Worried about my suncheeck

[Doublete]

The place I got my baby from would refund in total if an avian vet found health issues (documented) within 72 hours.... most reputable breeders have a health guarantee similar which encourages you to take your baby to the vet soon upon arrival home...

 

[SilverSage]

Is there an update on this bird? We are very concerned


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EllenD]

I was wondering if there was an update as well, I hope the baby is alright.

"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[Deisyg21]

Update:
I took my bird to the vet and he rule out fracture, congenital disorder, neurological disease or trauma. His notes were that tha tail is bit flaccid/ loose at the tail base, droops, not fanning or moving tail at all and it is painful when lifted. Dorsal tail base looks a bit swollen. Not using tail or fanning for balance. All the rest joints palpatr NSF.
In other words the doctor said there can be possible causes but that he did not know for sure what was it. He hoped it was an injury and if its not that then its not treatable. He game antiflammatory medications hoping it is an injury.
And the breeder gave me until tomorrow to take the bird and give me partial refund. He wants to deduct a $100 dollar because he clipped the wings and trimmed nails. I told him about what the vet said and told me that the bird looked good to him and there was no need for a vet. I even told him about medications and he said he doesn't want the medication only the bird.

I honestly dont know what to do. As I mentioned before this is a $700 bird. If I only knew this is an injury im ok with that because I can treat it. But if its something else I cant. This bird is so sweet and taking him back to the breeader breaks my heart.

 

[Deisyg21]

Update:
I took my bird to the vet and he rule out fracture, congenital disorder, neurological disease or trauma. His notes were that tha tail is bit flaccid/ loose at the tail base, droops, not fanning or moving tail at all and it is painful when lifted. Dorsal tail base looks a bit swollen. Not using tail or fanning for balance. All the rest joints palpatr NSF.
In other words the doctor said there can be possible causes but that he did not know for sure what was it. He hoped it was an injury and if its not that then its not treatable. He game antiflammatory medications hoping it is an injury.
And the breeder gave me until tomorrow to take the bird and give me partial refund. He wants to deduct a $100 dollar because he clipped the wings and trimmed nails. I told him about what the vet said and told me that the bird looked good to him and there was no need for a vet. I even told him about medications and he said he doesn't want the medication only the bird.

I honestly dont know what to do. As I mentioned before this is a $700 bird. If I only knew this is an injury im ok with that because I can treat it. But if its something else I cant. This bird is so sweet and taking him back to the breeader breaks my heart.

 

[RavensGryf]

Remember this is a worldwide forum and not everyone knows where Riverside is lol. We are fortunate that there are multiple Avian vets out here in the Orange County/Los Angeles County/Riverside areas. Yes SoCal is a huge place, but within a couple hours drive there are MANY qualified Avian vets.

One thing I've heard about (and I'm not sure if it applies to species other than budgies, although I don't see why it can't), is that there is a physical defect called 'hinged tail' where there is absolutely nothing wrong health wise, just that it is considered a fault and a physical deformity on the show bench.

Hopefully the vet you saw was right, in that there is nothing seriously wrong with your baby. I hope he feels better asap!

 

[itzjbean]

Glad to hear an update. Honestly, after everything you've gone through already with this sick/injured bird, I would return it, even for the 'partial' refund.

The only thing is, your 'breeder' will most likely try to re-sell him, and pass on the poor bird to someone else to make a profit, rather than getting him the medication/care he needs. I'm no expert, but I'm hoping your vet is right about the medication he prescribed, and hopefully the bird doesn't need to get put down.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I can only add my deep and heartfelt hopes for a good solution.
Please, let it be a harmless hinged tail. Or similar.
I'll follow this thread to resolution.
Good luck, little parrot.

 

[SilverSage]

Did the vet not check for a bacterial infection? That's what seemed the most likely to me.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this. This so-called breeder should be ashamed of himself. Truly ashamed.

It sounds like you are in quite a dilemma here; keep the bird and swollen the expense, allowing the breeder to get away with it, or take the bird back, still lose money, and the breeder just resells the bird.

That breeder makes me sick. I'm literally fuming right now. People like that should not produce animals or be allowed to keep them at all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Deisyg21]

I told him about a possible infection. He said thats not the case because he looks good on everything but the tail. He did not performed any exams on the bird just checked his appearance aand poop. I know its a complicated decision. And that breeder its making this hard for me. I told him I can take care of him and see if he gets better with the medication. If he gets better than ill keept it. But he said no. I called him the day i bought him and all he said was that the bird was ok and that it was an unnecessary expense to take it to the vet.

 

[EllenD]

Ok, this sucks. That breeder should be banned from breeding...They didn't even want the pain meds for the bird, just the bird? This might be the worst breeder story I've ever heard, and I'm sorry you're dealing with this, as well as your poor bird.

Was this an certified or qualified avian vet that you took her to, or was it a general vet or an "exotics" vet that sees birds? I'm asking because it doesn't at all sound like an experienced avian vet if they did no physical exam and did no culture to test for respiratory or gastrointestinal infections with a downward tail.....That being said, I wasn't aware that your bird was having pain and swelling in her tail area. Is she? Obviously you would see swelling, but does she show pain when you touch her tail area? Does she have ANY OTHER symptoms at all besides the pain and swelling in her tail area, like liquid coming from her nose or mouth/beak, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, being fluffed up, being lethargic and not playing, not eating normally, sitting on the bottom of the cage, etc.?

The reason I'm asking is because if this vet did no physical exam, your bird actually has pain and swelling in her tail area, but has no other symptoms as of now, it's very possible she has an infected or impacted Uropygial Gland. This will definitely cause pain and swelling in that area but will only be caught if a proper physical exam is done in the early stages. This is also called the "Preen Gland", and it's located on the bird's lower back just above where her tail starts. It's a gland that excretes an oil that the bird rubs on it's feathers when it's preening itself. While she is preening herself, you'll normally see your bird reach her head around and poke this gland a bit with her beak, and then continue on preening her feathers. She's getting some of the oil on her beak and then she's rubbing the oil on her feathers while she preens. It's a waterproofing mechanism.

It's easy for you (since your vet didn't bother) to check her Preen Gland out. I'm pretty sure your bird is hand tamed so you should be able to hold her in one hand and look at her Preen Gland with the other. If she is not tame or she will not let you hold her in your hand you'll have to get a towel and burrito her inside of it with her face exposed, like a Babushka, lol. Then turn her over and pull the towel up, exposing her tail and lower back.

Looking at her back, go above where her back ends and tail starts and move her feathers away until you see the gland. Sometimes there's a white feather or tuft of down sticking out of it, sometimes not. If you see a single white feather or tuft underneath her regular feathers just move the white feather and look at the gland underneath it. If you see no white feather then just move the feather away, looking at the bare skin on her back, until you see a little bump with a pinhole in the middle of it. You can't miss it, it's just sitting there on her back.

Normally the Preen Gland protrudes a bit but should not appear to be swollen, have any redness, have any type of boil, cyst, or lump on or in it, and should not have anything in the pinhole, like a chunk of white or yellow stuff. If it looks at all like an infected pimple or a pimple ready to pop, or is very swollen or red or has a plug of stuff in the hole, then it's probably infected or impacted. Also, press on the gland gently with your finger and see if your bird shows any pain response. It should not be sore at all. You can actually gently squeeze or "milk" the gland and a small amount of completely clear liquid or oil should come out. Usually if you just press your finger over the hole you'll get some clear liquid on your finger. This is normal, but if anything else comes out that is not clear, but rather white or yellow or looks like blood, is thick, or is like a rock or a plug of junk, then it's infected or impacted.

This is usually easily treatable with warm compresses and antibiotics, but the vet would never diagnose it without looking and doing a physical exam. But the pain and swelling at the base of the tail sounds probable.

Also, did your vet at least look at her vent to check for swelling, redness, any discharge, etc.?

"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[EllenD]

I forgot to say that if it's not my guess of an infected/impacted Uropygial Gland, I'm not sure what to tell you to do. That breeder will immediately just resell her, they will absolutely not get her vet care, she won't even give her the pain meds. I can't believe she doesn't care that there is definitely something medically wrong with one of the babies she sold and she will not only give you a "partial refund" but will not get the baby bird, who is in pain apparently, medical help. Especially after you told them about it the day you brought her home...I personally would keep her and get a second opinion from a certified or qualified avian vet, because I couldn't bring myself to take a baby bird with an obvious medical problem and that is in pain back to a breeder that has already said they will not get it medical treatment or even give it the free pain meds, but who will just pass it off to another buyer who may or may not get the baby to an avian vet. But you have to do what is right for you, and you shouldn't have to deal with this in the first place. This situation is not at all typical when buying a hand-raised baby bird from a breeder, you unfortunately found one of the worst breeders I've ever heard about. And I'm also just fuming mad about it right now.

"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[Kalel]

Wow! Wow for all the reasons EllenD mentioned regarding your breeder. So sad that they even call themselves a breeder. This post really upset me, I'm sorry. I hope your baby gets through this and improves. I sure hope the problem is as simple as the gland EllenD mentioned. I still can't get it through my head how all of us in front of our screens are so concerned about this "strange" bird we have never met, yet the person who bred her seems like they don't give a *&%# Best of luck and please keep us updated.

 

[SilverSage]

Yes this breeder is the worst kind. No compassion, no ethics, no concern for anything but money. I'm so sorry that you and your baby are both being abused by this terrible person.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DerTier]

i dont know where, but you need to report this "Breeder" somewhere. Do they have a facebook page? People need to know to avoid this horrible person. I'm fuming and feel sick right now. I can't believe this person

It sounds indeed like the "breeder" will flip the bird (sell it immediately, as is, to a new person) without treatment or observation, so while it was a $700 bird...the question you must ask yourself is this: is getting your $700 back more important than the welfare of the bird you purchased, as the breeder is clearly not going to care for it, and it will likely die after suffering


Best wishes for both you and your new bird. I really hope the poor thing pulls through

edited to add: You need to make sure you are saving emails and screenshotting any and all interactions you have with this person, so its not just your word against theirs. These types of people will twist anything to get out of the consequences of their actions, and will do anything they can to turn it back on you if they can (which will happen if you dont have these things as proof).

 

[EllenD]

I would've interested in an update on this bird, although I have a feeling it won't be a good update...

"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[Deisyg21]

Update: I decided to keep the bird (Solly). I have spent $400 for vets (Money I did not have): worst experience ever. The first vet gave me anti-inflammatory and pain medicines. I gave them to Solly for 8 days, then I stopped because did not want to cause liver problems and was not sure if it had to do with an injury. Maybe I was too scared but I noticed a lot of different things in this bird that my others birds didn't do. First, it was its tail downwards. Then, its mouth its kind of wet (I have had other birds and their mouths are dry). Also, Solly does this thing like if she wants to vomit. I know this can be a mating thing but she is a baby. And my other birds didnt do that when they were babies. Also, she is puffed and plucking feathers most of the time. Another thing is this weird breathing sound, but it seems she only does it when she is mad. Never heard that sound in my other birds. She is eating good but i dont know why she doesnt want to drink that much water. All these things had me worried and I took it to another vet. I did not like the first one. Solly's appointment was this Tuesday. This vet said everything was fine but its tail.He perfomed Xrays and it seems like the space between two bones its bigger than the space between the other bones. Meaning its tail was like pulled out. In the photo I uploaded you can see the tail looks swollen, thats where the bone is separated. He gave me antibiotics and anti-inflammatory/pain medication for ten days. There is also a possibility that she might not recover 100% and her tail will not be that flexible. Also, she could end up like that forever (and with pain). He also mentioned some laser treatments, that I bet they would be really expensive if necessary. Or a surgery where they remove the tail. I hope none of these are necessary and she gets better with medicine. (I cant afford a $1000 or more money).

 

[YUMgrinder]

My sun conure is new to my flock and I have actually noticed his tail doing that too but I attribute it to his uneasiness when perching on my hand. He stands up straight more than usual and his tail gets tucked to help balance. Maybe he's just a nervous guy and is more alert, less relaxed... keeping his balance where he can fly away quickly if that scary hand comes back?

 

[SilverSage]

Is this new vet an avian certified vet? Did they do gram stains and blood work? Because it REALLY sounds like your bird has a severe respiratory infection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EllenD]

This is awful...The space between the bones is bigger? The tail was pulled out?

I second that this was not a certified avian vet and that if they did no cultures I swear I'm going to fly to California and do it myself! That poor bird!

I'm sorry you're going through this, I assure you that the bones in her tail are not the issue, that would be a "hyperextension" and that is extremely painful and she would be frantic. The water coming from her mouth is a classic sign of a respiratory infection!

What antibiotic did this vet put her on? At least he did that, hopefully it's a broad spectrum one that will treat upper respiratory infections...I've never heard of anything like this in 31 years of having birds. I'm so sorry you found that breeder, I'm sorry for you and your poor bird. It's not fair to either of you!

I am glad that you didn't give her back to that awful breeder, I hope you reported them.

"Dance like nobody's watching..."