Aspirating medicine

[Cinnanymph]

** NOTE : The emergency vet HAS been called; their advice is that there's not much they can do in this situation, just wait and see. I have decided to wait half an hour before calling again to see how she responds, and her vet WILL be notified in the morning **

I brought home the latest member of my flock after a gruelling trip and popping into my avian vet on the way home to see about her eye, as it had become infected whilst still being reared and was treated at home by the breeder (I know, I know, I wasn't too happy either, believe me). She was a little gem, and she has been prescribed an antibio and eyedrops.

When I got her home, I gave her the 0.05ml and her eyedrops. It seemed to me as though her breath had become 'clicky', she was sneezing quite a bit, and she has her beak very slightly open with her tongue being seen (tongue is INSIDE beak, not outside). I panicked, called the emergency vet line as I believed she had inhaled or aspirated some of the medicine.

Their advice is that there is little they can do in this situation. It's an antibiotic, so if she develops pneumonia then she's already medicated, and to let her rest and take a drink/have a snack and see how she gets on. At the moment, I have her in the bedroom - the avian vet recommended keeping her away from the flock until the end of her medicine so no introductions even from a distance yet! - with a lamp on and the room dim, half the cafe is covered for shelter so she can see what's going on but it's dark enough for snoozing. I've closed the door so she isn't disturbed, and I will look at her in a little while to make sure she is okay.

Pretty much, has anyone else dealt with this situation? I panic so easily because she is only little, she's 3 months old and I want the absolute best for her. I'm a hardcore believer of VET VET VET, but it doesn't quell the nerves at 9pm Friday night!!

 

[wrench13]

Maybe mix the meds with a SMALL amount of baby bird formula and see if she will take that.

 

[Cinnanymph]

Maybe mix the meds with a SMALL amount of baby bird formula and see if she will take that.

That's what the vet recommended! I've got some soft egg food from the breeder that she absolutely will eat.

I called the emergency vet back last night as I was still worried and she was making slurping/sucking noises. I sent them a video on request, and they were concerned about her being sleepy, but considering her VERY long journey it was likely she was super sleepy and stressed from her journey.

This morning, her avian vet called me and we spoke about her. This morning, she looks a LOT better. Her beak is closed, she is alert, she dozes sometimes, she has groomed, passed waste, did a stretch a few times, and I think she might have had a nibble at her millet and she might have taken a drink, but when I looked at her after hearing her claws on the dish, she stepped away so I didn't see it for certain.

She's resting in the bedroom in the quiet with a corner of the cage covered if she wishes. I'll be spending some time in there later folding laundry to keep an eye on her while not looking like I'm keeping an eye on her. The vet recommended giving the medicine very slowly, and putting it in bird formula or harrisons high potency. I have soft egg food from her breeder that she absolutely did eat when with him, so I'll try that later as well to make sure she eats something.

Panicked myself good, we're both exhausted, drained and stressed I think!

 

[wrench13]

Good, if she will take the egg food w/meds. This is why its always a good idea to give even adult parrots some baby food formula occasionally, so if they won't take liquid meds, there is still a way to get them inside the parrot.

 

[Cinnanymph]

So, an update because I know people come across threads like this when Googling about what to do with their own pet:

** IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOUR PET, CONTACT AN AVIAN VET AND AN EMERGENCY VET IF YOU CANNOT GET IN CONTACT WITH YOUR AVIAN VET **

Anyway, Youngest Birb is super-great! She took her medicine a day later no problem, so it was likely the fact she was exhausted after coming home that was the issue. She is eating, drinking, vocal, grooming, playing, and just overall a little dream. Her avian vet is being kept up to date with her progress, and I am so happy that she is coming out of her shell with playing with toys and causing chaos on my desk. Here's to a long and happy bonding and future together!