How to force feed?

[Vilatus]

Hi everybody,

So my budgie is not eating. He's acting entirely normal otherwise, crazy as ever, no sick bird symptoms other than not eating.

He's eaten a couple balls off of a stick of millet, but that's been it in a day. I called my avian veterinarian and asked if I could feed Emeraid IC Omnivore formula, (which luckily I have a bag of) and they said yes. Issue is, he keeps spitting most of it out. I'm really concerned that I'm going to have to take him to emergency, as I can't see my vet until Tuesday.

Any advice on coercing him, or force feeding?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

A bird that is not eating is a sick bird. Regardless of other normal behavior. Birds mask being sick. They evolved this way as prey animals to avoid attracting predators, also they flock will turn on sick birds that are acting abnormal and drive them from the flock or killed them. If he is spitting up I would stop the force feeding. If he will nible on milliet I would let him have all he wants until you can get him to a certified avian vet. I hope he gets well, it's so stressful to have a sick baby. How are his droppings? How long have you had the bird and how old is it? Do you know if it is a boy or girl? Girls can have egg binding, in which they can't pass a normal egg and that is an emergency!
Edit: I looked at Stanley pictures and think could be a female....I admit I'm not the best judge, but a brown and crusty cere is usually female..

 

[Vilatus]

A bird that is not eating is a sick bird. Regardless of other normal behavior. Birds mask being sick. They evolved this way as prey animals to avoid attracting predators, also they flock will turn on sick birds that are acting abnormal and drive them from the flock or killed them. If he is spitting up I would stop the force feeding. If he will nible on milliet I would let him have all he wants until you can get him to a certified avian vet. I hope he gets well, it's so stressful to have a sick baby. How are his droppings? How long have you had the bird and how old is it? Do you know if it is a boy or girl? Girls can have egg binding, in which they can't pass a normal egg and that is an emergency!

I know, but usually there's some other symptom... at least in my experience.

He's eating so little that I'm worried the millet won't sustain him until Tuesday though. If I have to he'll go to emergency, but I'd rather see my usual vet. Thank you, I've been on the verge of tears all day because I'm so worried.

His droppings are pretty green, and obviously all urine with no actual poo. I've had him about two and a half years, and he's about that age give or take a few months. He is actually a girl, I mistook him for a boy originally! How do I tell if he's egg bound? He's laid two eggs, both last year, and they were somewhat misshapen so it did worry me a bit.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

Awww.. so sorry. That increases my worry too. There isn't a way for me to tell if she is egg bound. Sometimes you can tell if the cloaca is dialated or looks swollen or discharge,But This Is Not always the case ... I would call you avain vet now it's still early and they should work you in. In the future for her a cuttle bone, those perches they can chew on with the calcium and stuff they look chalky, get her eating veggies like broccoli, bok choy, spinch they have calcium in them, you can offer a bit of boiled egg with cruched up shell. But that's all in the future . You need to get her seen and well.....so so sorry

 

[Laurasea]

Ziel, you just described other symptoms, with the abnormal droppings. She is definitely sick, please see if the vet will see her right away today, leave work, leave school abd get her to the vet.. that's the only advice any one who loves birds can give.

 

[Laurasea]

Egg binding is when they can't pass a malformed egg, and it kills a bird without treatment, it is a true emergency! I don't know if that is what she has, but it is the first thing that comes to mind. But regardless she is very sick with nit eating and runny green stool

 

[itzjbean]

Any changes in food in the last week? How is 'his' water consumption? Does he get any calcium supplements, a cuttlebone, leafy greens or drops in his water?

Birds don't stop eating for no reason. A sudden loss in all appetite is a sign of sickness and needs to be treated as an emergency in my opinion. Don't wait! I would get her to the vet soon so they can determine why she stopped eating and can also determine if she's egg bound at all.

 

[Vilatus]

Awww.. so sorry. That increases my worry too. There isn't a way for me to tell if she is egg bound. Sometimes you can tell if the cloaca is dialated or looks swollen or discharge,But This Is Not always the case ... I would call you avain vet now it's still early and they should work you in. In the future for her a cuttle bone, those perches they can chew on with the calcium and stuff they look chalky, get her eating veggies like broccoli, bok choy, spinch they have calcium in them, you can offer a bit of boiled egg with cruched up shell. But that's all in the future . You need to get her seen and well.....so so sorry

The cloaca is fine as far as I can tell. Unfortunately I did call and the only appointment I could get would be too early. I'm in a bad position because I can drive but my parents don't want me driving that far on my own. I do provide cuttlebone, as well as one of those perches, but veggies/fruits/you name it are out. He won't even touch them. I'll ask my vet about that as well.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Vilatus]

Any changes in food in the last week? How is 'his' water consumption? Does he get any calcium supplements, a cuttlebone, leafy greens or drops in his water?

Birds don't stop eating for no reason. A sudden loss in all appetite is a sign of sickness and needs to be treated as an emergency in my opinion. Don't wait! I would get her to the vet soon so they can determine why she stopped eating and can also determine if she's egg bound at all.

No, it's only been the past couple days. Wednesday night I noticed, then yesterday and today. His water consumption is ok, maybe a little less than normal but I'm not sure as he doesn't really drink much anyway. He gets cuttlebone, and I used to provide him a vitamin supplement in his water but I was advised to stop doing that without asking my vet. He would starve before touching a vegetable, he's a seed junkie.

I know and I'm really concerned... I'm going to see about taking him to emergency tonight. I'm glad you think the same thing and it's not just me fussing. He's my bird and I'm the only one in the house who understands these symptoms and their severity, so my parents think I'm overreacting. Unfortunately they don't want me to drive there myself so I'm also at their mercy.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[GaleriaGila]

Maybe ask your parents to read this thread? Maybe make sure they know how very anxious and sad you are? Maybe find the closest avian vet?
Some links...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.

My heart is just breaking for you and your bird.

 

[GaleriaGila]

P.S. Seed junkie? I hope you can change that. Even a young bird can be sickened by a really poor diet...
Here's what I did, 30 years ago, with the Rb.
Harrison's Bird Foods

I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

 

[Vilatus]

Maybe ask your parents to read this thread? Maybe make sure they know how very anxious and sad you are? Maybe find the closest avian vet?
Some links...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.

My heart is just breaking for you and your bird.

Good news, I'm on my way to emergency right now. I called an emergency vet near me that is trained to handle emergency care for birds, and they're in contact with my avian vet as well. The receptionist reaffirmed that Stanley definitely needs to be seen, and now.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

Im so glad to hear this!!! Sorry I was away with compy. Please keep us updated. My thoughts are with you and your family Stanley girl!!!! You are wonderful to take this seriously.

 

[Vilatus]

Update!

So, the vet started with a gram stain and was also advising bloodwork if that wasn't conclusive. His gram stain came back with crazy amounts of yeast, and she's pretty sure we've found our culprit. She thinks I probably purchased a bad batch of food.

He's getting two medications and a tube feeding and then we're off back home! She's pretty sure this is it, but said to bring him back if need be.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

I'm so glad you sought treatment! I hope this works and your baby gets better soon! I hope you can follow up with your regular vet. I'm so glad it wasn't an egg. I'm not a vet, but sometimes the yeast overgrowth is a symptom of other problems. Or it is just as the vet said and you found your problem and that's treatable. Thank you for updating us! So very happy you got treatment. You a great parront!!!

 

[Vilatus]

I'm so glad you sought treatment! I hope this works and your baby gets better soon! I hope you can follow up with your regular vet. I'm so glad it wasn't an egg. I'm not a vet, but sometimes the yeast overgrowth is a symptom of other problems. Or it is just as the vet said and you found your problem and that's treatable. Thank you for updating us! So very happy you got treatment. You a great parront!!!

Thank you so much! I'm glad too, I thought this was going to be much worse than it seems to be. It could be, but actually the timeline matches- I bought a large batch of food a couple weeks ago, and I would assume it would take some time for that to build in his system. I also bought new millet, which could be it as well. Everything is getting thrown out either way, lmao

Edit: Also the vet said maybe he's throwing water in his food and its growing yeast.

Again, thank you! That means a lot, I've lost a couple birds this year unfortunately.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

I hope you will stay active in the forum. A d read up on the tiel abd budgies pages. You can get a gram scale and start weighing abd charting the birds weights. This us a good practice for bird owners, abd sometimes picks up problems before you see anything else. My budgies really took to leafy greens without any effort, just had to put them in fir a few times and they nibble away. A healthy diet will improve the life and length if life for both your birds. It's obvious you take their health and we'll being seriously, so keep learning and improving their lives. I have have Parrots for 17 years and I'm still working on learning more, and doing better. Sorry for your other losses

 

[Vilatus]

I hope you will stay active in the forum. A d read up on the tiel abd budgies pages. You can get a gram scale and start weighing abd charting the birds weights. This us a good practice for bird owners, abd sometimes picks up problems before you see anything else. My budgies really took to leafy greens without any effort, just had to put them in fir a few times and they nibble away. A healthy diet will improve the life and length if life for both your birds. It's obvious you take their health and we'll being seriously, so keep learning and improving their lives. I have have Parrots for 17 years and I'm still working on learning more, and doing better. Sorry for your other losses

I actually do already own a gram scale! That was my major warning when I saw he lost weight and I realized he still hadn't eaten. If only mine was so easy... he looks at greens as if they'll bite him back. I try to! I always want to make sure he's taken care of. Again, thank you, it means a lot. [emoji173]

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Vilatus]

One more update!

This morning Stanley seems to be feeling better already, he has interest at poking at millet, and he's chirping more. He really perked up after the feeding they gave him, and even more after some medication it seems. He has to take it for a couple weeks, but it looks like it's going to do the trick!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

One more update!

This morning Stanley seems to be feeling better already, he has interest at poking at millet, and he's chirping more. He really perked up after the feeding they gave him, and even more after some medication it seems. He has to take it for a couple weeks, but it looks like it's going to do the trick!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I'm so glad to hear this! It's funny to hear you call her a him! Especially since she has laid eggs. Old habits? She's a pretty bird. It's nice to have good news!