Can't fly

[wayne.p]

Hi all
Just wondered if anyone has seen this before. My 6 year old maximillian pionus (Minty) started dribbling and looking unwell last week. I took her to the vets straight away and she was given antibiotics. The course lasted for 3 days and seemed to do the trick, she is now eating, chirping and climbing around like normal. The problem comes when she trys to fly. As she launches she folds her head back and flips over backwards, crashing to the floor where she continues rolling head over heels backwards until I catch her. The vet has no idea what is wrong. Any ideas / advice / help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Spiritbird]

Was this an avian vet?

 

[cdog]

I agree, she can only be taken to a board certified avian vet.
It sounds like she is having seizures, in which case you need to take her to a board certified avian vet asap, not just a random vet that sees birds, it has to be board certified or else it means nothing.

 

[wayne.p]

Thanks for answering

No it was not an avian vet, they seem to be a bit thin on the ground here in the uk. The vet said to see if things improve over the next week, if not he can put me in touch with a zoo vet he knows. Might have to do that and hope they know what they are doing.

 

[lene1949]

Just make sure the zoo-vet has avian experience...

 

[Remy]

I hope she feels all the way better soon!

I wonder if it could be an ear infection, which could affect balance. If it was though, the antibiotics should have helped. Maybe the course wasn't long enough?

I'd talk to the zoo vet, and any other vets you can get ahold of. You could try talking to them over the phone first, to see if they have any ideas.

 

[wayne.p]

Thanks Remy

The vet did give her a good look over,checked weight etc but ruled out ear infection because he said she is holding her head up like normal and animals tend to place their heads side ways when they have ear trouble. He did not want to run the antibiotics too long because they weren't the best for birds, more for cats and dogs as you would expect from a normal vet.

Apart from the flying she is back to her normal self. The only good thing about it is the woodwork / wallpaper in the room is not being destroyed cos she can't reach it !

 

[paulhanlon]

Poor little thing but the way you have described this it sounds as tho the bird is having fits when in flight I would take her to a board certified avian vet not just any vet can tell you what is wrong with her but if she's fitting it maybe epilepsy I hope you get her sorted and keep us posted

 

[Alisana]

Thanks Remy

The vet did give her a good look over,checked weight etc but ruled out ear infection because he said she is holding her head up like normal and animals tend to place their heads side ways when they have ear trouble. He did not want to run the antibiotics too long because they weren't the best for birds, more for cats and dogs as you would expect from a normal vet.

While I can understand the vet's reasoning for not continuing antibiotics - I don't like their reasoning. Birds are the MASTERS of hiding their illness, and by the time you see any symptoms of illness (in this case, the holding of the head sideways), it will be too late. Not meaning to criticize the vet, but if they were an avian vet with experience in avian medicine, they would know this.

I don't believe in waiting. The symptoms of her disrupted flight are showing now, and you need to get her to an Avian vet. If you can't take her to one, call one. In Australia, some Avian vets will do Skype calls with clients/other vets to give a diagnosis, but the best method is always a physical examination by an avian vet.

 

[Alisana]

Hi all
Just wondered if anyone has seen this before. My 6 year old maximillian pionus (Minty) started dribbling and looking unwell last week. I took her to the vets straight away and she was given antibiotics. The course lasted for 3 days and seemed to do the trick, she is now eating, chirping and climbing around like normal. The problem comes when she trys to fly. As she launches she folds her head back and flips over backwards, crashing to the floor where she continues rolling head over heels backwards until I catch her. The vet has no idea what is wrong. Any ideas / advice / help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

As a side note: if these flight fits started after the antibiotics where administered, it could be the symptoms of a medication allergy, or an overdose of medication. (Birds need very precise amounts of medication for it to be effective)

The other possibility, is that the dribbling was a lead in/warning flag into the symptoms she is having now. If it is epilepsy, there is medication for it. Consult with an Avian Vet however.

Some medication can be toxic to certain birds (one example that comes to mind is Haloperidol BP, which has reports of anorexia, depression and deaths in macaws; it is also not recommended for use in cockatoos, yet has seen use in small to medium birds)

Be careful with allowing her to fly. It may sound cruel, but if she hits the ground hard enough and crushes her breast bone, that may be fatal. Your other concern is broken or fractured bones due to disrupted flight.

 

[paulhanlon]

Hi all
Just wondered if anyone has seen this before. My 6 year old maximillian pionus (Minty) started dribbling and looking unwell last week. I took her to the vets straight away and she was given antibiotics. The course lasted for 3 days and seemed to do the trick, she is now eating, chirping and climbing around like normal. The problem comes when she trys to fly. As she launches she folds her head back and flips over backwards, crashing to the floor where she continues rolling head over heels backwards until I catch her. The vet has no idea what is wrong. Any ideas / advice / help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

As a side note: if these flight fits started after the antibiotics where administered, it could be the symptoms of a medication allergy, or an overdose of medication. (Birds need very precise amounts of medication for it to be effective)

The other possibility, is that the dribbling was a lead in/warning flag into the symptoms she is having now. If it is epilepsy, there is medication for it. Consult with an Avian Vet however.

Some medication can be toxic to certain birds (one example that comes to mind is Haloperidol BP, which can ha reports of anorexia, depression and deaths in macaws; it is not recommended for use in cockatoos, yet has seen use in small to medium birds)

Be careful with allowing her to fly. It may sound cruel, but if she hits the ground hard enough and crushes her breast bone, that may be fatal. Your other concern is broken or fractured bones due to disrupted flight.

Well said alisana

 

[wayne.p]

Ok
Found an avian in norfolk about 60 miles away and have made an appointment for thursday 26th. Will let you know how we get on.

 

[wayne.p]

Well, Minty went to the vet and had x-rays and blood work done. It turns out she has a liver problem. This might have been brought on by bad diet, (I have only had her for 3 months and she is reluctant to eat veg or pellets, but we are working on it), or zinc poisoning. She now has antibiotics and some special vitamin solution to try and repair the liver. Calcium levels were also low, so I am adding some to her water. If things don't improve the vet is going to treat her for poisoning which is a course of 10 injections over a 5 day period.
Not the best news, but now at least we know what we need to do. Fingers crossed it's not too late.