Help!!!

[Wvbirdlover]

I'm beside myself.. My Quaker began acting sick the nite before last.. Prior to this, he's been acting fine, playing all over with his foot toys, etc.. He began Throwing up white watery stuff? And then again the next morning. I took him to the vet, in which she said he had lost a little weight.. She couldn't find anything wrong with him. I thought he was acting like he had something caught in his crop, but she said he checked out fine.. She said she would treat him for a bacterial infection. Gave him a shot of baytril, which seemed to help him perk up a 'little' he drank water & ate a little boiled egg and some kale when we got home.. He had a runny bowel movement before bed, but it actually had some green in it, as opposed to white/yellow water.. Last nite he ate some pellets right before bed, and upon moving him this morning from his nite time cage to his day cage, he threw up this dried ball of what seemed to be the pellets. I'm supposed to give him two doses today of this antibiotic called tribrissen.. Has anyone ever used it.. I'm getting into fear after reading the side effects.. I really don't know what could be wrong

 

[Piasa]

Keep him eating and drinking. VERY important.

I am not familiar with tribrissen. Did your vet do a gram stain or anything to determine if there are bad bacteria present?

Can your vet consult with other avian vets to try to figure out what is going on? Is she a certified avian vet or just work on birds?

Your baby may have eaten something he shouldn't have, or bacterial infection, or many other causes that aren't necessarily treated the same way. Do what you can to keep him comfortable and nourished while you search for the cause. I've gone through similar before with my conure, several times, and he's still here. Best to you and your boy.

 

[Wvbirdlover]

Thank You.. I'm worried.. He's never acted like this, and I do not think the vet did any kind of gram stain. I was convinced when I took him that it was his crop. I had given him a couple of bites of cheese [emoji53].. Is there foods that I should really try to concentrate on giving him? There isn't an avian vet, per say for a long distance.. I believe this vet just sees birds?? She's the only one around.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Even though many parronts feel it's ok to give the occasional piece of cheese, I personally do NOT give it to my fids since parrots lack the necessary enzymes to break down certain dairies.
Dairy Products and Birds

 

[Anansi]

Piasa has given some very good advice, and Wendy's point about the cheese, or any dairy products for that matter, is spot on.

I would just add that it disturbs me somewhat that your quaker wasn't given a gram stain. Did she at least take some blood or take a swab for a throat culture? What exactly did she do to try and determine what was wrong? I ask because if she hasn't done any of these things you need to find an avian vet as soon as possible.

I really hope your bird makes a full and swift recovery. I know you must be beside yourself with worry. Please keep us updated.

Oh, btw, why is it that you believe the issue with the crop? Was there a particular behavior? Or odor?

 

[Wvbirdlover]

The reason I thought it might be his crop was because he was acting like something was stuck, and then he threw up.. It was like he was trying to regurgitate ..she took him back without me because I was a walk in, and said she listened to his heart, lungs, and examined his crop, and said there wasn't anything there, and it felt fine.. If it is a bacterial thing, how in the world could that even happen?? I am Soooo careful..

 

[Anansi]

There are any number of ways it could happen. And a bird could be particularly vulnerable for any number of reasons. Stress, heavy molt, heavy onset of hormones and drafts are a few examples of factors that can render a bird more vulnerable than usual to sickness. But it's not necessarily an indication of any lapses on your part.

Your vet definitely should've done more. My suggestion is that, if your bird hasn't recovered at this point, you should get him to an avian vet ASAP.

Has his appetite diminished? Has he lost weight? Oh, did those instances of vomiting take place after baths? (Sometimes birds take in too much water while getting a shower and bring much of it back up.)

 

[Piasa]

Where about in WV are you? Maybe someone here can help you find an avian vet. You can also search aav.org (http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803). If you are anywhere close to the stateline, try looking in the neighboring state too.

I know there's lots of pockets where there aren't any avian vets, but it is worth the drive. You may able to be able to do some followup care via phone.

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm also concerned that the vet gave a shot of Baytril, then prescribed meds for a bacterial infection (she was guessing) without even doing swabs, tests, and getting results back first!

Good luck finding an avian vet from the link Piasa gave you. Your little one needs a second opinion, concrete diagnosis and treatment asap. Please keep us posted here!