Perjo under going some tests

[DRB]

So Perjo has not had flight feathers for awhile, scheduled a vet vistit today to start getting to the bottom of this, as I believe she just finished up or is finishing up a molt. While there the Dr made another observation, Perjo has a very weak grip (when gripping his finger, confirmed with an assistant), DR said that all parrots have pretty good grips. He said a poor grip is a strong sign of calium deficiency which is a species specific concern. So I decided to leave her overnight and they will run a few tests tomorrow. He said this isn't anything to lose sleep over, but it is a stressful day of tests for the bird, which is why I left her instead of a car ride home and then another back to Dr tomorrow morning.

He said best to know now if she is low on calcium instead of not knowing. He reaffirmed that a calcium deficiency can have nothing to do with her diet, as this is a very typical condition for CAGs.

A bit nervous over all of it, and that tomorrow can lead to no resolution of her flight feather issues and her literally not being able to fly whatsoever.

 

[texsize]

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Hope everything turns out ok.
texsize

 

[Inger]

Got you and Perjo in my thoughts for a good outcome.


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[adz1984]

How long hasn't she had flights for?

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Ahh yes,calcium deficiency ....Smokey had that problem once also...she acted drunk ...was stumbling all over the place. Took her right in to her doc and he gave her a shot of calcium and within minutes she was fine.
He gave me a liquid suppliment to add to her water daily and I'd grind up egg shells in her food.
I hope that's all it is for Perjo




Jim

 

[LeaKP]

Ohhhh I'm so sorry! I'm hoping and praying for the best outcome possible.

 

[Scott]

Calcium deficiency is common with Greys, hope the vet makes an effective diagnosis. Any updates for Perjo?

 

[DRB]

She's home, she did great they said for such a long stressful day. She was happy to be home but was tired. Woke up this morning in a great mood, then like a light switch she was rather vicious, I did spray her with aloe vera so that hopefully was why she got mad. No test results yet, should be today.

X-ray showed a white spot in the gizzard, Dr said it will be there forever and it is most likely metallic, he said it is not unheard of as birds do swallow metal objects from time to time. He said he will not get me worried about it until she shows signs that relates to this object, nothing could ever come of it or she get get neurological issue. No way to know until something happens.

He basically told me to kind of root for a low calcium result b/c it could give answers to somethings and possibly be a cause of her feather chewing issues (although feather chewing is the most difficult thing to get to the bottom of). And b/c low calcium is an easy fix and very common for Greys to live with over time.

 

[wrench13]

Any word on Perjo's results?

 

[Scott]

Did the vet consider testing for heavy metal contamination due to the metallic object? While Perjo may not display signs of poisoning, is it possible there is a level below the threshold of concern?

 

[DRB]

Did the vet consider testing for heavy metal contamination due to the metallic object? While Perjo may not display signs of poisoning, is it possible there is a level below the threshold of concern?

I don't believe he did that. Calcium, the test for a certain heart issue (I understood it as a common test that needs done) and an X-ray I believe are all that was done.

No test results yet, they are closed today, probably tomorrow morning.

One thing of note, Dr wasn't completed happy with the color or Perjo's poop and urine, a tad to brownish poop and what he felt was a tad to yellow urine. Now he said it's not a big deal as long as it all returns to normal colors (darker green and white) but that is so diet dependent and so easy to manipulate with foods. When she came home her first 12hrs resulted in very dark green and white, but since it has returned to brown for a bit.

So I guess my question is, can pellet brands impact the color of the poop and yet still offer the bird the proper balanced nutrition? B/C I feed Perjo a pretty good diet, the only thing I probably give her too much of are sun flower kernels and wheat elbow pasta (dry). Not sure if that is a major contributing factor to her brownish poop color. She likes some greens but doesn't always seem to eat them all from day to day. She gets carrots everyday, some green and red peppers, butternut squash, bok choy (leaf and stalk), cauliflower and brocolli, red skin potatoes, baby spinach and argula- those are the staples right now besides pellets.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

It reads to me that Perjo is getting a pretty darn good menu! I'm only guessing,but pellet color could change the poo color??
If you read the post in the coclatiel forum,where the new parront was freaking out over his new baby tiels poo...it was RED ( he/she posted pictures) and watery..but he/she said the little tiel chowed down on WATRMELON quite a bit..obvious reason in my mind my the babys poo was red...and watery. Sooooo...maybe Perjo's pellets are changing her poo color...just a thought here..



Jim

 

[wrench13]

No spinach, it interferes with their calcium absorption ability. Once in awhike, ok, but as a part of daily chop or just intake of? Nope.

 

[Taw5106]

No spinach, it interferes with their calcium absorption ability. Once in awhike, ok, but as a part of daily chop or just intake of? Nope.

Anansi pointed out that spinach blocks calcium consumption a while back when I was posting a lot about Venus, my Ekkie professional egg layer. I don't feed spinach anymore but feed other calcium rich veggies, including crushed egg shell. I also give a proscribed calcium from the vet.

Perjo will pull thru. Sorry you and Perjo are dealing with this.


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[adz1984]

Brownish droppings is normal for pellet eaters, however urine/urates should always be clear/white.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

No spinach, it interferes with their calcium absorption ability. Once in awhike, ok, but as a part of daily chop or just intake of? Nope.

didn't know that Al Thanks for sharing.. you're running a close second now with 'Boats on parrot knowledge!



Jim

 

[DRB]

Perjo doesn't eat a lot of spinach, but I will take that into consideration moving forward, thanks. I plan on getting her calcium supplements even if she falls into the normal ranges and I'll let her have them once in a while.

I can tell why her poop is red usually b/c I fed her a red food item, beets, peppers, watermelon are the usualy culprits in this house. But I'm getting curious about different pellet formulas and the other items that are not red, like corn, carrots, squash, pasta, potatoes etc. Do they dull the hue of her poo and make it more brown than green? Who knows right.

I'm doing a dietarty reset today, only pellets and a small amount of anything else and only one or two colors, greens and browns. I want to see if eliminating orange and red from her diet today restores some green to her poop.

 

[Scott]

Poo and pellet coloring must depend on the bird and/or pellet! Most of my flock enjoy Zupreem Fruit Blend, and their droppings are generally pristine green/white. The only time I notice poo irregularities is after they eat chop. Generally a bit more watery with some hints of specific items, such as pomegranate seeds.

 

[Taw5106]

Once Buddy binged on blueberries, his poo was black. For whatever reason Buddy loves blueberries. Like you said about red coloring, it will depend on the food eaten.


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[DRB]

So her calcium tests came back just slightly under normal, will be adding a powdering supplement to her pellets daily. Anyone have suggestions on that, do they dislike such things on their food, does it seem to taste ok to them?

White blood count was a tiny bit higher than normal, so they want to add an antibiotic to her water bowl, they have no answer as to why the white cell count was higher right now. Any thoughts or experience on that is appreciated. They were very quick to make sure I understand that none of this is alarming.