Psittacosis : Doxycycline or Azithromycin

[Mohitgaur088]

Shine is psittacosis positive :-( If you go through my previous posts you will come to know about the background; though I was inactive for last few weeks! A vet in national capital (he's Dr. Manu BVSc. & AH) initially suggested liquid doxycycline (he didn't choose capsule or tablet for some reason) but we didn't find doxycycline anywhere so he said we should go for a syrup azithral with azithromycin in it! Syrup is not available.. But oral suspension of azithromycin (same salt and concentration). He condition is like...conjunctivitis in one eye, bubbles in droppings. But no weight loss, no lethargy (she's active and cheerful) or loss in appetite as of now.. Now I want you to help me in choosing things as my vet is not picking up call, maybe an off today due to festive time here-
1. Should I go with the oral suspension or wait for the azithromycin syrup...syrup will be coming in 3 days! As suspension settles down in water and we're gonna mix it in water because she usually takes meds that way!
2. Any side effects of azithromycin? I know doxycyclin is used mostly...Should I try to find doxycyclin again?


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[EllenD]

This is a very frightening and serious situation you're in here, as Psittacosis/Chlamydia is a very serious bacterial infection, and if not treated with the correct antibiotic at the EXACTLY CORRECT DOSAGE FOR YOUR BIRD'S WEIGHT, and for the correct daily frequency and length of days, is fatal...I know that you're in a situation where you have no Avian Vet near you...uhg.

First-off, no "syrups", as most "syrups" contain other ingredients that are harmful/fatal to birds, such as alcohol, tons of sugar, etc.

Oral Suspensions of antibiotics are usually the exact same formulation as the Injectable formulation, and that's what you want to give your bird orally. (You can't give a bird a tablet or capsule, obviously, and you certainly don't want to try to "compound" a tablet/capsule into an oral suspension/dose, because that's a process that you'll likely not get correct; too much antibiotic can make things worse, not enough antibiotic will be ineffective)...So you definitely wan oral suspensions that you will either have to give your bird directly into it's beak/mouth with an oral syringe, or by putting each entire dose in a bit of juice or in some type of food...HOWEVER, keep in-mind that if you put the dose of oral antibiotics into juice or food, your bird will have to eat or drink ALL OF THE food or juice to get the entire dose. So make sure that you don't mix the dose into a large amount of juice or food.

****You mentioned that he also is suffering from "Conjunctivitis" in one or both eyes, which is most-likely secondary to the Psittacosis. However, if it's not secondary to the Psittacosis and is being caused by a localized infection in one or both of his eyes, it may not be sensitive to the oral antibiotic that you're giving him for the Psittacosis; usually Conjuctivitis, whether it's being caused by a localized bacterial infection, a localized fungal infection, or it's photoconjunctivitis from him being under any type of artificial light/bird light/UVB light (I don't know if you've had him under any artificial lights, but if so, that's likely the cause), usually needs to be treated with a localized eye drop that is either an antibiotic or antifungal, depending on what microbe is causing it. If it's photoconjunctivitis due to him being under some type of artificial lighting, remove the lighting immediately and keep it off of him. Just keep in-mind that if his eye(s) don't clear-up with the oral antibiotic that you're giving him for the Psittacosis, then you've got another issue, a localized eye infection, that you're going to have to deal with separately. Watch it closely throughout the oral antibiotic treatment for the Psittacosis. It is probably secondary to the Psittacosis, but just watch it...Also, a sign that the Psittacosis is getting progressively worse and not clearing-up is the start of upper-respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, open-mouth breathing, etc. So if he starts to display upper-respiratory symptoms, then you need to reconsider the treatment you're using.

Chlamydia psittaci, the bacteria that causes Psitticosis, is usually most-sensitive to Doxycycline, by-far...The other antibiotic that it is usually sensitive to is Tetracycline, but Doxycycline is the first drug of choice....I've not ever heard of treating Psittacosis with Azithromycin, and would not ever recommend using it, as Psittacosis chlamydia is not sensitive to it; OTHER STRAINS OF PSITTACOSIS BACTERIA ARE SENSITIVE TO AZITHROMYCIN, BUT NOT THIS ONE.

Has he already taken a round of Doxycycline? I couldn't tell if that's what you meant or not...If so, what was the dose, how many times a day, and for how many days?

If he hasn't yet taken anything, then you absolutely want to use an oral suspension of Doxycycline....Tetracycline is going to be your second choice of antibiotic; there are other antibiotics that are used as back-ups, one in particular, but should not be considered until you've already tried a proper dose and length of treatment with the Doxy and the Tetracycline.

Treatment needs to last 14 days!!! There is a very high-rate of relapse because the bird isn't given the antibiotic for a long enough time period, not because the Doxycycline wasn't effective...

I can help you with dosing, but again, I need to know what he has already been given, how much and for how long...And what does your bird weigh?

****I'll say this once again, THIS IS NOT THE WAY THIS SHOULD BE DONE, YOUR BIRD SHOULD BE TREATED BY A VET, AND I DON'T LIKE DOING THIS BECAUSE I AM NOT A VETERINARIAN. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION AND WOULD RATHER HELP YOU GET YOUR BIRD ON THE CORRECT MEDICATION AT THE CORRECT DOSAGE FOR THE CORRECT LENGTH OF TIME THAN HAVE YOU JUST DO IT WILLY-NILLY AND HAVE YOUR BIRD SUFFER AND DIE...

 

[Mohitgaur088]

This is a very frightening and serious situation you're in here, as Psittacosis/Chlamydia is a very serious bacterial infection, and if not treated with the correct antibiotic at the EXACTLY CORRECT DOSAGE FOR YOUR BIRD'S WEIGHT, and for the correct daily frequency and length of days, is fatal...I know that you're in a situation where you have no Avian Vet near you...uhg.

First-off, no "syrups", as most "syrups" contain other ingredients that are harmful/fatal to birds, such as alcohol, tons of sugar, etc.

Oral Suspensions of antibiotics are usually the exact same formulation as the Injectable formulation, and that's what you want to give your bird orally. (You can't give a bird a tablet or capsule, obviously, and you certainly don't want to try to "compound" a tablet/capsule into an oral suspension/dose, because that's a process that you'll likely not get correct; too much antibiotic can make things worse, not enough antibiotic will be ineffective)...So you definitely wan oral suspensions that you will either have to give your bird directly into it's beak/mouth with an oral syringe, or by putting each entire dose in a bit of juice or in some type of food...HOWEVER, keep in-mind that if you put the dose of oral antibiotics into juice or food, your bird will have to eat or drink ALL OF THE food or juice to get the entire dose. So make sure that you don't mix the dose into a large amount of juice or food.

****You mentioned that he also is suffering from "Conjunctivitis" in one or both eyes, which is most-likely secondary to the Psittacosis. However, if it's not secondary to the Psittacosis and is being caused by a localized infection in one or both of his eyes, it may not be sensitive to the oral antibiotic that you're giving him for the Psittacosis; usually Conjuctivitis, whether it's being caused by a localized bacterial infection, a localized fungal infection, or it's photoconjunctivitis from him being under any type of artificial light/bird light/UVB light (I don't know if you've had him under any artificial lights, but if so, that's likely the cause), usually needs to be treated with a localized eye drop that is either an antibiotic or antifungal, depending on what microbe is causing it. If it's photoconjunctivitis due to him being under some type of artificial lighting, remove the lighting immediately and keep it off of him. Just keep in-mind that if his eye(s) don't clear-up with the oral antibiotic that you're giving him for the Psittacosis, then you've got another issue, a localized eye infection, that you're going to have to deal with separately. Watch it closely throughout the oral antibiotic treatment for the Psittacosis. It is probably secondary to the Psittacosis, but just watch it...Also, a sign that the Psittacosis is getting progressively worse and not clearing-up is the start of upper-respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, open-mouth breathing, etc. So if he starts to display upper-respiratory symptoms, then you need to reconsider the treatment you're using.

Chlamydia psittaci, the bacteria that causes Psitticosis, is usually most-sensitive to Doxycycline, by-far...The other antibiotic that it is usually sensitive to is Tetracycline, but Doxycycline is the first drug of choice....I've not ever heard of treating Psittacosis with Azithromycin, and would not ever recommend using it, as Psittacosis chlamydia is not sensitive to it; OTHER STRAINS OF PSITTACOSIS BACTERIA ARE SENSITIVE TO AZITHROMYCIN, BUT NOT THIS ONE.

Has he already taken a round of Doxycycline? I couldn't tell if that's what you meant or not...If so, what was the dose, how many times a day, and for how many days?

If he hasn't yet taken anything, then you absolutely want to use an oral suspension of Doxycycline....Tetracycline is going to be your second choice of antibiotic; there are other antibiotics that are used as back-ups, one in particular, but should not be considered until you've already tried a proper dose and length of treatment with the Doxy and the Tetracycline.

Treatment needs to last 14 days!!! There is a very high-rate of relapse because the bird isn't given the antibiotic for a long enough time period, not because the Doxycycline wasn't effective...

I can help you with dosing, but again, I need to know what he has already been given, how much and for how long...And what does your bird weigh?

****I'll say this once again, THIS IS NOT THE WAY THIS SHOULD BE DONE, YOUR BIRD SHOULD BE TREATED BY A VET, AND I DON'T LIKE DOING THIS BECAUSE I AM NOT A VETERINARIAN. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION AND WOULD RATHER HELP YOU GET YOUR BIRD ON THE CORRECT MEDICATION AT THE CORRECT DOSAGE FOR THE CORRECT LENGTH OF TIME THAN HAVE YOU JUST DO IT WILLY-NILLY AND HAVE YOUR BIRD SUFFER AND DIE...

She hasn't taken anything yet and weighs 89 grams on scale! I found this- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20496604/ . I'm no expert in this field so your help is invaluable. I'll try to find doxycycline again here. As i already told Dr Manu is BVSc and AH but not an specialized avian vet- he suggested that she should be given 8 drops of azithromycin 200mg/5ml (that makes 40 mg/ml) mixed for 14 days in her water bowl [which is a big bowl and of course she can't finish it] and he asked me to change water twice! Though I doubt this method of dosage. What kind of antibiotic dosage can be fatal? Overdose? Or like even missing a day or something? What are potential dangers! And more than anything else, she's not showing any other bad sign except her eyes and bubbles in droppings- So I wanna know how alarming the situation is? Tell me how many days? If i get some time- then I'll be able to find doxycycline and more knowledge and expertise on this, if I do it in hurry- I'm more likely to make a mistake :-(

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[Scott]

I'm glad you have an apparently credible diagnosis while at the same time am sorry it is Psittacosis. Knowledge is power, and hopefully Shine can be effectively treated.

Can you try to obtain Doxycycline in the correct formula via mail order? Canadian pharmacies often ship worldwide with a few exceptions.

 

[Mohitgaur088]

I'm glad you have an apparently credible diagnosis while at the same time am sorry it is Psittacosis. Knowledge is power, and hopefully Shine can be effectively treated.

Can you try to obtain Doxycycline in the correct formula via mail order? Canadian pharmacies often ship worldwide with a few exceptions.

Yeah I'm looking for all options available. Remote location in such a huge by area country is the trouble :-( If no signs of worsening are seen- Do I have a week or two to bring in the best things and people altogether to help her?

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[EllenD]

Okay, so don't EVER give your bird any type of medications, vitamins, supplements, etc. in her drinking water!!! That advice alone is enough to not trust this vet. First of all, and most importantly, you have no idea how much of the antibiotic or whatever you are giving your bird, as they drink very little during the day, and this usually results in them not getting near the dose that they need...Secondly, it immediately contaminates their drinking water, and starts the growth of bacteria, fungi, etc.

I just checked once more to verify, and I was correct that the bacteria that causes Psittacosis, Chlamydia Psittaci, is not at all sensitive to Azithromycin...There are a few other strains of bacteria from the same family that are, but not the one that your bird tested positive for. So Azithromycin will do no good at all. And yes, you can overdose your bird on antibiotics, and in addition they pretty much all cause the killing-off of all normal, healthy bacteria throughout their GI Tracts, which are responsible for keeping Fungi/Yeast in their GI Tract in-check, so often secondary Fungal Infections result, especially from broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as Azithromycin (which is probably why this vet recommended it, it's very broad spectrum, but not at all effective against the bacteria that causes Psitticosis.

Since he's not yet taken anything, then you should give him a 14-day course of Doxycycline, once daily by mouth DIRECTLY, not in his water, meaning you'll have to either give it to him directly into his mouth with an oral syringe, or you'll have to give him each ENTIRE daily dose in a very small amount of fruit juice or a very small bit of food that he is willing to eat, such as oatmeal, mashed potatoes, etc. And he must eat ALL of it, because he must get each dose entirely. I don't know your bird, so I don't know if you're able to handle him or not...I typically give my birds medications directly into their mouths by oral syringe, except for my Senegal parrot, who will spit it all out and usually get angry with me and nip me, so with him I use his favorite, Orange Juice, which he only gets when he's taking a medication, and I simply put the entire dose of medication into a very, very small amount of Orange Juice, and put that into an oral syringe, and then let him drink it all out of the syringe until it's all gone. Some birds do better with a very small bit of a warm, mushy food. Whatever works for your bird....But you cannot put it in his drinking water, as there is no way he will get even a fraction of the entire dose and it will not be effective; you must give him the entire daily dose directly.

I'll look up the recommended dosage for treating Psittacosis in my texts and get back to you shortly...Do you know what formulation of Doxycycline you have access to? Meaning what mg/ml or mg/cc the oral suspension is?

 

[EllenD]

Also, just to be certain, was your bird specifically diagnosed by culture, and the finding of the bacterium Chlamydia Psittaci? The reason I'm asking is that there are other strains of bacteria that can also cause Psittacosis, but rarely, and Azithromycin may be effective against them, so I'm wondering if that's why this vet recommended Axithromycin (although I think that typically they treat these other strains of bacteria, such as Chlamycia Avium, with BOTH Doxycycline AND Azithromycin)...If you don't know what specific bacteria was grown on culture, then assume it was Chlamydia Psittaci, as that is the case most of the time, which Azithromycin is not effective against)

 

[Laurasea]

None of us can say how sick she is from this. It would be hard for you to know as well as birds hide how sick they really are. I am glad you have a diagnosis, and feel your pain in the difficulty in obtaining medicine!!! This risks with improper doses if to high kidney and liver failure from sine meds or neurological symptoms from an over dose, underdose then you risk not cure the infection. Feed stores carry doxycycline, if your doctor gives you a dose. Also can your avain vet call it to a regular vet near you? Or can your avain vet give a script for a human pharmacy? It's the same doxycycline just vastly different dose!!!!! Since birds are so tiny!!!!! Good luck

 

[EllenD]

Well, according to current treatment guideline for Chlamydia Psittaci in specifically Psittacines, oral suspension of Doxycycline needs to be given once daily for 45 days, directly by mouth either directly into the mouth (ideal) or in a small bit of food that is totally consumed, at a dosage of 40-50mg of Doxycycline per 1kg of body weight per day. The reason listed for the extended treatment period from 21 days to 45 days is because the incidence of relapse is extremely high when the Doxycycline is only given for a 21-day round; when given a 45-day round of Doxycycline directly by mouth, the incidence of relapse is almost zero.

Obviously giving the Doxycycline by IM injection is highly recommended, at 75mg of Doxycycline per 1kg of body weight once every 7 days for 6 weeks, so a total of 6 injections over 6 weeks. It looks like Doxycycline is available in either an oral suspension that is the same as the IM injectable formulation, or in a "syrup" in some areas, but unless the "syrup" that you have access to is specifically formulated for birds, then it's recommended that you use the oral suspension/IM formulation of it.

It's also recommended that any extra dietary calcium supplements that you might give your bird, such as a cuttlebone, mineral block, or vitamin supplement be discontinued until the Doxycycline treatment is done, as calcium interferes with the efficacy of the Doxycycline...

 

[Mohitgaur088]

Doxycycline oral suspension is just not available :-( Tablets & Capsules (And I'll never go for them) but not liquid doxy. I'll check again in the morning with all the big stores and vets if they have any- I'm attaching screenshot of my conversation with one of the best avian ventrinarian in the country, Shiwani Tandel who's recognized by AAV- that's enough to show the condition of veterinary science in my country :-( And she said it a week ago...just based on her symptoms, no test was conducted till then! She is, though, 1496 kilometres away from me.

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[EllenD]

As far as "how sick he is", he's sick. Psittacosis is a very serious bacterial disease/infection, though it is rarely fatal when treated with the correct dosage of Doxycycline or Tetracycline Hydrochloride for the entire recommended period.

Conjunctivitis is a very common symptom of Psittacosis, as are all symptoms that are related to the sinuses, but it does confirm that the infection is systemic. Usually watery stools, as well as yellow or green stools will happen at some point during the course of the disease. What you don't want to see is the development of upper respiratory or lung symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, open mouth breathing, etc., as that is a sign that the infection has progressed into the Respiratory System tissue, and obviously with birds that becomes a very serious complication. Usually it won't get to that point if it is treated correctly with the Doxycycline. However, if you start to notice any respiratory symptoms in your bird, then you need to seek help immediately from a CAV, because it's an indication that the oral antibiotic treatment isn't working, and that he probably will need antibiotic injections along with antibiotic nebulization to get the Doxycycline into the lung tissue directly. Hopefully he won't get to that point if you get him started on the Doxycycline ASAP.

 

[EllenD]

It is very possible to formulate a proper oral suspension of Doxycycline from a tablet, I'm not saying that, and if you have to do it that way then it's best to find a pharmacist that can do it for you...However, from what I just read, 10 days is not even close to a long enough treatment, even with the actual oral suspension. It used to be a 21-day round of Doxycycline oral suspension, but it is now recommended to be a 45-day round of Doxycycline orally due to the extremely high rate of relapse, as the bacteria hides well and comes back rapidly.

So at a recommended 50mg of Doxycycline per each kg of body weight, with a 100mg tablet (the entire tablet), at 89mg body weight, it comes out to a daily dose of 0.445mg of Doxycycline once a day by mouth, so roughly half a 100mg tablet dissolved into sterile/distilled water, juice, etc. He needs to be getting just under half a 100mg Doxycycline tablet each day directly by mouth...

I would not only do a 10-day round though; I had prior known it to be a 21-day round, which it was, but according to what I just looked up in the current Avian Pharmaceutical Dosing Guidelines in the US (as of April of 2017), it is now recommended to do a 45-day round, once a day, if given orally, and once a week for 6 weeks if given by injection IM.

 

[Mohitgaur088]

Finding doxy is my first priority... Lemme look for it tomorrow morning! I've dropped my friends email to find if there's any, tonight, in some big cities.

It is very possible to formulate a proper oral suspension of Doxycycline from a tablet, I'm not saying that, and if you have to do it that way then it's best to find a pharmacist that can do it for you...However, from what I just read, 10 days is not even close to a long enough treatment, even with the actual oral suspension. It used to be a 21-day round of Doxycycline oral suspension, but it is now recommended to be a 45-day round of Doxycycline orally due to the extremely high rate of relapse, as the bacteria hides well and comes back rapidly.

So at a recommended 50mg of Doxycycline per each kg of body weight, with a 100mg tablet (the entire tablet), at 89mg body weight, it comes out to a daily dose of 0.445mg of Doxycycline once a day by mouth, so roughly half a 100mg tablet dissolved into sterile/distilled water, juice, etc. He needs to be getting just under half a 100mg Doxycycline tablet each day directly by mouth...

I would not only do a 10-day round though; I had prior known it to be a 21-day round, which it was, but according to what I just looked up in the current Avian Pharmaceutical Dosing Guidelines in the US (as of April of 2017), it is now recommended to do a 45-day round, once a day, if given orally, and once a week for 6 weeks if given by injection IM.

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[EllenD]

I also HIGHLY recommend that you start him on a once-daily dose of Probiotics immediately, even before you start the Doxycycline, and then keep him on the Probiotic for a week after he finishes the full round of Doxy. (even just Acidophilus is fine if a multi-Probiotic is not available to you; we have an Avian/Veterinary Probiotic available here called BeneBac, which is great, but just Acidophilus is fine too).

***The last thing he needs is a secondary Fungal/Yeast infection throughout is GI Tract due to the Doxycycline killing-off all of his healthy, normal flora. And Doxycycline is quite a strong antibiotic that not only kills-off everything, but it is also often very hard on their stomach's (and people's stomachs at that), and the daily Probiotic will also help to keep his stomach settled, and keep his appetite up.

If you have access to even a Soy-based yogurt (non-lactose/daily yogurt), giving him a little of that each day is another way to get the Probiotics in him, and they usually love the fruit-flavored Soy yogurts.

 

[EllenD]

Wait a minute, I just read that note from the Vet again...So your bird was not actually diagnosed with Psittacosis at all? He didn't actually have a culture grown or PCR run to specifically diagnose Psittacosis at all? This is just a "guess" by a Vet based on the two symptoms of #1) Conjunctivitis and #2)Bubbles in his stool/runny stool?

That's how I'm reading that note from this Avian Vet, where she says "Perhaps he has Psittacosis...If this is true and your bird has not actually been tested and diagnosed with Psittacosis, I highly advise against putting him on any antibiotics!!!

The two symptoms that he has are also indicative of a thousand other disease/infections, including a strong suspicion of a simply Yeast/fungal infection!!! If he simply has a Yeast/fungal infection and you give him a round of Doxycycline, it is only going to make the Yeast infection much, much, much worse!!!

Please clarify this...I was under the impression that he was actually diagnosed with Psittacosis through proper diagnostic testing, and I hope I'm correct, but that note doesn't read that way...

 

[Mohitgaur088]

Wait a minute, I just read that note from the Vet again...So your bird was not actually diagnosed with Psittacosis at all? He didn't actually have a culture grown or PCR run to specifically diagnose Psittacosis at all? This is just a "guess" by a Vet based on the two symptoms of #1) Conjunctivitis and #2)Bubbles in his stool/runny stool?

That's how I'm reading that note from this Avian Vet, where she says "Perhaps he has Psittacosis...If this is true and your bird has not actually been tested and diagnosed with Psittacosis, I highly advise against putting him on any antibiotics!!!

The two symptoms that he has are also indicative of a thousand other disease/infections, including a strong suspicion of a simply Yeast/fungal infection!!! If he simply has a Yeast/fungal infection and you give him a round of Doxycycline, it is only going to make the Yeast infection much, much, much worse!!!

Please clarify this...I was under the impression that he was actually diagnosed with Psittacosis through proper diagnostic testing, and I hope I'm correct, but that note doesn't read that way...

The note was sent a few days earlier! After that atleast three vets have continuously monitored her and kept on saying that "it is psittacosis". Unfortunately, in a country of a billion peeps, no one can do tests for psittacosis. I've contacted best vets and diagnostic labs just to find nothing- vets here do treat based on symptoms and trial and error- and I know that's terrible :-( Blood Test and PCR is just not possible... I've sent her tool/droppings to a lab who said will try their best if they can find the bacterium, I'm also looking for an eye swab! But that's not sufficient! Vets have made me believe it is psittacosis, yet, I won't move on to doxy until I get some strong evidence.

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[ChristaNL]

OMG... what a mess this vet makes.

Japie tested positive (cloaca-swab!) for psittacosis (no symptoms) at a routine check-up a few years ago:
- I got quarantained (lucky for me no other birds where there at that time),
had to give him his antibiotics 2x day, the only way you really know they get their dosage: plunk it in the beak and wait till they've swallowed it.
After 6 weeks of treatment (about 8 weeks) I had a different vet (gouvernment employed and paid for) comming over to my house (a positive bird is not allowed out of doors for obvious reasons) for the second round of tests, after which he got the all clear.


But .... as with any disease in birds:
(if at all possible)
*get a true diagnosis first (labtests & results not just the visual, tarotcards or gutfeelings)
*after determining what the problem is -> find the *right* medication for the problem
*get it into the bird
*check if the problem is solved (again by testing, not just "he looks okay now")


It is really terrible to be stuck without a real avian vet and research-options (been there, done that), and I would have been more inclined to go with the kill-all aproach in this case:
(sorry Ellen, you are usually right and you know what you are talking about but I am talking middle-of-nowhere, few resources medicine here)
Get the right dosage of doxy, get an anti-fungal as wel, use probiotics to minimize damage and keep the bird as fit as possible.
It may be complete and utter overkill, but if the bird has a sneaky psittacosis infection you do not want to leave that going on longer than necessery.
(Just make sure you follow the instructions and finish the entire course of antibiotics - stopping halfway breeds resistant bacteria!)


I am not a vet, just my thoughts!

 

[Mohitgaur088]

OMG... what a mess this vet makes.


Japie tested positive (cloaca-swab!) for psittacosis (no symptoms) at a routine check-up a few years ago:
- I got quarantained (lucky for me no other birds where there at that time),
had to give him his antibiotics 2x day, the only way you really know they get their dosage: plunk it in the beak and wait till they've swallowed it.
After 6 weeks of treatment (about 8 weeks) I had a different vet (gouvernment employed and paid for) comming over to my house (a positive bird is not allowed out of doors for obvious reasons) for the second round of tests, after which he got the all clear.


But .... as with any disease in birds:
*get a true diagnosis first (labtests & results not just the visual, tarotcards or gutfeelings)
*after determining what the problem is -> find the *right* medication for the problem
*get it into the bird
*check if the problem is solved (again by testing, not just "he looks okay now")

What can be done if vets ain't good and labs can't do tests ? (and labs tell me- you're the only one in years who has approached us for this) :-( Yet, some really helpful peeps are willing to try their best, I expect a little from culture of droppings and eye swab though. If it's just a little yeast/fungal infection, until we get some good aid, Can I try something holistic to help her a little? Though someone said homeopathic ways are sometimes a mess...

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[ChristaNL]

If you can get some bird-approved probiotics - they have a great "protective and suportive" function.
(Ellen has the full list somewhere , my CAV's are good but even they forgot to give me those! Every vet can and will mistakes once in a while, I live near some good ones now, but I remember being without resources all too well)

Don't mix holistic and other types of healing if you do not have a coordinating doctor who knows exactly what he or she is doing.
There are a lot of herbal medicines that will ruin the effects of the 'usual' medication.
Yes, they can be powerfull (effective), but also just powerfully UNhelpfull (countereffective).
(sorry that was no english)

The probiotics are not a replacement for medication!
They can help a bit, but not fix the problem.

 

[Scott]

Is it possible to send samples out of country for precise testing?