Casper is poorly

[SpringCottageParrot]

Situation update.
Casper has recovered from the anaesthetic and some tests have already been completed. The main problem they have discovered is his liver which has affected his immune system which is why he has been a bit chesty.
First inspection of the xrays does not show any signs of pneumonia.
The liver whilst fatty and slightly enlarged is not as bad as they can get. Presumably caused by a lifetime of a mainly sunflower seed diet. As well as all the other drugs he is on they are now giving him something for that when he is syringe fed four times a day.
His bloods have gone to another lab for further tests - white cell count and stuff. Margaret tends to blind me with science because she takes blood out of people for a living.
So it looks like it is not something that we have done apart from putting him on a healthy diet which his poor little body is struggling to cope with.
Feel free to comment if I have not made anything clear or you can explain stuff better!

 

[Adinafloyd]

My heart and prayers are with you and casper right now. Please IM me if you need to talk. You could also ask your vet about aflatoxins, they are invisible to the naked eye and found on peanuts, corn etc...This is what I lost my nappy to. We didnt treat for that in time. Kisses and scritches for Casper

 

[kc_y0]

Glad to hear they have figured out whats wrong, hope it can be cured !

 

[JerseyWendy]

Poor Casper! I'm so glad you're giving him all the help he can get, and I wish for him to have a speedy recovery, so that you may spend many many happy years together.

Are they giving him Milk Thistle for his liver?

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Are they giving him Milk Thistle for his liver?

They are giving him something that sounds like samolin mixed in his syringe feed. It is to boost his immune system which has taken a hit.

Margaret says she took Milk Thistle once and had an allergic reaction :11:

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Casper is getting better

We have just been to visit him and he was much better and very lively, didn't stop chatting the whole visit. Apparently they haven't been able to shut him up all day, even in the nebuliser!

We hope to have him home in a day or two.

 

[BeakerBird]

Casper is getting better

We have just been to visit him and he was much better and very lively, didn't stop chatting the whole visit. Apparently they haven't been able to shut him up all day, even in the nebuliser!

We hope to have him home in a day or two.

That is such great news!

 

[JerseyWendy]

FANTASTIC news!!!!!! Thanks for the update.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Apparently the vet had an idea he was feeling better today when, as he approached the cage Casper asked "Can I help you?"
(We don't know where he got that from!)

 

[Thekatsmeow]

lol Can I help you? Very funny!! I am so glad to hear your zon is getting better and will be home to you soon.

 

[henpecked]

So glad casper is getting to come home. have you check on getting a nubulizer for the house. we have one and find it's the best way to administer many meds.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

I was wondering, there is a room humidifier at my mothers house, it lets out jets of vapour I think, I haven't really studied it - can it be adapted?

 

[Conuregirl]

hi, there from across the pond! i am very happy that casper has gotten better and is talking. one time one of my birds got gravely sick just like casper. i was so sad and felt terrible for days and would visit my bird at the vet's office. it was heartbreaking to leave without her but it was so awesome when we took her home!

 

[kc_y0]

I am so glad casper is getting better! Best news!

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Casper is very happy to be home this evening. No more hospital food he thinks. Well actually that's not completely correct because we have got a bag of Harrison's high energy pellets for him to scoff. He has also got a weeks supply of antibiotic tablets to take so any ideas on how to go about this will be received with interest.
Casper, Margaret and I would all like to thank you ever so much for all your support during this very trying time. It has been marvellous receiving all your get well messages from all around the world to keep our spirits up.

 

[JerseyWendy]

So happy to hear Casper is home.

Antibiotic pills? I'm sorry, I have no idea how to administer those. When my nape needed antibiotics one time, I was given prefilled syringes, which were a piece of cake to inject into her.

Here's to hoping Casper will recover speedy and fully.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Interesting, were they intravenous or oral? We are still in the dark ages back here in the UK.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Interesting, were they intravenous or oral? We are still in the dark ages back here in the UK.

They were subcutaneous (did I spell that right ). Given right by the chestbone. It was super easy, and Hunter never even flinched. The needles were SO thin, and like I said, they were prefilled with the right amounts of antibiotics.

 

[henpecked]

We've used the pills before and don't like using them, crush them up and mix with juice or put them on something wet like orange slice. They still taste bad ,bitter and the birds don't like them. We now both the oral and injectable and they are much better. We buy things like Batril in the bottle and inject,use oral or nubulize . Your vet can grind the pills and put them in a solution that can be favored, of course they charge extra for that.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Thanks, we tried a pill crushed up in some honey on toast. It wasn't too successful and we cant tell how much of the antibiotic he has had. The vet did say that they kept him in longer to make sure he had some.
How long should a course of antibiotics be and do they put extra in the tablets to allow for the amount that gets thrown around the cage?
Anyway, here he is looking very trim having lost 40 grams which brings him down to 410 grams. A good weight I think.

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