Casper is poorly

[SpringCottageParrot]

Friday night Margaret realised that Casper's breathing sounded a bit rough and it was still bad in the morning so we took him to the Avian specialist. Once she had got her stethoscope back from him she was able to ascertain that he had some congestion in his upper airways and it was agreed that he would be kept in for treatment over the weekend.
We have only had him three months but the house now seems empty with him away and we are worried in case he thinks we have abandoned him. Do vets have visiting hours so we can take him some bananas?

 

[ConureCrazy]

Oh, poor Jasper, and you! I'm wishing him a full recovery! xoxo

 

[sonja]

Aw, I hope Casper is feeling better soon, and comes home to eat all the 'nanas he wants!

 

[melissasparrots]

I hope he gets better soon. I think most vets would be fine with you visiting during normal business hours.

 

[wenz2712]

Sorry to hear Jasper is not well I hope he gets well soon!

 

[kc_y0]

Wishing Casper a very speedy recovery! <3 xox

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Thanks for all your kind words, here is a news update...
Casper is a bit more chatty today, he is on antibiotics and anti-congestant and is being regularly nubulised. He has been off his food so is being syringe fed.
Not sure how much of his quietness and lack of appetite is down to the trauma of what is going on but we are going to visit him this afternoon and he is scheduled to be allowed home on Wednesday. (hooray).
We will know more about what the problem is when we talk to the vet this afternoon rather than the receptionist who did not know anything and had to keep going and asking.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here's hoping for a speedy and complete recovery for Casper!

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Casper was pleased to see us when we visited this afternoon but he was reluctant to step up onto Margaret's hand. She reckons he was sulking. Anyway she lifted him out of the cage for a cuddle and he spent about twenty minutes contentedly sitting on her shoulder being tickled, preening his feathers and her hair.
His breathing is still very wheazy, even I could hear it. The vet is not sure if it an infection or a reaction to something he has inhaled or chewed and is waiting to see if the antibiotics have any effect before putting him through the stress of having xrays etc.
There are several things we can think of that might have affected him, he was getting a bit breathless when he was playing in the wicker shopping basket so we took it away but that was nearly a fortnight ago, Margaret had him on her shoulder whilst wearing a newish leather jacket, and she was cleaning his cage spraying with "clean & safe" whilst he was still in there. Or maybe he was in a draught from the window. Being new to parrot ownership we are uncertain how delicate or tough they are. It is very frustrating that after years of neglect he has come to us for a better life and this has happened. Fingers crossed if he makes some improvement he will be coming home on Wednesday if they don't keep him in for more tests.

 

[henpecked]

Have you had the air in your house tested for molds? Got new carpet?? Change air filters? Fresh paint? Smoker? No offense just checking

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Thanks for the questions, these are things that have not occurred to me.
How do we go about testing for molds? It is a very old house with rising damp. so there could be some rot in the skirting boards.
No redecorations for over a year (I am a bit embarrassed about the state of the walls in the lounge but at least I now have an excuse for not painting).
We are non-smokers and the log burner (sorry, zero carbon biomass converter as it is now called to anyone who complains about the smoke) has not been lit since way before we got Casper.
We did get a new industrial doormat to go under the cage to protect the carpet. It is 100% polypropylene. Would that be a problem?

 

[BeakerBird]

Thanks for the questions, these are things that have not occurred to me.
How do we go about testing for molds? It is a very old house with rising damp. so there could be some rot in the skirting boards.
No redecorations for over a year (I am a bit embarrassed about the state of the walls in the lounge but at least I now have an excuse for not painting).
We are non-smokers and the log burner (sorry, zero carbon biomass converter as it is now called to anyone who complains about the smoke) has not been lit since way before we got Casper.
We did get a new industrial doormat to go under the cage to protect the carpet. It is 100% polypropylene. Would that be a problem?

Polypropylene under the cage will not cause any issues.

 

[henpecked]

I'm not too sure about how things work in the UK, maybe someone could help? Here in the states you would probably have to pay someone to test it. Of course they would find molds and charge you a arm and a leg to "fix" it for you. I'd ask the health dept. and see what they recommend. The door mat ??? i'm not sure about that, polyvinylchoride, and the treatments on it are an issue. really need "Debsflock" input.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

I will ask the vet about the mold/spores scenario. Should give them something to chew on.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

The vet has just rung us and told us they are going to anaesthetise Casper this afternoon so they can do his bloods and an xray as he is not responding to treatment. They say that he sits quietly and sleeps a lot. Well he did that at home too, not sure if it was just because he spent so much time on his own in a tiny cage with no interaction or whether he has been poorly for a while. Anyway the tests should reveal all and I was thinking of asking them to do his bloods anyway just to be sure.
I suppose this means he will be in for a few more days.

 

[henpecked]

Keeping our finger crossed and Casper in our thoughts. Hope they can find out what the issues are and fix them quickly. Please keep us informed.

 

[kc_y0]

Thinking of you and Casper, fingers crossed all is okay.

 

[Gingerchezy]

Aww poor Casper, hope he will be ok and the vets manage to find out what is wrong with him!

 

[BeakerBird]

Hope Casper is ok!

 

[wenz2712]

You and Casper are in my thoughts!