|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 8, 2011 9:59:42 GMT 10
Another day and Homer doesnt' seem to be showing any signs of improvement. I'm trying to keep my thoughts positive but I'm afraid he has liver problems and there's no help for that is there? He's been given a seven day course of anitbiotics but I don't want to see him continually in pain and am starting to wonder if putting him down is the kinder option. Is it better just to watch your bird slowly die and make it as comfortable as possible for him? It's my birthday this Thursday and the best present in the world would be for my bird to just be better and happy again.  |
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jan 8, 2011 15:22:10 GMT 10
Take him back to the vet.......did they do tests to see if there are liver problems???
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 8, 2011 15:42:58 GMT 10
he tested his feces and found that there was still bacteria but Homer had no gut flora. He said the bacteria may of went up and infected his liver because his urine was green. He gave Homer another different form of anitbiotics that would last a week and then he wants to retest him again. The vet said we may have to look into testing his blood which could go up to $300 or $400 of dollars. I really can't afford it, I'm at the stage now where we are borrowing money to go to the vet.
When you go to any sort of doctors they kind of talk in their own language and when you are fearing the worse it's hard to understand any of it. All I know is that this is the fourth time I went to the vet and no one seems to be able to help.
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jan 8, 2011 18:28:19 GMT 10
where are you?? Maybe someone can help out with advise on a good vet??? Mike seems very knowledgable in these sorts of things maybe he can offer some advise???
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 8, 2011 19:15:41 GMT 10
I went to Terry at Sunnybank which was suggested to me by a member on this site, so he was recommended to me. He did say alot of things and at the time it was hard to take in. I think he said Homer has or might have chlamydia psittai and a liver disease, or one might cause the other....I'm not sure how it works. In all honesty I am not a budgie expert merely a Homer lover. I've been researching chlamydia and liver disease on the internet and it's getting me more depressed. Some say it's a treatable disease and other sites say that chlamydia psittai is expensive to treat needing 45 days of administered medication by the vet. I wish I was Oprah at the moment and it would be no problem.
I live at Coorparoo, Brisbane Southside.
Not trying to be clueless but who is Mike? Any advice is great, should I be changing his diet? Should I get milk thistle? I don't want my bird to live a life full of pain.
I need to know if he will always have this quality of life, because he's not really alive now...he's just really sick.
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jan 8, 2011 20:23:27 GMT 10
oh sorry but Mike is also known as Avinet and is a very knowledgeable bird person. So is Robyn too but I have not seen her around here as much lately.
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 8, 2011 21:58:59 GMT 10
Thank you vankarhi for trying to help me and Homer.
|
|
|
|
Post by avinet on Jan 8, 2011 23:13:33 GMT 10
Firstly your bird will not be in pain - just feel a bit crummy - a bit like having flu for us.
Psittacosis (or Chlamydia) is very treatable if caught in time. It is quite common - but more usually in cockatiels and Neophemas, less common in budgies - although that may be because most people don't bother taking a sick budgie to a vet who can diagnose it.
I used to come across it quite regularly when I was a bird dealer, and we always kept the treatment - doxycycline - on hand. It is given weekly for 7 weeks, and in most birds I have treated they have recovered without problems.
It is caused by a unicellular organism rather like a primitive bacteria, and it can affect the liver - not always but sometimes. If that happens, and it is more likely to happen the longer it goes undiagnosed unfortunately, then recovery is more difficult. However the liver is capable or regenerating itself - the only body organ that can - so if Homer can beat the disease with the help of the antibiotics, there is a good chance the liver can recover.
My vet I use in Brisbane - Adrian Gallagher in Chermside - has a herbal medication which I have used and found very good for liver issues. However I DO NOT recommend you go to Adrian - stick with Terry since Adrian is the most expensive vet around, and Terry is very good - and $40 is extremely good value!
So, again Homer will not be i pain - he just feels sick and like us when we are sick we don't feel like eating. Anything you can get Homer to eat is good - milk thistle includes. However for milk thistle make sur ethe leaves are young, soft and green. As it gets older the leaves get a reddish colour and become harder and it shouldn't be fed at that stage.
And it will usually be a week and after the second dose that any real improvement is seen.
cheers,
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jan 9, 2011 7:33:47 GMT 10
See I told you Mike is a mountain of knowledge and worth much more money ;D Thankyou Mike ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 9, 2011 8:12:58 GMT 10
A big thank you to vankarhi and avinet for the great advice and all of your help.
Terry hasn't given Homer doxycycline, he gave him Zithromax. I know $70 a pop doesn't seem that bad but when you're not working anything is hard on the budget....who am I kidding what budget? Since you need money in the first place to make this possible. It's very hard on my family at the moment because my mum has a brain tumour and is going for her second operation and she just lives off her pension. None of my brothers can really understand but we both love this little bird and it kills me that we can't really afford to continue the vet visits. I don't have a car so everytime we take Homer we are either hiring a car or begging my brother to take us. It was fine just recently but he's going back to work soon and won't be able to give us a lift to Sunnybank.
I'm sorry I'm not meaning to vent all my troubles. Thanks again for all the advice.
|
|
|
|
Post by avinet on Jan 9, 2011 12:01:54 GMT 10
A big thank you to vankarhi and avinet for the great advice and all of your help. Terry hasn't given Homer doxycycline, he gave him Zithromax. I Zithromax is a newer drug that some vets are using as a replacement for doxycycline, which has got harder to source in a bird compatible form. A possibility is to get some Psittavet powder from Terry - that goes into the drinking water daily for 7 weeks. It isn't that expensive and he should be able to give you enough for 7 weeks. Vets are not keen on in-water medication since the bird getting the right dose depends on the bird drinking the right amount of water, and budgies often don't drink much. With a budgie I would supplement what it might drink with a few drops of the medicated water direct to the beak everyday. I would give Terry a phone and see if he would agree to that course of action, and if so, you may be able to go pick it up without taking Homer to see him. That way you could bus it to pick it up, rather than having to beg a lift. cheers, Mike |
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 9, 2011 13:25:37 GMT 10
Thank you so much Mike you are definitely a fountain of knowledge on a topic I am clueless on. I will ring Terry and ask him tomorrow. It's getting harder to get bubby to eat, do you have any tips on feeding a sick budgie? I'm trying to get him to eat his favourites but he doesn't seem interested at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 10, 2011 18:48:17 GMT 10
I'm taking Homer back to Terry tomorrow but I'm wondering if he will even make it. All today I couldn't get him to eat and now he's sitting on the bottom of the cage. I'm wondering if he will even make it tomorrow. I know it sounds stupid but I'm beside myself with worry. Do budgies go to the bottom of the cage when they know their dying?
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jan 11, 2011 6:41:39 GMT 10
Well tomorrow is here and how is Homer??
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 11, 2011 7:48:27 GMT 10
Good morning, I peeped on Homer and he is still alive....which is always a good thing. I'm taking him back to Terry today so hopefully there will be some positive news or even a slither of hope would be wonderful at this moment. He's not eating anymore and I know birds don't survive very long without eating, he's just become too sick to be interested in eating even turning his face away to his favourites. He use to be such a pig too.
My brother just rang me to tell me he won't be taking me to Sunnybank because of the rain. I think I'm back at square one.
|
|
|
|
Post by avinet on Jan 11, 2011 8:45:18 GMT 10
I'm sorry to hear that, I just wish I was closer so I could help in person and take you to the vet myself. We might be all over the place and only talk via the forum but we all start to identify and worry about each other's birds, and understand how it feels when you have a sick bird. It is something that non-bird people just can't appreciate.
I am afraid it doesn't sound good for Homer, all I can suggest is giving him a few drops of Polyaid every hour, that will at least give him fluids, electrolytes and glucose for some energy. Sick birds are often badly dehydrated so fluid intake is essential. If he can regain some strength then he might start eating again.
cheers,
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 11, 2011 9:46:21 GMT 10
Hi Mike, If I can get a lift I will still try and take him. I feel so sad at the moment I'm crying every few minutes. It's not fun watching something die let alone your baby.
|
|
|
|
Post by flossy on Jan 12, 2011 8:41:45 GMT 10
Hi Rowen - did you get to the vet? How is your little Homer? Keep us updated. Good luck...  |
|
|
|
Post by rowen13 on Jan 12, 2011 11:38:15 GMT 10
Hi flossy, no I havent been able to get to the vet since the rain and flooding and road blocks. I've asked around like a idiot because I am so worried but I think most of my friends and relatives think I'm crazy to be worried about a bird when people are more worried about themselves with the continued rain and flooding hitting Brisbane.
Homer is extremely tired and fluffed up. Believe it or not I've even run out of Poly-aid so I don't think my luck couldn't get any worse. I keep him warm and try to get him to eat even though it's only one or two bites. I don't know what more I can do myself without a car and no way of getting to the vet. I guess just make Homer comfortable while he's still with me.
Thank you guys for everybody's concern.
|
|
|
|
Post by flossy on Jan 12, 2011 12:06:52 GMT 10
Sorry to hear that Rowen.....I understand how you feel in regards to loving your little mate so much. I am wondering if there is something else you could give him in the water to "perk" him up a bit. Perhaps a touch of sugar? something sweet? I don't know - just thinking out aloud....Some pureed vegies even?
I am sure someone will comment on here. I am only new to this forum too, so don't know a lot of the ppl just yet.
The flooding is very bad, and so very very sad for the ppl who have lost everything and their loved ones.....
Goodluck with everything, we are all thinking of Homer too......
|
|
