ASAP Parakeet concerns - Paw Talk

patnjackmom · #1 02-11-2003, 12:27 AM

Scott, my husband has friend who has a 7 year old parakeet, and doesn't have access to the internet, and I was asked to get as much information from the internet as possible for him.

First, his left leg is very weak all of sudden, and can't climb, and hold onto his bar, so, he can't get to his water dish. How much water is a bird supposed to have?

We don't have a aviary vet near by that we know of, is there a resource for finding vets that handle birds?

The bird his hicupping and coughing that is effecting his whole left side of his body, and shakes. We know that it isn't normal, is there something that can be done?

He went to a pet store, and was recommended that he give him this red antibiotic. Is that normal.

He does have a hard time getting up.

Just tons a questions I know, but can someone give us a hint where to start? Thank you. This is just one area I have absolute new clue about. Ask me about dogs, cats or guinea pigs, but not birds, but is is something we are considering getting into.

capnsweets · #2 02-11-2003, 03:06 AM

It is obvious this bird needs a vet-and that is the extent of help I can give. Have you tried your yellow pages? About the water, can you move the dish to where it has better access?

Good Luck! I am trying to find you help as I type!

Jodi · #3 02-11-2003, 10:23 AM

Hello! That bird needs to see an Avian Vet ASAP!!!

All birds need to have water available to them at all times. They have to be able to drink! They need to stay hydrated. Water is very important.

Obviously this little guy is showing signs that he is sick. They will need to take him to an Avian Vet. You can call your local vets office and ask them to refer you to an Avian Vet.

I hope they take him soon!!

#4 02-11-2003, 12:15 PM

for now take the perches out of his cage and put him on the bottom keep the food and water down there and maybe a heating pad underneath the cage. make sure he's not near any drafts, but quite frankly i think that he won't last much longer unless he sees a vet soon. try joining the yahoo group BudgieList there e-mail being budgielist@yahoogroups.com they have tons of member and is a very active lists if anything maybe they can help find a vet near you.

Crittercall · #5 02-11-2003, 01:07 PM

All excellent suggestions. Akasha comes from my school of making sure that the bird is warm and out of drafts. Put it in a quiet section of the house to make sure that no other pets, kids, well-meaning adults disturb it any more than possible.

The bird is very ill if it is showing signs of illness. They, like most small animals, live by the "survival of the fittest" theory and will fake it for as long as possible so that no signs of weakness show.

Put the bird's water in a shallow dish on the bottom of the cage. It may be more comfortable for him if the grate is removed and he is given newspaper to line the cage. Whether he is on seeds or pellets, they can be put directly on the newspaper so that he doesn't have to use his energy to climb to a bowl to feed. A millet stick is said to be "empty calories" but your friend might want to put one in with him to give him something to munch on.

What kind of diet is this bird on? That isn't a quick fix, but if it has eaten strictly seeds for the majority of its life then it can be seriously lacking in some much needed vitamins and minerals. There are supplements available that you can hand-feed the bird to boost his nutrition level and help him to get stronger.

Yes, it does need to see a vet. As suggested, any local vet should be able to direct you to someone who specializes in avian medicine. We've sometimes come to depend too much on the computer and have forgotten about the good old yellow pages!!

Do you know how old the bird is? If the owner has had it for 7 years, that doesn't mean that it was a young bird when he got it. Can he handle the bird? Does it feel as though it has lost weight?

This is frustrating to you, I know, if you care about animals, and it is heartbreaking for the owner. I've hand-raised several birds and know how hard it can be to watch them go down-hill.

I wish I could be of more help. Please let me know what happens with this little fella. I'll be worried about him today.

Good luck to you and your friend.

Crittercall · #6 02-11-2003, 01:22 PM

The weakness in his left side could mean that he has suffered some type of "stroke" activity - animals don't really have strokes or heart attacks as humans do, but that's the closest thing to saying what has happened.

If this is what has happened your friend, with the help of a knowledgeable vet, can possibly help with some "rehab" and help the bird learn to adapt to this disability.

These "red antibiotics" - all I can think of OTC might be tetracycline (and I can remember seeing that among the "fish medicine" that you find in a pet store). Make sure that if he is giving this medication in the drinking water that the water is changed, dish washed, and start all over at least daily. According to what I've read, this is a general antibiotic used as you are switching the bird over to a medicated pellet. Baytril is usually the antibiotic of choice for generalized problems in birds, but it is only available through a vet.

Okay, I'll stop reading now. Just warn your friend that avian vets are usually costly - you have to pay for that expertise - and unless the problem is something that the vet recognizes through an exam he will be looking at blood work, fecal gram stains, etc.

Again, GOOD LUCK!!

***Jade*** · #7 02-11-2003, 01:27 PM

I put an email into my vet asking her for an avian vet recommendation in your area and she sent me this website: http://www.abvp.com

Best of luck to your friend!

Crittercall · #8 02-11-2003, 01:42 PM

Thanks, Jade - I put that in my list of favorites "just in case".

***Dena*** · #9 02-11-2003, 02:22 PM

Thanks Jade, I got here a little late but I will also be putting that website in my favorites too!

Crittercall · #10 02-11-2003, 10:22 PM

Checking in before I go to bed to see if there is any news on this little guy.............

patnjackmom · #11 02-17-2003, 12:53 AM

Unfortunately, Snoopy died at the age of 8, we were told of old age. Earlier in the week.

We did finally find a vet!! Thank you all.

Bobby couldn't live with out a parakeet, and so, Snoopy III was adopted on Friday. Yet, another sort of crisis. I will post another question on him

Crittercall · #12 02-17-2003, 06:21 PM

I was going to PM you tonight if you hadn't posted an update. I feared this had been the outcome. And I know the sound of a birdless house - empty!!

Will try to help if he needs it - glad he found a vet. It's a good idea to know of one just in case.

#13 02-17-2003, 07:03 PM

sorry to hear your friend lost his bird. I had a friend growing up, she had all kinds of parakeets in the house. I think around 13. They were all allowed to fly around, it was neat.