Kirby updates!

[ravvlet]

Kirby's exam/second opinion visit at his new vet was this past Saturday! She went over his x-rays and bloodwork and confirmed a lot of what we knew, added some new things and also let us know how he was doing body condition wise!

He has four confirmed growths, all the same ones found at his original appointment. However, she informed us that while two - one below his keel and a small one on the nape of his neck - are lipomas, it turns out the two around his vent are more likely xanthomas caused by skin irritation from his much-heavier bulk rubbing against perches and the like. She suggested we get some pure aloe from a health food store and apply it daily, as studies have shown that it can reduce their size or eliminate them completely.

She also noted that while he does have a lipoma on his chest/abdominal area, that his abdominal wall is intact and he is not likely to be at risk of developing a hernia.

We went over his diet and she was pleased with the changes we'd made and upgraded his body condition to a 5.5/10! 5 is the ideal, so he does have a little bit more to go, but he's down to 486 grams now. She also recorded his heart rate at 250 bpm - that seems kind of low given what I can find online, but I don't really know!

Otherwise, his behavior at home has been great. He's extremely chatty and friendly and has begun trying to fly to get to the places he wants to go- he has great aim and glide control, but unfortunately he still hasn't molted his clipped flight feathers so he can't fly properly yet.

 

[noodles123]

That sounds pretty promising, honestly. YOU ARE EXCELLENT for getting such a thorough work-up...it's important, so I hope that information serves you well
GOOD JOB!!!!

 

[Laurasea]

Thanks for sharing! Congratulations on your success!

 

[SailBoat]

Congratulations!!!

Regarding Heart Rate: I'm more comfortable with a slightly lower count than I am with a higher rate. The reality is, most Heart Rates occur with a Stressed Parrot, this tends to push what is considered normal to a higher rate.

I have had several Amazons that had Heart Conditions and I made it a point train them to allow their chest to be place against my ear. This little trick allows a near anytime check your Amazons Heart Rate. With time, you will come to know the difference of your Amazons Heart Rate at Rest and after a short flight, etc... Point is; This lets you come to define the status of your Amazon's Heart Rate and you can have an on-going discussion with your Avian Professional regard your Amazon's Heart Rate.

Enjoy!

 

[GaleriaGila]

You are just WONDERFUL for providing such great follow-up!
We're all cheering for you...

Especially my ol' man, Kirby (your bird's namesake)!

 

[ravvlet]

Kirby just went in for his follow up bloodwork and everything looks much better according to his new vet.

“Kirby's white blood cell count is within normal limits. The abnormal values previously have all improved. The liver(bile acids) went from 69 to 61, the total protein went from 6.4 to 4.4, the cholesterol went from 275 to 255. Plan: Continue feeding a variety of vegetables, pellets, and limiting seeds for weight loss as well as encouraging exercise, since this has already created some improvement in blood work. Ideal to try to rub a small amount of aloe on mass sites once daily. This may help reduce the size of the masses. Then annual blood work.”

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

What awesome news! You're doing such a great job with him :35:
And I'd bet the farm that he feels so much better too

I remember when I took Amy in for his annual wellness check and grooming. He was "slowing down" a bit to me..not as chatty or playful and active. I took it as "hey..he is thirty years old.."middle aged" as his doc put it and was just slowing down some. We all know how stressful grooming and being handled/restrained can be on these creatures . Well when Doc Kristin was finished and I put Amy back in his carrier,he was panting excessively and he collapsed on the carriers floor! Doc K immediately took him to another room and placed him in a plexi glass type of box,with heat and oxygen. It took a good twenty minutes for him to settle back down. The doc took x-rays and discovered a slight blockage in one of his heart arteries..plaque..like us humans get (a bad diet ) with us they would insert a stent but they don't make them small enough for a parrot.
Now,he takes a heart med every morning,that enlarges the artery (again,with us humans,we'd get a "blood thinner" but there isn't such a thing for a parrot.
Now,a year later,he is a different birdie..looks/acts fifteen years younger :35:
I could have killed him if I didn't take him to his CAV regularly Unfortunately there are people out there who would say.."it's just a BIRD!"
Nooo.."IT's" not just a bird.."IT's Amy..a him..and Amy is MY life.

THANK YOU so much for caring as you do for "KIRBY"..he is much better off because of you!


Jim

 

[ravvlet]

Thanks Jim! He definitely seems to be feeling better. He's very active and chatty with us, and has us on a strict schedule, lol. If we're running late he starts barking like a dog, which sets off our ACTUAL dogs, which sets off the neighbor's dogs... Needless to say, I'm certain that my neighbors all think we got a third dog. Fortunately for us, a little attention or a shoulder ride seems to settle him down if I'm late getting his breakfast or dinner.

Compared to before, where he just kind of muttered to himself and wouldn't let anyone touch him, it's a vast improvement. He even seems to SORT OF enjoy having Cricket around, although they spend most of their time side eyeing each other or trying to perch above one another - I never thought I'd have to clean bird poop off the birds themselves, but here we are. When they aren't trying to out alpha each other however, they do seem to like to sit peaceably and groom themselves with a bit of polite distance.

 

[Laurasea]

I'll bet his beak is looking better to? It's so wonderful when rescue/rehomes start to settle in and open up. Congratulations on the healthy diet, and health improvements!

I like to think Kirby original owner was whispering in your ear from heaven, saying go get my baby. Or if it was your own inner voice, I'm glad you listened. Kirby is thriving with you.

When I saw Pikachu being re-homed my heart melted. But I was sure finding a home would be no issue for the poster. But he kept posting that he hadn't found a home yet ......I talked to my family and friends because they know I want to focus on actually rescuing birds from bad situations. Not take healthy happy re-homes.. But they said to me take him and save him from ever falling into a neglectful home. So i did! Pickachu and I are crazy about eachother and he fit in my home like a glove. !

A rambling way to say more people should open their homes to a bird needing a new home, or a rescue from a situation. That these birds can become much loved happy members of our homes.

I can picture Kirby barking! Then getting your dogs barking, and the neighborhood dogs barking... O what parrot could resist that ?!? He sounds so full of personality ( oops did he have DNA test to confirm male?) He sounds like such a character. so very glad he is with you were he belongs

 

[ravvlet]

Speaking of feeling better, I left the room with him on his tree to take a shower but forgot a towel so I ran back out to grab one from the clean laundry basket and he was across the house, perched on something he couldn’t have gotten to without flying...


I think I’m in trouble now guys. :18:

 

[ravvlet]

Just coming by to post another Kirby update! He’s down to about 475g, which is great. The fatty mass on his chest is completely gone and the one by his vent is much smaller! He’s been very vocal and fairly active. We did end up moving his cage into our bedroom - he really hated his smaller sleeping cage and he spends most of the day out on their large tree playstand anyway.

Unfortunately, he had to go to the vet today as I noticed his nares looked dirty - and sure enough, they were clogged with dirt and one of them had a small infection. He’s getting antibiotic drops twice a day and the vet additionally recommended that we flush his nares with saline a couple times a week once his antibiotics are done. We also sent a swab for a culture to make sure it’s not anything more serious.

We already have an air filter next to his cage, and I am going to try to run the humidifier in our room at night when we are using the heater as I know dry air can be hard on their nasal passages. He also does get baths. He had a pretty serious vitamin A deficiency before, which I understand can cause them to be more prone to sinus issues. He eats pellets and a fresh veg diet heavy in vitamin A with lots of peppers, squash etc. I am going to wait to hear back on the results of the culture to see if the vet has any additional reccomendations on how to be sure that this isn’t a reoccurring issue.

Do any of you all have experience with this kind of thing? Does this just happen sometimes?