Antibiotics & Antifungals

[Karlys]

Guys, did I mess up?

I took Skye to the vet because she had some crusty thing going on in the corner of her mouth and I feared yeast infection. Dr did swab but then vet tech came back in to have me sign the paperwork to agree to pay for the test, antibiotics, and an antifungal. I questioned why I was agreeing to both medicines before the test had been run and she said we could do the test first. I liked that better because why put her on two medicines if she only needs one, you know?

It came back as bacterial, so they crossed off the antifungals and we went on our way. Now that I'm home, I'm thinking about how sometimes in humans, esp women, antibiotics can cause yeast infections because the "good" bacteria that usually keep the candida at bay get killed off. I also read someone commenting on another bird forum that their parrot got a yeast infection after antibiotics.

Should I not have questioned them on the antifungal? I did say that, if she needs both, I was willing to do both but that I just didn't want her to take anything unnecessary and they didn't insist on the antifungal after the test. So, I guess they didn't seem worried... But now I am!

Would you call back?

 

[TiredOldMan]

JMO but I would give her probiotics while she is taking the antibiotics and for several days after she is off them. I use Benebac-Plus but there are several good ones out there.

If I'm wrong someone chime in please.

 

[SailBoat]

I'm guessing you are either a new customer or a customer that does not visit often. Having approval to test and that you agree to pay for the needed medication is becoming more common as individuals refuse to pay, especially with smaller Parrots. So, approval prior to receiving service is become more common.

Having the client provide consent for both types of medication and then crossing off the medication not required just savings time in the process.

I cannot speak about advice provided on other forums, it is what it is. When, we are provided medication, I ask not only about it's administration, but also what to watch for based on the side effects of the medication(s).

Timelines are important and when such stories occur, the timelines are rarely included. There is a major difference between the same day, a couple of days, a week or a month, or more.

 

[Karlys]

We do have some Bene-Bac Plus (unopened, bought too much) from when our beardie got sick. I am glad you reminded me of its existence! I'll start giving that to her as well.

Oh, it's definitely standard practice at this clinic to have you sign. Ultimately, after reading your replies and thinking about it, I think it was a miscommunication between the vet tech and the Dr. If you care to know why I was confused, I've included it below but I tend to overshare and be not so succinct, so you can skip it if you want haha.
Seems I was letting my anxiety get the best of me but I am glad I have a place like this to talk it out with more experienced people.

It's just last time, with our bearded dragon (it's a clinic with both CAVs and reptile vets), they didn't discuss or have us sign for medicine until after the fecal test had been run. So, that threw me off to begin with. The vet tech explicitly stated that the Dr was suggesting both medicines at first. When I asked why, she first suggested that I could, if I wanted, just take the medicine, not do the test, and see if Skye improved. I then clarified that I meant that I wanted to know why both the antibiotics and antifungal. That was when she said we could hold off on signing for them until the test was run. The Dr came back in for a moment to say it was bacterial and that we'd put Skye on some antibiotics but didn't mention the antifungal at all. I am thinking that it was as SailBoat suggested-- a save time and paper thing-- and the vet tech was just mistaken at first.

 

[EllenD]

Unfortunately a lot of vets, especially "exotics" vets, just prescribe meds without running any tests, and you're correct that Antibiotics do kill-off the healthy, normal flora (bacteria) throughout the GI Tract that normally keep fungi at-bay. So a lot of animals develop fungal infections that are secondary to the Antibiotics.

Your vet did a culture and found a bacterial infection was causing the crust around his mouth, and prescribed the correct antibiotic...That's all good. And no, the proper thing would not be to put your bird on an Antifungal med to prevent a yeast infection from developing due to the antibiotics, as this is actually counterproductive. What you always want to do is any time your bird is put on an Antibiotic you also need to start him on a Probiotic, which will replace the healthy bacteria the antibiotic kills off. You can either use Bene Bac, or they actually sell an Avian Probiotic powder at any Petco for $10 that you sprinkle on the top of his food once daily. Even just a human acidophilus capsule will work. Be sure that if they gave your bird Baytril (Enrofloxacin) that you give him the probiotic 2 hours after you give him the Baytril. Give him the probiotic once daily every day he takes the antibiotic, and then for 2-3 days after he finishes the antibiotic. He'll be fine and he won't develop a fungal infection this way.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

My two kids just had a wellness check and grooming today. The clinic I have gone to for the last thirty years specializes in avian medicine with all of the best and most recent medical equipment.
Amy was discovered to be having a serious condition with his heart
I was informed EVERY step of the way on what was going to be done and an "estimate" in cost.
Both fids got blood work done. Both fids got groomed,Amy had the sleeves on his arms shortened (FYI...wings clipped ) BB kept his long sleeves..Both fids got their nails done. BB got medicine for an off again on again infection he gets..then Amys heart problem was discovered after he stressed out over his check-up/birdicure and collapsed and almost passed out from lack of oxygen. More tests for him including x-rays.

And all the time I was told WHAT they were going to do,WHAT to MAYBE expect..and cost..and what long term problems may arise.

All this cost me over $700 I wasn't expecting that and didn't have all the cash. I asked if I could pay some later but they said they don't generally allow that,but because I've been a client for over thirty years,they let me pay just half now. They made a very stressful day for my fids AND me a lot easier to handle.


Jim

 

[EllenD]

I just read the bottom of the OP's last post, regarding the Bearded Dragon. My bad for missing that before posting...

Your vet is an "Exotic's Vet", as I was speaking of. This is not ideal, and the fact that they just offered you a prescription medication to "see if it works" without doing any testing is the absolute worst medical practice that can ever be done. I hate that more than anything, as it can and will eventually kill your Dragon and your Bird. I can't tell you how many Dragon's die every single day because "Exotics Vets" either don't care to run a culture, or they just don't know how, and they prescribe freaking Baytril for EVERYTHING!!!! This isn't your fault at all, I'm venting about these damn exotics vets who treat every type of animal alive in order to make as much money as possible, but they know NOTHING about any of them, especially a Dragon...They know nothing about habitat, lighting, diet, etc. Nothing.

NEVER TAKE A MEDICATION FOR YOUR DRAGON OR YOUR BIRD WITHOUT FIRST GETTING A SPECIFIC AND CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT IS WRONG!!!! Yes, I'm actually shouting this at you! I'll shout this all day long, every single day until vets stop doing this! Many Dragons have died from secondary yeast infections throughout their GI Tracts due to being just being handed/given Baytril without knowing what was actually wrong, OR THEY DIE BECAUSE THE BAYTRIL/ANTIBIOTIC DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO TREAT WHAT IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THEM! Yes, I'm shouting again.

Baytril does not treat every bacteria in existence, contrary to the popular belief of every "Exotics Vet" in the United States.

I feel better now...a little, anyway....