Venus Is Sick

[Terry57]

So glad to hear how well she is doing! I'm glad she is taking the meds from a spoon now, reduces so much stress for you both
I hope the tests reveal exactly what is going on.

 

[labell]

I am so glad she is taking the medicine from a spoon so much easier for a bird to take meds that way plus it doesn't hurt the bond as much if you don't have to force them. Please keep us posted, your lovely red head has been in my good thoughts!

 

[Taw5106]

Just received the call from the vet, she has elevated liver enzymes, expected after seeing X-rays and enlarged liver. She has air saculitus, I'm researching that. But the serious part I'm concerned about is bad diet with increased phosphorus!!!! Since I got her on 1/21/15, I have not fed her seed, I know she was on a seed diet before but since I brought her home she gets fresh veg and fruit mixed with brown rice! I even purchased a rice cooker just to make rice for my fids two months ago!!!! I'm questioning things now like should I use bottled water, not tap water. We drink tap water but could that be the source? Frustrating!!

So I've asked the vet to tell me since I've changed her diet since January, when does improvement show???? I am so frustrated right now. Trying to be patient with news, but feeling like a failed parront initially. I'm still pulling info together to review, compare, etc. Just frustrated now.

 

[labell]

Don't beat yourself up, you have her on the right diet now, with the meds and aloe detox I am sure she will be fine. It has been very clear how much she means to you and I see you really trying to provide the best of care for her.

Concerning the water. I lived in Houston, both my sons were born there my oldest has mottling on his teeth from the large amounts of fluoride that was in the water. We moved away before it developed in my youngest son.

I have a Berkey water filter that I love and makes the best tasting water bar none! I don't always trust bottled water, after testing some of it there are brands that are worse than what comes out of the tap. Berkey's aren't cheap but imo worth their weight in gold. It is all I use for the fids as well as my husband and I. I would look at one of those or maybe a Purr water filter to start.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh please don't be frustrated, and definitely don't beat yourself up. You are a WONDERFUL, exceptional parront, and Venus is truly lucky to have you in her life!

 

[Anansi]

Tracey, you are doing your absolute best for your birds. Makes you a great parront in my book.

Sometimes things just happen that are initially beyond our control. But now you know that there's an issue with elevated phosphorus levels. (Was that the only dietary issue?) First thing I would do is test the tap water. If you can nail that down as the cause, at least you'll know just what to do.

And finding out how long it takes for a parrot's blood to "detox" off an all-seed diet is also a good step, as you might still be seeing the effects of her old diet. (Though I'd have thought 3 months would've made a difference.)

 

[Taw5106]

Today Venus has taken all of her batril on her own, and I got the aloe detox, she consumed about .25 tsp on her own, I put another .25 tsp in her water bowl. I went out to the market and when I pulled up to the house, I heard a distinct "BEEP BEEP" from her, twice, lol. I've heard a whistle on and off through the day from her when she's breathing so I believe there is improvement for her. I picked up a Brita water filter just for the fids today and started them on filtered water. Right now Venus is velcroed to me and we are enjoying together time. I am sooooo loving this girl!!!

 

[Taw5106]

So I admit I am a perfectionist. My goal, to make all my babies the healthiest and well. I got a PURE filter pitcher this morning and have started giving all pets filtered water. I was able to give Venus her batril by spoon where she lapped it up, as well as .25 tsp of aloe detox, and I put .25 tsp in her water. She's under my microscope right now, my extreme focus right now and right now she's on my shoulder. She's making her sounds, she's eating, drinking, pooing, all looks GREAT, but I still hear a whistle when she breathes. Watching her she is active, improving, and doing great. Knowing she has an enlarged liver has me so scared and is rehashing memories from when my schnauzer Tess and I fought her liver disease, that was torture, 5 years of torture. Now hearing about aloe detox, I have "I wonder what if..." going through my head constantly. I'm worried that I'm putting all my hope for success on aloe detox now.

 

[labell]

You are doing the absolute best for her right now, try not to "what if" it isn't good for you and lovely Venus needs her mommy!

 

[Taw5106]

Well she must be feeling better, she's bathing in her aloe detox water. Wouldn't it be nice if aloe detox could work by osmosis, lol! She's still wheezing and earlier she just sat with me, shivering. She's taking her medicine very well, drinking water with detox, now bathing in it, she's more active now so I'm hoping that means she's improving. Me, I'm feeling a little down and worrying. The rest of the labs haven't come back yet.

 

[JerseyWendy]

First and foremost....HUGS to you!

You are doing everything you can, and I think it's gotta be a good sign that Venus is bathing all by herself (in the Aloe Detox, LOL...that made me chuckle)

Did the vet give you a time frame on when to expect lab results?

 

[Taw5106]

He said Friday and I have a follow up appointment Friday morning at 9:00 AM for Venus. I'm wishing it was Friday already.

 

[Anansi]

Yup, it's definitely a good sign that she's bathing all by herself. Birds are a lot less likely to be bothered with that when they're feeling particularly bad. Not saying she's out of the woods, yet, since wheezing is always a worry, but at least you know that the medication is having a positive effect.

How long is Venus' treatment supposed to be? And did the vet say yet how long it takes before the effects of her old diet would be gone from her system?

 

[Hawk]

Well she must be feeling better, she's bathing in her aloe detox water. Wouldn't it be nice if aloe detox could work by osmosis, lol! She's still wheezing and earlier she just sat with me, shivering. She's taking her medicine very well, drinking water with detox, now bathing in it, she's more active now so I'm hoping that means she's improving. Me, I'm feeling a little down and worrying. The rest of the labs haven't come back yet.

Hi Tracy,

Glad she's taking the Aloe detox, it doesn't work overnite, but does work.

After finding birdell, I gave her some aloe as well, because it gotten quite chilly last nite and that's a bit of a concern. But other than her being awfully tired she is in good spirits and happy. I'm letting her rest up then give her a bath later. I check her over and she seems fine.

Keep us posted on the progress...

Michael

 

[Taw5106]

Venus looks like a drowned rat but she's running track around the cages now and she is bullhorning, lol. The dogs have left the room, she's too loud for them.

Hawk I'm so glad you found Birdell, and Laura, your post about Gidget made me cry. Mix that in with work, work has been very busy today and I've been pulled into server issues which I love to dig into so it's been a great diversion to worrying about Venus. I work in Information Technology, working from home and I have both fids close to me. Sometimes they work with me, Buddy likes to join conference calls and tell everyone Hello! It's never dull with my fid office mates, lol.

 

[RavensGryf]

Great news hearing that Venus is feeling better! I'm glad the meds are doing their job I believe you'll get her past her health issues.. It just takes more time

 

[Taw5106]

She's on a 10 day regimen of batril, one time a day. And she is definitely feeling better, Buddy is with me and the red headed stinker opened his cage and is in it now chucking his food out of his bowl like it's her place.

 

[Hawk]

Venus looks like a drowned rat but she's running track around the cages now and she is bullhorning, lol. The dogs have left the room, she's too loud for them.

Hawk I'm so glad you found Birdell, and Laura, your post about Gidget made me cry. Mix that in with work, work has been very busy today and I've been pulled into server issues which I love to dig into so it's been a great diversion to worrying about Venus. I work in Information Technology, working from home and I have both fids close to me. Sometimes they work with me, Buddy likes to join conference calls and tell everyone Hello! It's never dull with my fid office mates, lol.

Yeah Information technology is a great field, that's one degree I have. When the net first started up, I used to hack programs For a company to find vulnerability and loop holes in programs. Then write new programs to fix them.
Now Another bachelors degree later, I'm in Nuclear/ Aerospace for defense and space program. I worked on the parts for the space shuttle, nuclear reactors and missiles, and stealth aircraft some secret ones as well that are not out yet. The F-22 raptor was designed around the wings of a falcon and how it maneuvers. So 8 years of college and I'm finally working from home as well. people see my custom built computer power house and Go 'what is that??" LOL....you can't buy that I say. It has multiple processors, that are triple the fastest you can buy anywhere. Not to mention a few thousand dollars in software and secured 3-d engineering software.

 

[Taw5106]

YAY!! We got good news at the check up today. When the vet ran tests, last Saturday he dropped a huge bombshell on me that had me tense all week, Psittacosis, he said looking at the xrays and monitoring Venus, all the symptoms fall within those parameters. I was floored when he said it because her labs in January were fine. Well the tests for Psittacosis and Chlamidiosis are NEGATIVE!! He's given a final diagnosis of air saculitus. I could tell he was very relieved too. We'll be going back for another check up in 10 - 14 days, 7 days after she finishes her batril.

 

[Taw5106]

Venus saw the vet today and her breathing is labored but not as bad as before. He is treating her a vitamin A deficiency and squamous metapasia because she squeaks sometimes like she has an obstruction. So she got a vit A shot and is back on batril but a larger dose. We have another follow up in 2 days.