Macaw vomiting and lung infection

[Martin93]

Hi

about 3 weeks ago my macaw got a lung infection, he was treated with antibiotics and he improved. But the antibiotics were only given for 3 days which turned out to be to short.
So now his lung infection has returned (About a week ago). He's on antibiotics for 5 days now.

Unfortunatly there is a big problem when giving him his medicine, He keeps on vomiting. He's 13 and a half weeks old now, and i've read that during weaning period parrots may vomit a little. I also remember this happend to my eclectus. but spitting out half his crop does not seem like a little to me.
Also He's not eating on his own yet, he had a little interest in some foods before he got sick but now barely, he'll pick up a pellet sometimes but does not swallow.
the vet gave him some anti nausea medication but it does not seem to be very effective, maybe because he keeps vomiting?
I"m seeing the vet again in an hour and he's gonna look at his crop to see if something is wrong.

The vomiting usually starts right after feeding and then again within the next hour or two. He's also not bobbing his head anymore since he got sick again so i'm using a tube connected to my syringe to feed him now.
I used to feed him 120ml 3x daily, now i'm feeding him 80ml 3x daily.

When you look at him you wouldn't say he's a sick bird at all, he's running around screaming following me. Since a day or 2 he started rolling on his back to play with my fingers.
The only thing you notice is shortness of breath and you can hear him breathing.

So does anyone on this forum have a clue of what might be causing this vomiting and what i can do about it? Is it becouse of his lung infection? Weaning behaviour? Perhaps an idea how to properly give him his anti biotics without him spitting it out?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Wait for that vet check as so soon. If nothing appears to be wrong I would be thinking of asking a vet nurse to perhaps give him a crop feed as slightly worried about how much nutrition he has received lately. If this happens allow him to settle for a little while, don't just put him back in his carrier and come straight home. It may help.

Are you effectively crop feeding? If so are you doing it correctly or is this why he is being sick? It needs to be done right.

I was very resistant to leaving Plum at the AV's for his treatment until I had no choice. He had an 8 day stay, was crop fed with his meds so he got the right doses and some food with it. It has done him so much good. Wished I had opted for this years ago as may have help with the 6 monthly downturns and return to meds.

Not sure that 5 days of antibiotics is all that long really?

Your AV should be able to answer your questions? Hope your baby will soon be well.

 

[Martin93]

For as far as i know i'm feeding him correctly, i'm using a soft tube and gently slide it down his throat (No pushing) I'm making sure he swallows the tube. and then i just simply empty the syringe.
Reason why he is sick is not sure, could be multiple things. but he probably inhaled some formula becouse he kept breathing while feeding. So thats when i switched to the tube.
His medicines are also bein fed this way, or i mix them up with his food.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have you been properly shown by a vet nurse how to do this? It could be that he is being sick because the tube is in the wrong place and if so you are at risk of killing him. I dont know if you are doing it right or wrong BUT please ask a competent person for some guidance. Better safe than sorry.

 

[MosaicMadness]

I would also recommend that if you lower the amount of feed, you need to increase the number of times being fed. An extra heat source he can access or get away from as desired couldn't hurt. Is his crop emptying well in between feedings?

 

[Martin93]

I'm very sure i'm not putting the tube in the wrong place, if i would even one time empty a syringe of 50ml in the wrong place he would be dead already. and yes the vet has shown me how to do it with a crop needle.
So don't worry about that.

As a heat source i use a infared lamp to keep him warm and he can move away from it if he wants.

His crop is emptying before the next feed. but with a lot of vomiting!
I remember that one time when he was walking in the room he ate a woodchip that was laying on the floor, i tried to stop him but i was too late, that day his crop took about 18 hours to empty. I told it to the vet (diffrent vet) and he told me that it is no problem if things go back to normal, which it did.
But i cant get the thought out of my head that it might have something to do with it, maybe that woodchip is stuck somewhere in his digestive system and causing him to vomit. So maybe the vomiting is not in any way related to the lunginfection?
Perhaps the vomiting is the reason he got the lung infection by breathing in formula?
I dont know, i'm seeing the vet again tomorrow. he gave me nystatine to give him and see if it does anything, if het does not improve he will check his digestive system for obstructions tomorrow.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Is your B&G pooping OK, regular and normal?

Thanks for the reassurance btw.

 

[Martin93]

Is your B&G pooping OK, regular and normal?

Thanks for the reassurance btw.

for as far as i can see he is still pooping, but his droppings have changed since yesterday but its very likely that the antibiotics do that.
His droppings used to be brownish, and now its little more darker and somewhat green. also it looks like there are tiny particles in his droppings almost looks like sand, but i cant really feel it when i check his droppings its very tiny.

 

[Scott]

Is your macaw seeing a certified avian vet? Not just an "exotic" practitioner but one specifically educated to care for parrots?

I know antibiotic theory is rapidly changing for humans in favor of shorter courses, but seems 3 days is rather brief. May have permitted mutation to a deeper infection.

Not remotely familiar with tube feeding, so cannot offer advice beyond double-checking the technique. Not saying this is the case, but it is easy to learn something and develop a "bad habit" that becomes ingrained. No criticism intended, just an abundance of caution!

Good luck with the visit, please keep us advised!

 

[WakaWaka]

I'm no expert, but it does seem like 3 days on an antibiotic is a little short and could give the infection a chance to become more resistant if it it not cleared up.
Really hoping this clears up for your baby very soon. Lung infections are serious.
Also get a sample of his droppings to your vet for a complete check ASAP.

Please keep us updated.

Thanks
Kelly and Karl

 

[plumsmum2005]

Candida (Candidiasis)

Link FYI.

Here's hoping your little guy is doing better today?

 

[Martin93]

Unfortunatly he's still not doing great..
Vet gave him another shot of antibiotics and something against the vomiting, also he told me to continue using nystatine.
Tomorrow he's going to take some pictures and an echo to see if there might be a blockade in his digestive system, also taking some blood to test for virusses and a crop disease.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Sending prayers that the lil guy improves soon. Keep the updates coming please?

 

[Martin93]

He cant stop vomiting now....
his crop is empty but he just keeps gagging and just tiny bits of slime come out nothing more but he just cant stop.
Its so sad and i dont know how to help him

 

[Scott]

Just to verify, is he seeing a certified avian vet? If not, might want to get a second opinion. Such cases can be quite complex and require the most advanced of skills.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I hope your CAV has an emergency line? If not another that has.

I would want to be on the phone and then in the car. Not liking the latest, please act.

 

[MosaicMadness]

He definitely should be seen by an avian vet TODAY, most likely needs sub-Q fluids as well as finding out why he is vomiting. You could be right that there is an obstruction and that the vomiting from that was aspirated and turned to pneumonia so is a two-fold problem Birds go down hill extremely rapidly. Also, make sure that he gets put on some sort of probiotic with the antibiotics so that you don't end up with some type of yeast or other stomach problems... best of luck with your baby.

 

[Martin93]

The vet i'm seeing now is not certified, but he's the best vet around when it comes to birds. He occasionally has contact with diffrent CAV's and he's going to give one of them a call tomorrow and explain whats going on with my bird.

Bird is not vomiting heavily now, he can breathe and sleep now. in the last hour he vomited twice.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I am not having a go honestly! I am concerned for your lil guy and really hope he is better very soon.

You seem so very relaxed about the situation when I would not be. Is there some piece of info that is missing?

Are you not concerned that all this vomiting has put him in a weakened state, he needs food and he needs fluids. You are aware that parrots can go down hill very quickly?

 

[wrench13]

Salty and I are saying a prayer for your little B&G. Implore your vet to call a real CAV for help in diagnosis and treatment. Im sure your doing everything you can.