Contagious Neurological Issues??

[FineFeatheredFids]

Hello Everyone!

I have a friend who works at a local pet shop and she has offered me a turquoise GCC that they cannot sell due to neurological symptoms. The bird is eating, drinking, and active, but has trouble balancing and cannot perch or walk steadily on the wire cage bottoms. S/he has been to see an avian vet in my area and they ruled out heavy metal poisoning. The vet also says that there is nothing contagious it could be and that the birb was probably dropped during transport, but I have trust issues where my own fids are concerned.

Basically, I am wondering if there is anything contagious that anyone knows of that could cause neurological symptoms? I intend to quarantine the new bird anyway, but if there is anything I can test for before letting him/her into the house, I would like to do that.

Thank you!

 

[FineFeatheredFids]

Update: I called another avian vet in my area and he said not to let this birb into my house under any circumstances because s/he could be carrying the bird plague.

 

[Laurasea]

There are contagious viruses that. An cause neurological issues. Sometimes it is difficult to get accurate tests with many of the viruses out there.
I don't know what the burd plague is??

Myself I'd want a very clear reason for the issues, then I'd want a second and third opinion from different avian specialist veterinarian from different practices.

 

[Kitekeeper]

Welcome triple F

First I would like to show my admiration towards anyone who is prone to adopt a unwanted or animal with a a health issue. Thank you for considering this.

Your concern is quite wise too, as one should know in advance the risks of taking care of a sick animal.

Indeed there are some brain diseases that might be the result of an infection. It is the case of worms in the brain (a worm known as Chandlerella quiscali) AKA as grackle nematode or Avian Malaria to say a few.

I don´t know if they are contagious to humans, but I know that there is a type of worm that is found in racoons that is highly contagious to humans...so you are right to do a research first.

Maybe the best thing to do is to demand a definitive medical diagnosis before taking the bird with you.

 

[Emeral]

Neurologic problem has seizure as common symptom. Without this, unbalanced walk may result from transportation, or may be calcium deficit?

You might like this technical read about neurological disease, diagnostic and treatment.

Diagnosing and Treating Avian Neurologic Disease - LafeberVet

The cranial nerve exam differs little from that of mammals, however there are differences in innervation. As in mammals, menace and pupillary light response (PLR) require use of cranial nerves II (optic) and III (oculomotor), however menace is difficult to interpret in birds. Also, PLR may be...

lafeber.com

 

[Emeral]

I would want to observe for any other symptoms, such as.....

Seizure
Breathing
head tilted
Closed eyes
Weaknesses of the leg or legs
Disoriented
Diarear
Poops (parasite?)

The store may not find it economically justified to diagnose. But could you ask the care taker for more details?

The thing is, some illness such as calcium deficiency is very easy to treat, unlike digestion or neurological. It's like when human has a headache, and what shall we do about it? When headache is a common symptom to so many illness. Some need treatment, some don't.

I admire and respect your adoption idea and would like to help in any way I can.