BrightSong
Checking out the neighborhood
- Joined
- 4/13/24
- Messages
- 4
My bird started having difficulties breathing Friday night. Now it's Monday night. In the weekend I call all vet hospitals in the nearest city, but there weren't any exotic vets (avian) and they couldn't take her in. Saturday morning she was very pale, I think she had hypoxia. Friday night I started her on amoxicillin/clavulanate and itraconazole in the appropriate dose since I had the drugs at home from previous visits (for something totally unrelated) and know how to calculate the doses. I thought it couldn't wait. I talked to an exotics vet from the country's capital (I called an ER there to ask for advice even tho I live very far away) and she said it was ok to start the medication.
Since I started the medication she has improved and her skin recovered its color and she was more energetic. She has been eating and drinking a bit on her own the whole time even in the worse moments. And now she preens a bit and even gets angry at me.
Today tho even if relatively more energetic she was a bit paler but I'm not sure if it's because I reduced the heat I gave her from the heat lamp or it's something else and she's getting worse again.
The disease I assume is from the lower respiratory tract since she doesn't have any mucus, sneezing or watery eyes.
The only think I can think could happened is aspiration pneumonia in a moment without me watching.
Im pretty sure she's been getting sick for a week because she didn't lay any eggs 6 days prior to Friday. Which was very strange, even if she acted normal. Not laying eggs is a sign of disease, although there are other possible causes but in this case it's pretty clear that was it.
I also checked a smear of her glottis under the microscope and all I saw was a bit of bacteria. I have a decent microscope. So I think it's probably not aspergillosis but I'm not trained in this, just know the basics. I'm a scientist but not a microbiologist although I know a couple things.
I have an appointment tomorrow morning to see an exotic vet finally but I'm really scared if this is the right move or not. They probably will need to do an X ray, and I think that's ok on itself, but most likely they'll say they have to sedate her? I don't see her strong enough to go through that. I'm very scared I may kill her by taking her to the vet. The only two vet hospitals here have terrible reviews. A lot of neglect and dead pets. But it's all there is. I have been looking for alternatives but it's difficult to find an appointment on short notice.
I have never done test on my pet beside citology. I read anesthesia/sedation is extremely dangerous for birds. Specially those ill like mine.
I'm also worried the stress from the X ray is going to be way worse.
So here are my questions:
1.Have you ever dealt with aspiration pneumonia? What was the treatment?
2.Did you ever have to sedate your bird for X ray while sick? How was it?
Do you think they'd let me help hold her myself even if I remain there in the X ray room so they dont have to sedate her?
Also, I have barely slept anything in these whole 3 days and I was sick myself to begin with so now I'm very sick with a fever myself. I live alone and there's no one to take care of any of us.
I know this is a parrot forum, and my pet is a quail. But I haven't been able to find help anywhere else. There is no much help for poultry since farmers don't usually take animals to the vet or care so much about them. But it's my pet and I want to help her. I just want to do what's best for her.
I hope you guys can help by sharing your experiences. I'd appreciate it
Since I started the medication she has improved and her skin recovered its color and she was more energetic. She has been eating and drinking a bit on her own the whole time even in the worse moments. And now she preens a bit and even gets angry at me.
Today tho even if relatively more energetic she was a bit paler but I'm not sure if it's because I reduced the heat I gave her from the heat lamp or it's something else and she's getting worse again.
The disease I assume is from the lower respiratory tract since she doesn't have any mucus, sneezing or watery eyes.
The only think I can think could happened is aspiration pneumonia in a moment without me watching.
Im pretty sure she's been getting sick for a week because she didn't lay any eggs 6 days prior to Friday. Which was very strange, even if she acted normal. Not laying eggs is a sign of disease, although there are other possible causes but in this case it's pretty clear that was it.
I also checked a smear of her glottis under the microscope and all I saw was a bit of bacteria. I have a decent microscope. So I think it's probably not aspergillosis but I'm not trained in this, just know the basics. I'm a scientist but not a microbiologist although I know a couple things.
I have an appointment tomorrow morning to see an exotic vet finally but I'm really scared if this is the right move or not. They probably will need to do an X ray, and I think that's ok on itself, but most likely they'll say they have to sedate her? I don't see her strong enough to go through that. I'm very scared I may kill her by taking her to the vet. The only two vet hospitals here have terrible reviews. A lot of neglect and dead pets. But it's all there is. I have been looking for alternatives but it's difficult to find an appointment on short notice.
I have never done test on my pet beside citology. I read anesthesia/sedation is extremely dangerous for birds. Specially those ill like mine.
I'm also worried the stress from the X ray is going to be way worse.
So here are my questions:
1.Have you ever dealt with aspiration pneumonia? What was the treatment?
2.Did you ever have to sedate your bird for X ray while sick? How was it?
Do you think they'd let me help hold her myself even if I remain there in the X ray room so they dont have to sedate her?
Also, I have barely slept anything in these whole 3 days and I was sick myself to begin with so now I'm very sick with a fever myself. I live alone and there's no one to take care of any of us.
I know this is a parrot forum, and my pet is a quail. But I haven't been able to find help anywhere else. There is no much help for poultry since farmers don't usually take animals to the vet or care so much about them. But it's my pet and I want to help her. I just want to do what's best for her.
I hope you guys can help by sharing your experiences. I'd appreciate it
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