Tiki had an Accident

[LaurenB]

Today was quite possibly one of the worst days of my life.

I'll start by saying she's ok, now. Also that she is flighted, and an extremely skilled flier. In all the time she's been with me, she's never bumped into a wall or crash landed. She only flies away from me if something startles her, and she usually loops back around to land on my shoulder, or on something else.

Today I was in my upstairs hallway, which is connected to our two story foyer. Tiki was on my shoulder, and Nacho screeched... it startled her and she took off. Instead of circling back around and coming to me, she flew down the steps and around the corner to the left into the living room.

Calling her, I headed down the steps. Halfway down, she came flying back past me, through the foyer in the other direction, heading toward the kitchen. That's when I began to think something was wrong... she doesn't fly away from me. She flies TO me.

I ran after her, and turned the corner in the kitchen to the family room and couldn't find her. I didn't hear her flying any more. Then I heard this horrible scream... she was screaming for me, a sound she's never made before.

This is going to be so hard for me to write. It was very traumatic.

I found her on the floor in front of the fire place. She was standing in a pile of her own feces. She was standing up extremely tall, almost on tip toes. And she was swaying back and forth, like an exaggeratedly drunk or dizzy cartoon character. I put my finger out for her to step up, and when she lifted her leg, it couldn't grip my finger, and she fell over. I scooped her up, and she struggled to stand up, swaying this way and that, unable to grip with her feet. She made this terrible whimpering noise.

I rushed her upstairs and put her into the travel cage. I was telling myself over and over to keep calm for her sake, but I was a hysterical mess. I did not handle the situation well at all. I couldn't even control myself enough to put the perches in her travel cage, or food and water. I sat her in the cage and she stumbled around. The look in her eye was of pure confusion and terror.

I called my avian vet, and THANK GOD, she was there. I begged to bring her in, it was an emergency. On the way to the vet, she vomited multiple, multiple times all over the cage and all over the car. Tiki has NEVER vomited since she's lived with me.

By the time we got to the vet, she started coming around. She was hanging on to the sides of the cage. She was showing immediate signs of improvement - she seemed like nothing had happened at all!

My vet checked her out and couldn't find any bruises or blood to indicate she crashed into a wall. Based on her flying ability, she doesn't think it was a crash. She said her symptoms sounded more like a seizure.

At this point though, she doesn't want to medicate for seizures. Sometimes they are a random occurrence and don't happen again, plus we aren't 100% sure that's what it was.

Right now Tiki is home safe. I gave her all her favorite foods when we got home. She got some snuggles, and I put her to bed early, per my vet's instructions as she will be very tired from this ordeal.

I know there are worse things in life than a sick/injured bird, but it didn't feel like it today. I was (and still am) sick over it. As I held her in my hands I KNEW she was going to die. Either she was going to die any minute, or I was going to have to put her down at the vet. It was THAT bad.

I am so, so, so grateful to my vet and God and the universe that she is doing ok now. I tried to talk gently to her on the way to the vet, but all I could do was cry and tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me and that I don't know what I would do without her.

I hate what I witnessed. I hate what she went through. I just can't get the images and the feeling I had out of my mind.

It makes me feel like I can't handle being a bird caregiver. They just mean so much to me... its like I love them more than I should.

 

[Allee]

Lauren, I'm so sorry you and Tiki had this horrifying experience! Hugs to you for handling it so well, and you did handle it well. I read your post twice and personally I can't see a single thing you did wrong. What could you have done to prevent a seizure? If she flew into a wall, it was an accident that could have been caused by a seizure. Like you said, she's an excellent pilot and knows her way around, I don't see how you could have anticipated or prevented the unfortunate incident. I think it's normal to feel guilty when something awful happens to those we are responsible for, but honestly, you have no reason to feel guilty. If it was a seizure, it could have happened just as easily in her cage. Please don't think you are not qualified to care for your birds, you are obviously an excellent guardian.

I'm so glad Tiki is all right. Watch her closely and follow up with her vet. She knows how much you love her, that's why she screamed for you when she needed you. IMHO, you can't love them 'too much', they don't seem to put limits on how much they love us.

 

[gracebowen]

I am so glad she is better now. I hope it never happens again . I don'treally know what else to say. It does sound like quite the ordeal for both of you. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Doublete]

Awww I'm so sorry you and tiki went through this.

It is an animal thing not just a bird caregiver thing, if you have a heart and compassion any animal will one day break your heart. They can't talk, and even in the best of care, something can happen. It's heartbreaking but the joy they give us is worth it. Most of the time.,

I'm glad she's ok. Give her a kiss for me in the morning,

 

[Flboy]

I know first hand the horror you went through, an so glad you were wrong! Love your baby!

 

[faeryphoebe1]

(((hugs)))

So glad to hear that she's okay. How awful and frightening.

Though there may be worse things in life than a bird being injured or sick, it matters little when it's your beloved baby. Your Tiki. She's part of your family.

You are a brave, loving and responsible parrot owner. Please don't be so hard on yourself. Tiki's very blessed to have you.

 

[GreatBlue320]

What a horrible, scary day! I'm so sorry you and Tiki had to go through such an ordeal.

You are a devoted birdie mommy!

I hope you and Tiki have a peaceful day today.

 

[Kiwibird]

That must have been terrifying for both of you! I am so glad she is ok now, and hope it was a one off incident. I don't think Tiki could have a better carer either. Even though you were panicked, you managed to get her to the vet and did everything you needed to do in an emergency.

 

[Birdman666]

Not to discount what your vet said.

Going by my own experience, having had two zons knock themselves silly crashing into a window... What you are describing is similar to the way they behaved immediately after it happened. Including the vomiting. I'm thinking it's a birdie concussion... which also wouldn't show up on any tests, and could also mean your bird probably bumped into something and temporarily knocked himself senseless.

If you bird is lethargic today and for a couple of days, and if there ends up being no seizure activities, then I would suspect that this is the case. It isn't serious. They fully recover in a few days. My two did.

Since your vet did not put him on medication, there was no basis for a definitive diagnosis of a siezure disorder. So, it's kind of wait and see.
No seizure activity means your bird got a bonk on the head, that wasn't significant enough to seriously injure him.

Nothing to feel guilty about...

What is it about bird people anyway?! The slightest anything happens to one of our fids, and we start going all self-depreciating... "I'm the worst bird parront in the world! I don't deserve to live!" What's up with that?! Give yourself a break.

Little birds get themselves into trouble from time to time. They are just talented that way. It isn't your fault.

 

[LaurenB]

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words.

When I say I didn't handle the situation well, what I mean is, I didn't stay calm at all. I was a shaking, sobbing, stumbling mess. I'm sure that only frightened Tiki more.

As I said before, we're not 100% it was a seizure, which is why we aren't medicating.

She seems to be doing pretty well this morning. She's eating and her poops seem normal (they were diarrhea yesterday).

I think this has caused a bit of a setback with the biting. I was down to one glove for a while, but she is just searching for a place to bite my hand.

She does seem a little "out of it" though. I can't really describe it. I can just tell by looking in her eyes and her body language, the lights all haven't come back on yet.

Again thank you all for your kindness and support!

 

[LaurenB]

Here she is this morning. Pardon the glove, I don't feel like bleeding. Like I said, she doesn't seem 100% just yet. I'm so grateful she's still here.

 

[Birdman666]

She does seem a little "out of it" though. I can't really describe it. I can just tell by looking in her eyes and her body language, the lights all haven't come back on yet.

That is normal for either a seizure or a bonk on the head. Keep him quiet for a few days, and just watch him.

And then do the towel wrapped around your arm, no biting practice, and the touch training with the bbq skewers... to eliminate the biting, and the need for gloves.

 

[GreatBlue320]

Awww - Tiki is so precious. I'm glad she seems to be doing a bit better this morning. Thanks for the update.

 

[Terry57]

I am so glad that Tiki survived after that horrific scare. Hopefully she will be completely back to normal soon, with no more repeats of whatever this was. I think you did an amazing job for her...you got her to the vet,kept her as quiet as possible...I think anyone would have been a wreck if this had happened to us!
Keeping you and Tiki in my prayers.

 

[Hawk]

Today was quite possibly one of the worst days of my life.

I'll start by saying she's ok, now. Also that she is flighted, and an extremely skilled flier. In all the time she's been with me, she's never bumped into a wall or crash landed. She only flies away from me if something startles her, and she usually loops back around to land on my shoulder, or on something else.

Today I was in my upstairs hallway, which is connected to our two story foyer. Tiki was on my shoulder, and Nacho screeched... it startled her and she took off. Instead of circling back around and coming to me, she flew down the steps and around the corner to the left into the living room.

Calling her, I headed down the steps. Halfway down, she came flying back past me, through the foyer in the other direction, heading toward the kitchen. That's when I began to think something was wrong... she doesn't fly away from me. She flies TO me.

I ran after her, and turned the corner in the kitchen to the family room and couldn't find her. I didn't hear her flying any more. Then I heard this horrible scream... she was screaming for me, a sound she's never made before.

This is going to be so hard for me to write. It was very traumatic.

I found her on the floor in front of the fire place. She was standing in a pile of her own feces. She was standing up extremely tall, almost on tip toes. And she was swaying back and forth, like an exaggeratedly drunk or dizzy cartoon character. I put my finger out for her to step up, and when she lifted her leg, it couldn't grip my finger, and she fell over. I scooped her up, and she struggled to stand up, swaying this way and that, unable to grip with her feet. She made this terrible whimpering noise.

I rushed her upstairs and put her into the travel cage. I was telling myself over and over to keep calm for her sake, but I was a hysterical mess. I did not handle the situation well at all. I couldn't even control myself enough to put the perches in her travel cage, or food and water. I sat her in the cage and she stumbled around. The look in her eye was of pure confusion and terror.

I called my avian vet, and THANK GOD, she was there. I begged to bring her in, it was an emergency. On the way to the vet, she vomited multiple, multiple times all over the cage and all over the car. Tiki has NEVER vomited since she's lived with me.

By the time we got to the vet, she started coming around. She was hanging on to the sides of the cage. She was showing immediate signs of improvement - she seemed like nothing had happened at all!

My vet checked her out and couldn't find any bruises or blood to indicate she crashed into a wall. Based on her flying ability, she doesn't think it was a crash. She said her symptoms sounded more like a seizure.

At this point though, she doesn't want to medicate for seizures. Sometimes they are a random occurrence and don't happen again, plus we aren't 100% sure that's what it was.

Right now Tiki is home safe. I gave her all her favorite foods when we got home. She got some snuggles, and I put her to bed early, per my vet's instructions as she will be very tired from this ordeal.

I know there are worse things in life than a sick/injured bird, but it didn't feel like it today. I was (and still am) sick over it. As I held her in my hands I KNEW she was going to die. Either she was going to die any minute, or I was going to have to put her down at the vet. It was THAT bad.

I am so, so, so grateful to my vet and God and the universe that she is doing ok now. I tried to talk gently to her on the way to the vet, but all I could do was cry and tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me and that I don't know what I would do without her.

I hate what I witnessed. I hate what she went through. I just can't get the images and the feeling I had out of my mind.

It makes me feel like I can't handle being a bird caregiver. They just mean so much to me... its like I love them more than I should.

Hi Lauren,

I passed this over to my wife whom is a former vet....the thing that caught her eye was you said she was standing straight up on toes almost and moving back and forth.

This is an example of digesting something she shouldn't have, or possibly something stuck. By stretching as she did, she is able to help dislodge anything caught of even something foul in her crop. Thus you have vomit.

She's guessing it ( the vomit) came from crop, not stomach. Just as if you ever had a hard swallow or got something caught in throat you would stretch your neck and sit up right to cough it up right?? same with bird or any animal for that matter. I'm willing to bet she'll be fine now.

The other is what Birdman posted, and that ( maybe hitting beak or head/ seizure also will cause a bird to do this....a stunned stance actually. Seeing stars.
My Senni did the exact same thing....bopped into a window and acted all goofy and stunned. Vet said she was fine, just stunned and seeing stars. Be fine ever since.
That was 2 years back.

 

[LaurenB]

The other is what Birdman posted, and that ( maybe hitting beak or head/ seizure also will cause a bird to do this....a stunned stance actually. Seeing stars.
My Senni did the exact same thing....bopped into a window and acted all goofy and stunned. Vet said she was fine, just stunned and seeing stars. Be fine ever since.
That was 2 years back.

I don't know about something being lodged, only because she was on my shoulder for about 15 minutes prior to this. She wasn't eating anything. And then she took off and flew around like crazy. I had to have found her only seconds after she landed, and there was nothing for her to have gotten into nearby in that amount of time. She was in the middle of the living room, on the stone in front of the gas fireplace. (AV thinks maybe she didn't see the glass and tried to land on a fake log inside). Plus she didn't have any grip during the event... with her feet or her beak. She couldn't get herself up once she fell.

Try to imagine a cartoon character, when they get hit with an anvil or what have you, and they have little stars floating around their head while they teeter back and forth to the tune of a Coo Coo Clock. I'm not trying to make it seem funny, because you know how traumatized I was by this. But that's exactly what it seemed like.

I do have a few questions for anyone that has experienced this. I know it's only been about 2 days, but Tiki is showing some behavior changes.

1. A few times she has made noises I have NEVER heard before. One was a screech that sounded like her normal one, but ... gurgly? Maybe? I can't describe it. She also made the terrible terrible whimpering noise that she made when I found her. It was when something startled her.

2. This bird has NEVER EVER been afraid of anything. Any object I show her, she looks at it and is either interested or not. Now she is frightened of everything. And not only is she frightened of things... she is extremely aggressive towards them. For example, I have a container of her old junk food seed diet. I keep for rewards for recall training. We were sitting on the floor, and I scooted the jug over... she was scared. Then she got REAL mad. She went after it, and not in a "Yay! Junk Food!" way... it was a "I HATE YOU AND I WANT YOU DEAD" sort of way.

The same thing happened with my ungloved hand. I had one hand in a glove for her to perch on, and the other, ungloved hand, provides scritches. She was happily being scratched, and then suddenly she lunged. So I moved my hand away. But that wasn't good enough... she climbed across my chest and went after my hand. I moved it this way and that, playing keep away. I got her to step up on my gloved hand, but she would just jump across to my other hand trying to bite!

She still comes out as soon as I open the door. She climbs out on her own and steps right up. If I don't offer a step up quick enough, she just hops onto my shoulder. But she's just acting so different. She's not as active. She hasn't touched her toys. She just sits in her cage, hunched on a perch like a vulture.

I know it's only been 2 days. Is this normal? I want my Tiki back.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

I do have a few questions for anyone that has experienced this. I know it's only been about 2 days, but Tiki is showing some behavior changes.

1. A few times she has made noises I have NEVER heard before. One was a screech that sounded like her normal one, but ... gurgly? Maybe? I can't describe it. She also made the terrible terrible whimpering noise that she made when I found her. It was when something startled her.

2. This bird has NEVER EVER been afraid of anything. Any object I show her, she looks at it and is either interested or not. Now she is frightened of everything. And not only is she frightened of things... she is extremely aggressive towards them. For example, I have a container of her old junk food seed diet. I keep for rewards for recall training. We were sitting on the floor, and I scooted the jug over... she was scared. Then she got REAL mad. She went after it, and not in a "Yay! Junk Food!" way... it was a "I HATE YOU AND I WANT YOU DEAD" sort of way.

The same thing happened with my ungloved hand. I had one hand in a glove for her to perch on, and the other, ungloved hand, provides scritches. She was happily being scratched, and then suddenly she lunged. So I moved my hand away. But that wasn't good enough... she climbed across my chest and went after my hand. I moved it this way and that, playing keep away. I got her to step up on my gloved hand, but she would just jump across to my other hand trying to bite!

She still comes out as soon as I open the door. She climbs out on her own and steps right up. If I don't offer a step up quick enough, she just hops onto my shoulder. But she's just acting so different. She's not as active. She hasn't touched her toys. She just sits in her cage, hunched on a perch like a vulture.

I know it's only been 2 days. Is this normal? I want my Tiki back.

^bumped for Lauren, in case anyone has some more answers for her.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Lauren, how's little Tiki doing?

 

[LaurenB]

Lauren, how's little Tiki doing?

Hi, thank you for asking.

She's definitely doing a lot better. I still have a couple concerns and am waiting to hear back from my vet to ask her.

I've noticed some new clumsiness regarding her right foot (the "good" one that has all its toes). There have been a few instances where she has gone to step up and has "tripped" because she didn't raise her leg/foot high enough and stumbles.

She's also still acting agressive toward EVERYTHING.

She's had a couple episodes of diarrhea - which she had immediately following the incident. After the accident ALL of her poops were diarrhea until the following morning. Now they are sporadic. This morning, her morning poo, had solid feces but there was a LARGE amount of urine (not urates). It was a gigantic puddle of urine. I've never seen so much.

She's much more timid now, too. Normally as soon as you enter the room, she is hanging on the cage door begging for it to be opened so she can come out. As soon as you open it, she hops on out. Now she looks frightened, and stays on a perch for a few minutes until you talk to her and convince her to come out

I'm still very worried about her. She seems like a totally different bird. Granted, I have my "magnifying glasses" on (as my dad says) and I'm picking out every little thing that's different.

Like I said, I'm still waiting for the opportunity to ask my vet.

Thank you for your concern

 

[denaw]

Well today is the 10th and after reading the thread, I have a desire to know how Tiki is doing now and what did the Vet say???
Dena