Urgent - Picking at feet

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Katie????? Any update on how your boy Jasper is doing?????






Jim

 

[katie_fleming]

Hey guys! I am so sorry for the sudden absence of updates. I am VERY happy to say Jasper is now back home with me and doing much better.

Jim, it turns out your post from many many pages ago was the answer. After my mom found him vomiting and very lethargic/not eating the vet in Ottawa gave him a calcium shot and it perked him right up. It turns out his calcium was just at that tipping point. The WF/TT stopped immediately after the shot.

Unfortunately it's not maintaining right now, so he's on calcium twice a day (orally) and in his water (for 2 weeks). Then afterwards he'll be on a small amount of calcium carbonate pills from the pharmacy that I still need to find.

I got him back Saturday and unfortunately after being in a car for 3 hours then having a 30 min shower it really tired out his muscles and he was wf/tt immediately. I was heart-broken. He hadn't had any for a week before my parents/parrot rescue said.

His wings were shaking (like always) near the end of the shower b/c his muscles were tired. And the vet explained when the calcium is low this will deplete it faster. So right when it started I did a double dose of his calcium (orally) and by the next day he was fine. Yesterday afternoon-this morning no issues.

His calcium was 1.83 in April, then 1.80 in October, then within a week it was 1.70. Jasper doesn't like to eat his greens, and he just is finishing up a MAJOR molt.

I've ordered him a light which will help because he's never in sunlight except in the summer when it's warm enough to get outside. I had never even considered one before.

He's also on new pellets...Zupreem. About 10-20 a day (depending how many he eats).

Here's to hoping we can keep these calcium levels up and that he'll eat his damn greens!! It is so wonderful to have him back. He screamed when he saw me and I got some nice birdie kisses

 

[coopedup]

YAYYYYYY! Great news for both you and Jasper. He has such a super mom who persisted through all of this to get to the root of his problems. Way to go Katie!

 

[tashawithanekkie]

Great news! Glad you figured it out, glad you have him home.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Hey guys! I am so sorry for the sudden absence of updates. I am VERY happy to say Jasper is now back home with me and doing much better.

Jim, it turns out your post from many many pages ago was the answer. After my mom found him vomiting and very lethargic/not eating the vet in Ottawa gave him a calcium shot and it perked him right up. It turns out his calcium was just at that tipping point. The WF/TT stopped immediately after the shot.

Unfortunately it's not maintaining right now, so he's on calcium twice a day (orally) and in his water (for 2 weeks). Then afterwards he'll be on a small amount of calcium carbonate pills from the pharmacy that I still need to find.

I got him back Saturday and unfortunately after being in a car for 3 hours then having a 30 min shower it really tired out his muscles and he was wf/tt immediately. I was heart-broken. He hadn't had any for a week before my parents/parrot rescue said.

His wings were shaking (like always) near the end of the shower b/c his muscles were tired. And the vet explained when the calcium is low this will deplete it faster. So right when it started I did a double dose of his calcium (orally) and by the next day he was fine. Yesterday afternoon-this morning no issues.

His calcium was 1.83 in April, then 1.80 in October, then within a week it was 1.70. Jasper doesn't like to eat his greens, and he just is finishing up a MAJOR molt.

I've ordered him a light which will help because he's never in sunlight except in the summer when it's warm enough to get outside. I had never even considered one before.

He's also on new pellets...Zupreem. About 10-20 a day (depending how many he eats).

Here's to hoping we can keep these calcium levels up and that he'll eat his damn greens!! It is so wonderful to have him back. He screamed when he saw me and I got some nice birdie kisses

Well now at least you know what the culprit was/is Katie

As I mention before..that was Smokeys' problem also. Her Doc suggested liquid calcium in her water bowl a couple times a week.
She never had an episode after that.

Yippieeee for Jasper! (and you!)
Now let's just pray he has no other incidents also.



Jim

 

[Anansi]

Katie, I'm so glad Jasper is back home and that the culprit has been identified. You can finally breathe again, my friend.

Are those calcium carbonate pills to be taken indefinitely? Or just until his levels have stabilized?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi Katie pleased to hear your boy is back with his mom.

FYI Nutrobal for reptiles ignore the reptiles bit ok? Just a stab in the dark if any use to you?

 

[Violet_Diva]

So glad things are looking up! It's been such a roller-coaster for you guys. Great news regarding figuring out calcium to be the culprit! X

 

[Kentuckienne]

A happy conclusion, much needed!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Katie, I'm so glad Jasper is back home and that the culprit has been identified. You can finally breathe again, my friend.

Are those calcium carbonate pills to be taken indefinitely? Or just until his levels have stabilized?

I know with Amy and BB's "Uncle Joe"..Joe has been battling Potassium problems. He has to take pee pills to expel excessive fluid,and in doing so,his potassium levels fall..at times to an alarming rate,to where he has been admitted to the area hospital for a few days and given intravanious fluids.
It's always a "damn if you do,damn if you don't" situation

Again,as I previously mentioned,at least you have a solid clue on what is causing the poor boy all his problems.

C'mon Jasp..we're right behind you little guy!



Jim

 

[katie_fleming]

Katie, I'm so glad Jasper is back home and that the culprit has been identified. You can finally breathe again, my friend.

Are those calcium carbonate pills to be taken indefinitely? Or just until his levels have stabilized?

Twice a day for a week, then once a day for a week. I don't really want to have more bloodwork done at that point though...he's already been poked and jabbed and too many tests. He needs a break the poor thing. So I'm not quite sure where to go after but hopefully the vet in Ottawa will be reachable for questions.

Jasper is doing GREAT.

 

[Soyajam]

I've been following this for a while (as a lurker)

It's been such a stressful time and I'm so glad you're getting to a point where you understand more. I bet you've learned so much and I think you'll be an even better owner as a result.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

A simple thing as calcium deficiency..drove you and Jasper ( and US ) bonkers..very happy to hear the little boy is on the mend,doing so much better .
You proved yourself to be an awesome parront Katie,where some people would have just given up and maybe rehomed him.
I bet in the near future you'll even hear Jasper say "thank you!"
Now...take a deep breath! And take some more pictures to post of your little green guy..we'd all love to see more of him ( I just LOVE those Ekkie faces!!)




Jim

 

[katie_fleming]

Well, it appears Jasper has a long road of re-building his calcium.

On Saturday I gave him another shower, this time 10 min to avoid any issues of tiring his muscles out like the previous week (30 min).

The poor guy had almost immediately wf/tt and picked a spot on his foot right after He was bleeding more than before (not dripping but I was very upset to see this).

TEN MIN shower. I just couldn't believe it. I guess with the shivering afterwards it is using his muscles too much and his calcium is just going over that fine line again. Heart broken seeing his new wound.

I dosed him up on calcium and the wing flipping was only minor Sunday.

I guess I'll have to switch to misting for a LONG time now. He absolutely hates it though. Runs away. I spray it above his head so it falls down on him but he can't stand it. Any other tips?

I don't mean to complain but I really never expected to have all of these problems with him. He was so sick with crop infections as a baby and then we were good for nearly 1.5 years. Can't catch a break it seems

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

A 30 minute shower??? Wow even I don't take one that long lol.

Amy showers with me and he may stay for five minutes then wants back on the shower curtain rod. BB will roll around in the kitchensink for a few minutes but that's it for him.




Jim

 

[katie_fleming]

Haha yes, and it would be even longer but that's when I always cut him off!

 

[katie_fleming]

Thought I'd pop back in with a quick update.

Jasper is doing very well, and I can now see several places on both of his legs where his skin is re-growing. It'll still take several weeks I'm sure but it's nice to finally notice an improvement I put aloe on his legs daily to help with the dry skin as well.

His calcium is still an issue. I am crushing up 1/4 pill of calcium carbonate and adding water each day. He gets 0.5cc's twice a day as instructed by the vet. He's supposed to switch to once a day shortly.

The problem is he doesn't seem to be retaining it. For example, a 10 min shower the other week resulted in severe wf/tt/picking. And if he decides he wants to fly 90% of the time he'll have mild-moderate wf and maybe some tt afterwards.

I use a uvb light once a day for an hour, he has the calcium carbonate, and I am trying to offer as many foods as possible that are high in calcium.

I put a phone call in with the vet in Ottawa (the one who figured it out) to see if I can get any insight.

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds like he's doing loads better!

hopefully the vet will have a couple ideas for you. Of course he's still going to be building the calcium up and getting it spread throughout his body so the little bits here and there make sense, but you've got through the worst of it now!

 

[chris-md]

Sending you and jasper love, Katie. At least it has a name now and can be managed. Calcium and phosphorus are directly intertwined, though often more though about in regards to calcium incorporation into bone structures (need ohosporus to get the calcium into the bone). You might look at possibly increasing his potassium intake.

 

[Anansi]

I'm so glad that you at least know now what to narrow your focus on. Have the vets given you any idea how long it might take to replenish his calcium and get him to good blood values?

And refresh my memory, please. Are the calcium supplements only via water? Or in the food as well?

As for suggestions, try incorporating as much shredded/minced broccoli into his meals as you can. And crushed (boiled) egg shells into his food.