Hi Christine. I don't know if you are a veterinarian or something, but I wish my veterinarian had been as clear and succinct as you are in relaying information. Thank you very much for your help.
Thank you everyone else, for all your help as well.
It's been five days since the Vet called and told me about Wingnuts test results, and this nightmare began. We have been working and re-working this situation over and over and over and over in our heads, ad nauseum. There are things that don't make sense, things that don't even seem possible and NO REAL ANSWERS.
In an effort to take every possible precaution, we removed our Cockatoo from the room, and separated Loki and Wingnut. Toys were thrown away, walls and cages were bleached and sanitized. Our hands faces and necks were washed between handling birds. Different sweatshirts kept in each room and only worn when handling that bird.
We have been in regular contact with both the vets office, and the place from where all of our birds came, all week long. The veterinary staff speaks to me in somber, grave tones, where I can almost see them shaking their heads in sympathy. The man who sold us our birds speaks to us with vehement reassurance, that Wingnut does NOT have PBFD, and that he will not test positive again. He asked us to please bring Wingnut to him, so he could see for himself, and after seeing and handling Wingnut, he is convinced that Wingnut is going to be fine.
Both the vets and the store owner agree on one thing; I can bleach my house, change my clothes and wash until I have peace of mind, but it is all in vain. If the virus is present, it is throughout our home, not centralized in one area. We are still taking the same precautions, but it occurred to me, how futile my efforts were, in the middle of sweeping the floor where Knuckles is.......with the same broom from Wingnuts room. I would literally need different sets of cleaning products, an autoclave and a truckload of bleach.... And it still wouldn't make a difference.
So, now were waiting. We have an appointment for all three birds on March 4. And then we will wait a week more for results.......and although we will be praying for a negative result, it will offer us little more than a sigh of relief, because we will have to get them re tested every 60-90 days, and can always end up with a positive result.
I'm sorry if I sound negative. I'm not. My family and I are just living with this, the best way we can for now. Instead of focusing on what we cannot change, we are concerned with the happiness of our birds, and their continued development. As opportunities for answers, and appropriate action arise, they will be eagerly siezed, but for now, there is nothing to do but care for our birds, love them and enjoy them as originally intended.
Thank you everyone for the caring and support. So many of you have offered information and encouragement, without which we could not have made it this far. I cannot convey how much having you all here means to us, not only for the advice given, but for the wonderful, happy stories, and photos you all share, which will keep our minds in the right place, and remind us why we have our birds in the first place. LOVE.
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