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Post by rowen13 on Jan 2, 2011 9:25:57 GMT 10
I'm new here and this is my first posting. I really have no idea if I am putting this in the right thread or not but I am desperate. My budgie is really sick and I myself feel sick with worry. I took him to the vet twice, got his feces tested and he has had two courses of anti biotics administered to him. He has not really improved at all and now the vet says I need to take him to a bird specialist but I am currently unemployed and it will cost me $87 for a consultation and $160 for a blood test...plus any add on costs for medication.
I am so worried and vets don't seem to really care, sometimes it seems that everybody is dog and cat orientated and birds aren't as important but he's important to me. Does anyone have any advice? He's been sick from December 14th and I can't stand to see him so lethargic, so lifeless. Please help.
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Post by Robyn on Jan 2, 2011 11:34:39 GMT 10
Hi Rowen, sorry you have joined under these circumstances. What were your budgies symptoms when you took him to the Vet. Also how was the meds administered. (Injection)  I would say you baby is still in a weaken state because he isn't eating. If you can get some hand rearing mix from petshop & mix up a small amount & try with an eyedropper to feed him. A bit of food could make all the difference. |
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 2, 2011 12:02:13 GMT 10
Hello Robyn, thanks for answering my post. When I first took him to the vet he was pretty much like he is now although he might actually be a bit worse. His feces was watery and they found out he had bacteria, they gave him one injection but the rest I had to administer at home. Homer, that's his name, hates being held and it was extremely upsetting for both him and me but I use to try and get as much of the anti-biotics I could down his throat using a syringe. He's very stubborn and most of the liquid would go down his chin but I started to get a fair amount in him.
He is eating but it's very little and he was such a pig before this. I'm only getting him to eat by tempting him with his favourite foods and hand feeding him. I also purchased Poly-aid and since I don't want to upset him further in his weaken state I dip his favourite ball in it and he drinks the liquid off the ball. He seems to love it and it's the only time he perks up a bit. I warm up a hot water bottle and lean it near the back of his cage and cover him with a thin and thick blanket on his cage.
I feel so helpless right now and would do anything to have my baby fully back to me....even though he''s still around I miss him so much. He used to be extremely bratty and spoilt and I miss him screaming at me to get his way. I miss him talking and telling me how much he loves me. Any advice you could give me would be appreciated.
His feces still look at little bit watery but I'm unsure at this stage. He eats better at night but even then it's really finicky. Sometimes he looks like he's getting better and he's almost eating back to normal and than he goes backwards again and my hope just plummets. Sometimes I feel as though I'm just waiting for him to die. He won't be fed by eyedropper, he extremely untrustful of me and has never been the most affectionate bird since he detests being held. Occasionally he flies to me when i'm eating since he's used to sharing meals but he just takes a nibble and then sits their listless. I feel so helpless and now I just pray for him every night hoping against hope that he will be okay.
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Post by avinet on Jan 2, 2011 13:35:42 GMT 10
Where about do you live - there may be a member locally that can be of assistance
Mike
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 2, 2011 14:37:56 GMT 10
I live in Coorparoo, Brisbane. Any assistance would be great and appreciated.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 2, 2011 18:36:54 GMT 10
There are avian vets in Brisbane and good ones at that too. Adrian Gallager is one and I am sure others will be able to suggest another one. Yes they are pricey but I am sure you would be able to work out a payment plan??
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 2, 2011 18:39:13 GMT 10
Also when my eclectus hen was sick a few years ago she had to go on anitbiotics for a week and I put them into her fav food. Just a couple of corn flakes at a time and she scoffed them down and was better within a short time.
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 2, 2011 20:24:53 GMT 10
Hello vankarhi,
Homer my budgie is technically my mum's because I bought if for her but I think of him as my little heart. Anyway since it's her's and she's a pensioner she can get a 10% discount but right now with Christmas expenses still hitting the budget and my unemployment status it's the costs are hitting us hard.
I'm scared to put him on more antibiotics because I talked to the vet on the phone and she said that was already enough and if that didn't fix him, it probably meant there was something else wrong with him and she couldn't help any more. All she could do was keep retesting the feces and administering the medication. She couldn't give him a blood test and find out what was really wrong with him, only an avian vet could do that.
He looked a little bit better tonight but he ocassionally does than he goes backwards once again and relapses. I kept offering him his favourite foods every couple of minutes till he got tired then he would rest and I would come back again. He ate from me about 8 times so that made me happy, lapped the poly-aid off his favourite ball toy and then ate some seeds. He's still terribly weak and he looks so tired around the eyes...it's heart breaking.
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Post by Laraine on Jan 2, 2011 20:53:03 GMT 10
You definitely need to take him to an Avian vet, ordinary vets don't know too much about birds. He has been sick for a long time and is weak from lack of food and whatever is wrong with him. They are usually very understanding if you explain your financial position. Good luck.
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Post by avinet on Jan 2, 2011 21:48:39 GMT 10
I am on the Sunshine Coast so a bit far for you to come and let me see the bird. The best vet for you to to see would be Deborah Monks and her assistant Melinda Cowan at the Brisbane Bird and Exotics Veterinary Service - bbevs.com.au/home.html They are in Macgregor so not too far from you. Likely cost would be around $100 for consultation plus medication - try phoning them and explaining your situation and see if they will accept some sort of repayment plan. They do for more expensive surgery etc but I'm not sure about consultations. The other one to try is Terry Martin at Sunnybank - on 33456689. I'm not positive but Terry may be cheaper, and while he also does the regular dogs and cats he is also a specialist avian vet. Both vets are likely closed until Tuesday. In the meantime persevere with Polyaid - it is good stuff to give a sick bird, and provides energy and electrolytes. good luck cheers, Mike |
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 2, 2011 22:03:50 GMT 10
Thank you so much guys for the advice. I will keep feeding him the polyaid and ring up both vets, I don't know if they will offer a payment plan but I have to atleast try. It's very distressing to see him like this every day. I wish I took him there first instead of twice to the animal hospital it went through what little extra cash I had on me.
Thanks again for the great advice:)
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 3, 2011 7:48:59 GMT 10
Good luck and keep us updated on his progress please ;D
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 3, 2011 9:22:24 GMT 10
Thanks for all your help and I will keep you up to date with Homer's progress. I brought him out this morning, gave him polyaid and fresh seed and water. He always flies straight for the kitchen tap to drink some water, in fact he went twice this morning. I put plain clean water in cage, I think he doesn't appreciate me mixing polyaid in his water. He's still really tired so I'll basically leave him in a quiet place to rest while I try to get him another appointment with a vet. Fingers crossed my baby will be fine  |
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 5, 2011 17:53:09 GMT 10
Just a little update about Homer....I took him to Terry the vet at Sunnybank. Looking back I really wished I took him there first. He tested his feces right in front of us and found out that Homer has no gut flora and he still has alot of bacteria. There is a green urine discolouration so he may have liver problems. I wish I knew about Terry sooner but I have to believe no matter how things work out everything happens for a reason.
Anyway the vet administered another antibiotic with a crop needle....boy did Homer hate that. I felt so sorry for him and since his body is so little right now from not eating as much as he used too...I wonder how much he can cope with. Since coming home he's gone to eat his seeds about four times, that in itself is a miracle to me. I've made another appointment to see Terry in a week, I hope everything turns out okay in the end.
Me and Homer just wanted to thank everybody again for all the wonderful advice:)
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 5, 2011 20:04:39 GMT 10
Well fingers crossed Homer will be fine in a few days. I found with Skye when she was sick once she went on antibiotics within a couple of days she seemed almost perfect again.......but I had to keep up with her meds just to make sure.
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Post by avinet on Jan 5, 2011 21:45:09 GMT 10
Hope it all works out with Homer - Terry is a really nice guy, I've met him a few times at meetings and he runs a group about parrot colour mutations I listen in on - in fact he is probably the world expert on colour mutations in parrots, although his bird keeping seems to be mainly Zebra finch mutations.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 6, 2011 8:00:14 GMT 10
I was lucky enough that he gave an anitibiotic that last a week but if that doesn't work he said he'll have to try something added to the drinking water again. I guess it's wait and see sort of scenerio right now but he's a very strong and stubbon little bird, a real little fighter so if anyone could get better after being sick for so long it would be him.
The pictures of your birds are very beautiful:)
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 6, 2011 9:59:23 GMT 10
The pictures of your birds are very beautiful:) Are you referring to the birds in my signature?? They are my pet birds......I bred Erik the eclectus and Rikki the Alexandrine and handraised all 3 of them including Snowy the cockatiel ;D and thankyou ;D |
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Post by rowen13 on Jan 6, 2011 13:35:25 GMT 10
I am no expert in birds but they are very beautiful. Of course Homer is extremely beautiful to me but I'm biased.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 6, 2011 17:23:35 GMT 10
yes our own "babies" no matter if they are feathered furred or human........are very beautiful and special to their owners/parents ;D
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