how to give antibiotics.

[jaysen]

out of paranoia I had my greenwing macaw tested due to foul smelling droppings and a cage-mate with pdd (while at a rescue). he tested positive for e. coli in his feces. he is completely asymptomatic but the smell is overbearing. I am glad that he has no illness but I was advised to treat him with antibiotics.
I have never given a parrot antibiotics so I assume it is liquid and done via syringe. are there less stressful methods aside from forcing it on the parrot? he has been through enough trauma in his life and I would prefer not to risk his trust.

 

[SilverSage]

How did the vet prescribe it? If they prescribed it via syringe, that's how it needs to be administered.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jaysen]

I was looking for information before having the vet prescribe it. just checking to see if I have any options.

 

[SilverSage]

Ok so first of all, an e. Colin infection is quite serious, and you were not paranoid to take him in. Remember, birds are geniuses at hiding their illnesses.

If the vet diagnosed the infection, they should have prescribed the antibiotics. Did they not? Usually Baytril in liquid form is the first thing prescribed. Your vet should show you how to do it. Don't put it on food or in water, always dispense it through a syringe to be sure of the dosage.

I have a bird currently on medication, and there is no need for the experience to be traumatic. Be firm and confident, dispense the medication slowly enough for him to swallow it, and only after he is fully restrained with a good grip on his cheek bones. You may need to enlist a second pair of hands due to his size, but ultimately I find it easier to medicate larger birds just because they are bigger and easier to hold on to.

I've attached a video below of Kono getting her meds this evening for you.

https://vimeo.com/192421939


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SilverSage]

I was looking for information before having the vet prescribe it. just checking to see if I have any options.

Your best option is to administer it directly through a syringe. It's the only way to be sure of the dosage.

Baytril is usually considered the best option. My Kono is currently on Clavomox, which requires a larger dose.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jaysen]

the vet said that since he has likely had it for so long and is asymptomatic, he is likely just a carrier and doesn't have side effects (aside from the awful smell). I did research and found that in macaws it isn't uncommon for e. coli in the gi system when living with humans and treatment is only encouraged when showing symptoms of illness since side effects of medications can be more detrimental. I appreciate your advice and will likely get the medication since it would give me peace of mind and nose. I just worry about reaction to antibiotics. he has had a very tough life and is now so happy and spoiled. I work in medicine and know the dangers of an allergic reaction to medications, even though they aren't very common.

 

[SilverSage]

If your concern is potential allergic reaction, then I would suggest medicating now when the situation is not emergent rather than waiting to discover the allergy until he is in poorer health and his system is more fragile.

I have to ask though; is your vet an AVIAN vet? Because I've never heard of an avian vet suggesting not to medicate, though admittedly my birds are not macaws.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jaysen]

yes she is an avian vet in Nassau county, ny.

 

[Owlet]

For future reference I thought this was a nice video on syringe training your bird.
[ame="https://youtu.be/u-bvwf-F6Tw"]How to Teach a Parrot to Take Medication - YouTube[/ame]

 

[SilverSage]

Thanks owlet, she actually isn't trained for it, but she was hand fed and that seems to make a substantial difference.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SilverSage]

I'm not sure why it didn't show me that you had actually posted a video of syringe training [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Scott]

Is your macaw sufficiently hand-tame to take food from your hand? If so, there is another way to medicate should the syringe method be difficult. To reiterate, it is not mixed with the general food supply, as that would be too uncontrolled!

I have an Eclectus on a lifetime duration of two liquid meds administered 2x daily. To preserve the relationship and reduce stress, I am able to mix her dosage in a small amount of oatmeal and deliver via my fingers. The oatmeal is first cooked to a very thick consistency, and placed in a container sufficient for a few days. Each dose is infused into a small "ball" of oatmeal and hand-fed. This technique was sanctioned by my avian vet, and a tiny bit of additional med is mixed to account for loss.

Over time I noticed a very subtle feeling of diaphoresis (faint chill or sweating) when handling her Pimobendan (heart medicine) Not sure how much is absorbed via the skin over a 5 to 10 minute period of time, and this drug is *not* approved for humans in most jurisdictions. Therefore I make a small sleeve with a plastic baggie to cover my right thumb and index finger while feeding!

 

[SilverSage]

That's a great way to do it if the bird will eat the whole thing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Anansi]

The 3 methods in these posts are all great ways to administer medication to your birds, IMO. Some work better than others, depending on the individual situation.

...I have a bird currently on medication, and there is no need for the experience to be traumatic. Be firm and confident, dispense the medication slowly enough for him to swallow it, and only after he is fully restrained with a good grip on his cheek bones. You may need to enlist a second pair of hands due to his size, but ultimately I find it easier to medicate larger birds just because they are bigger and easier to hold on to.

I've attached a video below of Kono getting her meds this evening for you.

https://vimeo.com/192421939

Excellent video, Dani! Thank you (and Kono!) for providing a clear example of how best to towel a bird for forced medication. As you said, it need not be traumatic. This is how I had to do it for my cockatiel, Suzie, whenever he was feeling... less than cooperative with the process. This was especially necessary since his appetite was quite low at the time, which would've rendered the other two approaches ineffective.

For future reference I thought this was a nice video on syringe training your bird.
How to Teach a Parrot to Take Medication - YouTube

And thank you, Owlet, for providing this video. If one has the opportunity to syringe train their bird prior to the need for medication, I think this is the best way to go. I do have to nitpick about one thing, though. I'd prefer if he had used a different cup and syringe to minimize the possibility of the transmission of gram negative bacteria from his saliva. He drank from that cup, and he had that syringe within the boundaries of his mouth. The chances of his bird getting sick with the small amounts of saliva that may have been transferred are admittedly small... but not non-existent. Better safe than sorry, you know? But yes, the method is a very solid one.

Is your macaw sufficiently hand-tame to take food from your hand? If so, there is another way to medicate should the syringe method be difficult. To reiterate, it is not mixed with the general food supply, as that would be too uncontrolled!

I have an Eclectus on a lifetime duration of two liquid meds administered 2x daily. To preserve the relationship and reduce stress, I am able to mix her dosage in a small amount of oatmeal and deliver via my fingers. The oatmeal is first cooked to a very thick consistency, and placed in a container sufficient for a few days. Each dose is infused into a small "ball" of oatmeal and hand-fed. This technique was sanctioned by my avian vet, and a tiny bit of additional med is mixed to account for loss.

Over time I noticed a very subtle feeling of diaphoresis (faint chill or sweating) when handling her Pimobendan (heart medicine) Not sure how much is absorbed via the skin over a 5 to 10 minute period of time, and this drug is *not* approved for humans in most jurisdictions. Therefore I make a small sleeve with a plastic baggie to cover my right thumb and index finger while feeding!

And Scott's method is a great alternative to the toweling method if your bird's appetite has not been compromised. I used a similar method with Maya several months back, though I got around any skin exposure to the medication by feeding it to her using a teaspoon.

To avoid any loss of medication, I gave a drop at a time encapsulated within a small ball of peanut butter. She ate it all right up!