Back from the vet, it's not great news

[Kiwibird]

I think I may be a bit in a state of shock right now because I am not freaking out nearly as bad as I would have imagined hearing this kind of news from the vet. After doing a fecal and urine analysis, she suspected a UTI-type infection causing a burning/itching type sensation leading to the problem and prescribed Clavamox. She suggested possibly doing an X-ray on the follow up visit, but I asked if she could do it today and I'm extremely glad we did. Kiwi has some kind of severe kidney infection. The vet said the X-ray was very concerning. His kidney is so inflamed it has been pressing into and demineralizing his spine (I think that is what she was getting at, the bone mass near the inflamed kidney was obviously less dense than that above it). I also was able to see just how inflamed it was from the front view when she showed me the air sacs on the left side vs the right side where the inflamed kidney is. He has also been prescribed Metacam and a strict 30 day renal diet with a follow up at the conclusion of the diet to see if the swelling in the kidney has gone down.

She said it's very hard to catch these kinds of infections because they don't really cause much in the way of normal sick bird symptoms. Noticing him itching his butt I guess was pretty fortunate that I was observant enough to notice it was out of the norm. I still feel terrible. I can't imagine where he would have caught this infection or worse, how long he's been suffering. I've noticed the increase in butt preening for a few months but it was so gradual/subtle I thought I was nuts until last week. He could have had the infection before even my first alarm bell went off months ago. I can't imagine the discomfort of a UTI for months and months on end. Poor little guy Hopefully it's been caught in time and there's no permanent kidney damages done.

 

[psychocircus91]

Survival at its finest. Showing no outward signs of illness is great in the wild! Very stressful for us. Sorry you're going through this. Hoping for a quick recovery for the little guy.

 

[gracebowen]

Get well soon Kiwi

 

[Kiwibird]

Survival at its finest. Showing no outward signs of illness is great in the wild! Very stressful for us. Sorry you're going through this. Hoping for a quick recovery for the little guy.

I really thought he has some kind of ingrown feather causing him discomfort or maybe a little yeast overgrowth or something. Never would I have expected he had such a severely inflamed kidney from a long running infection. He has been eating and playing and pooping and sleeping like normal and his weight has been same as it always has been. Nothing but preening his butt more than normal and the result of the feathers in the immediate vicinity of his vent being kind of ragged from the over preening... it's literally the only thing I noticed wrong. I think even the vet was a bit surprised after doing the X-ray. My husband thought I was being a hypochondriac because it was so subtle.

I'm so glad we live in a metropolitan area with a very good CAV nearby now instead of in rural AZ where we used to live. I doubt the exotics vet there would have caught this. I trust the vet to get this brought under control and plan to follow the diet and treatment plan to the letter.

 

[SailBoat]

Big, Warm and Comforting Amazon Feather Hugs, Dear Friend!

 

[texsize]

hoping he has a quick and full recovery.


texsize/wes

 

[wrench13]

Kiwi has all of us here in Salty-land saying a prayer for a full recovery. It sounds like your doc is a good 'un and knows her stuff, but good on ya for getting that x-ray done now. Kiwi ,listen up, you take your medicine like a good boy!

 

[Sunnyclover]

Ohemmmgeeee! That's so lucky you cought it early! I too cought Finley's sinus infection at the very beginning stages from being very observant but I think this was even harder and more random to catch. Good job! I'm so happy about this. I hope he mends up quickly. Happy and healing thoughts going byour way.

 

[Doctress]

Poor birdy. Glad you are hyper vigilant!!

 

[Kiwibird]

Ohemmmgeeee! That's so lucky you cought it early! I too cought Finley's sinus infection at the very beginning stages from being very observant but I think this was even harder and more random to catch. Good job! I'm so happy about this. I hope he mends up quickly. Happy and healing thoughts going byour way.

Glad you caught your baby's infection too before it became a bigger problem!

It's so hard sometimes to differentiate between what's a bird being a bird and a bird being sick. Unless they're fluffed up on the bottom of the cage shivering, they can act so normal. I'm pretty shaken up with how serious something that seemed like it may just be me being paranoid or a minor ailment could turn out to be.

 

[Sunnyclover]

I totally understand. Finley's only symptom was his skin on his head was red sometimes...

 

[Kiwibird]

Kiwi ,listen up, you take your medicine like a good boy!

Vet gave the OK to soak it into something on the sweet side like a cookie or muffin etc... (as long as they didn't contain any of the forbidden ingredients of this renal diet he's suppose to be on) so he will probably be very happy about his "special treats". Going to use organic graham cracker biscuit things, as they were basically the only things I could find without corn, soy, beans, a lot of salt, citrus as a flavor or artificial dyes in them that seemed reasonably "healthy" for a bird to consume. Last time he needed antibiotics, we used fruit loops but the organic kind at the health food store had corn and the regular kind have artificial dyes. He will probably like that the vet said no leafy greens while on the diet. Probably won't be so happy about the no citrus, beans or eggs though...

 

[riddick07]

Hopefully he will be just fine! They definitely hide illness a little too well. I’d be going a little crazy if it was Kelly too.

 

[LeaKP]

I’m so sorry! Don’t berate yourself, most wouldn’t have caught it when you did. I’m so happy he’s being treated now. Hoping for better days!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chris-md]

You’ve got this april! Sending you and kiwi warm hugs and loves for a speedy recovery

 

[Scott]

You are a wonderful parront, April! I'm hoping for quick relief and a complete recovery for Kiwi.

So happy you have a skilled CAV with specialized equipment and meds. These little guys are masters of deception, so *do not* fault yourself for an initial period of observation.

 

[LordTriggs]

you caught it is the important part, a rough time sure but it will pass and Kiwi will do better in no time

 

[Carl_Power]

Wishing your Kiwi a speedy recovery. Metacam is good animal medicine, ive used it with dogs before and it worked wonders and worth the high expence. Im certain your lil guy is gonna heal up fast and couldnt be in better hands x

 

[GaleriaGila]

April, good for you, for catching this and acting so quickly.
You're one of our most treasured members. I think most of us feel like we know Kiwi, and you, too. We care.
Please keep us posted!

 

[Kiwibird]

Thank you everyone. It's just such a freaky thing to have happen and so scary that it could have kept going on indefinitely until much worse things started to happen. Given how worn out he was after getting home (we also hit some serious rush out traffic the whole way home), the fact I had to go to the store to find something to lace with the meds and the fact the infection isn't immediately life threatening, I opted to start his meds this morning instead of last night. I'll be testing out the treat with water first to see how big of a piece I need to soak with the full amount. I really hope I won't need to pin him down for this and can just use the treat method again.