noblemacaw
New member
- Sep 23, 2011
- 1,056
- 3
- Parrots
- Valentino - Red Fronted Macaw - Hatched August 12, 2012
I had to take time to digest the information I received from our visit today. Mihijo went in for his lupron shot and a recheck of his breathing (I called in Wednesday about his breathing. I did not like the way he sounded and it appeared labored to me).
The visit started by Dr. Blair listening to his breathing. She gave him his lupron shot but agreed with me that his breathing seemed labored. Requesting and x-ray she wanted to see if there was fluid around the heart and to check size of heart. She also wanted to see if there was fluid in the air sacks.
I agreed to have him x-rayed and this was preformed. Dr. Blair then pulled his 2002 and 2004 xray so that we could compare them. On the x-ray where the bird is on his back the liver and heart should make a hour glass figure on it. The 2002 shows this formation well where the 2004 x-ray showed it as a bit filled in but his x-ray today shows no hour glass figure at all but heart and liver meshing into a oblong looking shadow. Dr. Blair was very concerned that that liver is enlarged. Needing more information she asked for me to step back with her to the ultrasound room because she wanted to check the liver for "tumors". While she and the tech were doing the exam I kept Mihijo very calm so that he would not breath faster and stress out more. I will say he did much better with all the procedures done to him than he did last Friday with just the blood draw.
Since I was working with the parrot I was not watching the ultrasound screen. When the doctor asked me to look I saw that the liver although enlarged did not show any masses. Dr. Blair seemed happy with that.
After all of this we talked. She has some major concerns with the liver and heart...they take up some of the the room that the bronco lies (little tiny air sacks) need for Mihijo to breath better. The heart and liver are compressing on his air sacs making the breathing more difficult for him.
This is what she wrote on his discharge papers:
"Mihijo has an enlarged heart and liver shadow - compared to 2004, it is markedly enlarged. This is compressing his air sacs and making breathing more difficult for him.
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and other lipids) can lead to a number of abnormalities including liver disease, heart disease, and vascular disease. His current issues may very well be secondary to chronic high cholesterol levels, but there may be some compounding hormonal factors. He received lupron injection today - this will decrease the hormones in his body.
Continue all current therapies. We will follow up with a recheck profile (Blood draw $95) and radiographs ($97.50) in 8 weeks.
Please call if his condition changes. "
She warned me his condition is serious and that he could expire however she holds hope that the lupron shot will lower his hormones which will lower the cholesterol which hopefully the other abnormalities will fall back in line. (liver shrinking back to normal size??)
Please prey or hope or what ever it takes for Mihijo to recover enough to get him out of danger. I am very concerned that he will not make it to his 17th hatch date.
Needless to say I am upset but try to remain positive for my Mihijo.
Noblemacaw
The visit started by Dr. Blair listening to his breathing. She gave him his lupron shot but agreed with me that his breathing seemed labored. Requesting and x-ray she wanted to see if there was fluid around the heart and to check size of heart. She also wanted to see if there was fluid in the air sacks.
I agreed to have him x-rayed and this was preformed. Dr. Blair then pulled his 2002 and 2004 xray so that we could compare them. On the x-ray where the bird is on his back the liver and heart should make a hour glass figure on it. The 2002 shows this formation well where the 2004 x-ray showed it as a bit filled in but his x-ray today shows no hour glass figure at all but heart and liver meshing into a oblong looking shadow. Dr. Blair was very concerned that that liver is enlarged. Needing more information she asked for me to step back with her to the ultrasound room because she wanted to check the liver for "tumors". While she and the tech were doing the exam I kept Mihijo very calm so that he would not breath faster and stress out more. I will say he did much better with all the procedures done to him than he did last Friday with just the blood draw.
Since I was working with the parrot I was not watching the ultrasound screen. When the doctor asked me to look I saw that the liver although enlarged did not show any masses. Dr. Blair seemed happy with that.
After all of this we talked. She has some major concerns with the liver and heart...they take up some of the the room that the bronco lies (little tiny air sacks) need for Mihijo to breath better. The heart and liver are compressing on his air sacs making the breathing more difficult for him.
This is what she wrote on his discharge papers:
"Mihijo has an enlarged heart and liver shadow - compared to 2004, it is markedly enlarged. This is compressing his air sacs and making breathing more difficult for him.
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and other lipids) can lead to a number of abnormalities including liver disease, heart disease, and vascular disease. His current issues may very well be secondary to chronic high cholesterol levels, but there may be some compounding hormonal factors. He received lupron injection today - this will decrease the hormones in his body.
Continue all current therapies. We will follow up with a recheck profile (Blood draw $95) and radiographs ($97.50) in 8 weeks.
Please call if his condition changes. "
She warned me his condition is serious and that he could expire however she holds hope that the lupron shot will lower his hormones which will lower the cholesterol which hopefully the other abnormalities will fall back in line. (liver shrinking back to normal size??)
Please prey or hope or what ever it takes for Mihijo to recover enough to get him out of danger. I am very concerned that he will not make it to his 17th hatch date.
Needless to say I am upset but try to remain positive for my Mihijo.
Noblemacaw
