Strange poops. Does this vet treatment make sense?

[emmett518]

As many of you know, I rescued a scarlet from a less-than-great situation. Although she's a nice bird, she has never been stick trained, and is not reliable about stepping onto my arm. If I push either of these things, a bite ensues.

Her poops seem abnormal. Instead of cylindrical whitish grey "logs" in a clear liquid, she's spewing this greenish brown sludge in large quantities. It also smells a bit.

Getting her to a vet is impossible. Not only would it be iffy to get her into a travel crate, but she's also petrified of towels, blankets or other things that could allow a vet to examine her.

The bird vets in my area won't do anything without an in-person visit. My dog / cat vet (with whom I have a great relationship), is willing to treat the bird without a visit, but she's not a bird expert. She told me that she could run the following two tests on her fecal material. The tests will probably run around $175. One is an enteric path culture ($90), and the other is a parasite analysis ($75). As I understand it, one is a bacterial analysis, and the other a parasite check.

Does this make sense, considering the reality I'm facing? Or should I keep trying to find a bird vet who will consult over the phone?

Thanks

 

[sodakat]

I live a long way from the avian vet I use. I wanted a culture done for similar reasons and asked her if I could have the local dog/cat vet send a poop sample to the lab then have her (the avian vet) read it. She said it is much better to do swabs than culturing the poop, so we made the trip to her instead.

I do know that female birds especially, will sometimes hold their poop and deposit a large stinky mass, so it is not 100 percent that bacteria is causing this. Are all her poops large and smelly or are some of them normal?

 

[JerseyWendy]

I agree with Kathy on getting samples via swabs. When I take my fids for their annual well bird checkup, my avian vet always does it that way. He never uses the droppings they made during the car trip there.

 

[emmett518]

I've seen occasional poops that look like what I think is normal, but most are pretty brownish, greenish black.

Anyone have a link on what normal poops are supposed to look like?

 

[MikeyTN]

We can only speculate on here and you really need to see an actual avian vet to give you proper advice! Refer to my reply to your other thread!!!!

 

[U2gal]

She needs a thorough vet exam.

Put her into the crate whether she will like it or not and take her to the vet. Or have the vet come to you

 

[MikeyTN]

Just so that you know, a good avian vet knows how to hold and handle a bird! Nothing for you to worry about there! I bring my macaws in and they hold them just fine using a towel. Get him into the crate with a towel. Its not complicated! Think of it this way, long term better health or short term aggravation?