosis wasn't good though, which was upsetting to hear:( I will try the iodine tincture, thank you for your replies:))

I've had buds that didnt go for the iodine block.

I just try to re position them in their cage, or get an iodine block that's a different color. 

Or lately get perches that are actual iodine blocks.

Something has got to work for your bud