Hi all.
Our Alexandrine is 26 years old and over the past 8 years or so has breathing difficulties that have previously responded to antibiotics in his water but they have repeated every 8 months or so on average.
The latest episode is not responding to antibiotics and has continued intermittently for around 3 weeks. He is sneezing a lot and his nairs seem blocked. We have started using a nebuliser administering Baytril .6ml in 15ml water. This seems to help but doesn't sustain. We have also tried Metacam with no clear benefit.
In the past the breathing problems has resulted in a loud clicking in his lower body when very bad. This time it has not developed in that way but rather there is occasionally a softer click that seems higher in his body, closer to his nears. If he rests it gets a bit better but as soon as he strains it occurs again. He is very clingy when its bad but otherwise normal. Eating well and otherwise behaving normally. He is in his hormonal period but these symptoms reduce as his beathing difficulty increases.
Environment:
My partner and I are aging and "OurBird" (yes his name) is a feathered son. He sits on my shoulder wherever we are a lot of the time including when away from our home.
We live in Nelson with 50k pop and no specialist avian vets although we have a university in the North Island that trains veterinarians including avian. I and our local vet has talked to a vet there who can only suggest an alternative antibiotic.
We use a heater to keep his cage above around 20c deg. Our house does not drop below about 15c deg. Humidity is higher up to around 60%. We heat with a wood fire that has some fumes at times. This winter is exceptionally wet.
He is in a slow molt and we supplement his diet with vitamins. He has a good diet with Harrison's pellets, fresh veges (hates greens). chicken and lamb with bones. Gets less than a teaspoon of ice cream with his evening meal.
We are getting quite desperate and suffering with him as he gets exhausted. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Our Alexandrine is 26 years old and over the past 8 years or so has breathing difficulties that have previously responded to antibiotics in his water but they have repeated every 8 months or so on average.
The latest episode is not responding to antibiotics and has continued intermittently for around 3 weeks. He is sneezing a lot and his nairs seem blocked. We have started using a nebuliser administering Baytril .6ml in 15ml water. This seems to help but doesn't sustain. We have also tried Metacam with no clear benefit.
In the past the breathing problems has resulted in a loud clicking in his lower body when very bad. This time it has not developed in that way but rather there is occasionally a softer click that seems higher in his body, closer to his nears. If he rests it gets a bit better but as soon as he strains it occurs again. He is very clingy when its bad but otherwise normal. Eating well and otherwise behaving normally. He is in his hormonal period but these symptoms reduce as his beathing difficulty increases.
Environment:
My partner and I are aging and "OurBird" (yes his name) is a feathered son. He sits on my shoulder wherever we are a lot of the time including when away from our home.
We live in Nelson with 50k pop and no specialist avian vets although we have a university in the North Island that trains veterinarians including avian. I and our local vet has talked to a vet there who can only suggest an alternative antibiotic.
We use a heater to keep his cage above around 20c deg. Our house does not drop below about 15c deg. Humidity is higher up to around 60%. We heat with a wood fire that has some fumes at times. This winter is exceptionally wet.
He is in a slow molt and we supplement his diet with vitamins. He has a good diet with Harrison's pellets, fresh veges (hates greens). chicken and lamb with bones. Gets less than a teaspoon of ice cream with his evening meal.
We are getting quite desperate and suffering with him as he gets exhausted. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
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