Young green cheek conure on antibiotics

[Pilaf]

My 3 months old green cheek Echo is on antibiotics (trim/sulfa). He has a slight crop infection. The avian vet also prescribed anti fungal meds (nystatin) at the same time. I don't really like it that he already has to have these meds. I worry because i know antibiotics also kill good bacterias and I don't want Echo to end up in some kind of circle of infections and antibiotics. Are there any probiotics I can give him after his course of antibiotics? Does any of you have experience with this?

 

[SilverSage]

Don't give any probiotics not specifically designed for birds! Birds have very specific and very DIFFERENT bacterial needs from humans and other mammals. I suggest calling back the avian vet that prescribed these meds to ask for a probiotic recommendation. And don't worry, right after weaning it's pretty common to get these infections. Follow the advice of your vet and you shouldn't be headed for any sort of negative cycle


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[IndySE]

Apple-cider vinegar would be the only thing I'd consider using without a vet giving it to you. It's well-known to help kill the 'bad' bacteria and keep the helpful. It's not medical strength, but it can help. Just make sure it's properly diluted.

 

[Pilaf]

Don't give any probiotics not specifically designed for birds! Birds have very specific and very DIFFERENT bacterial needs from humans and other mammals. I suggest calling back the avian vet that prescribed these meds to ask for a probiotic recommendation. And don't worry, right after weaning it's pretty common to get these infections. Follow the advice of your vet and you shouldn't be headed for any sort of negative cycle


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Thank you very much. I didn't know that it was quite common to get these infections after weaning. I wonder why it is common, do you know?

 

[Pilaf]

Apple-cider vinegar would be the only thing I'd consider using without a vet giving it to you. It's well-known to help kill the 'bad' bacteria and keep the helpful. It's not medical strength, but it can help. Just make sure it's properly diluted.

I did try apple cider vinegar first, that was the advice of the vet. But it didn't help. So that's why he's on antibiotics now.

 

[SilverSage]

DO NOT mix ACV with the meds you are using unless specifically advised by the vet.

Yes I know why; I'll text more in a little bit when I get home


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[SilverSage]

Sorry, I was at the grocery store

Most parrots that are raised as pets are hand raised. Ethical breeders work our butts off to keep the babies healthy, but the process of hand feeding (as well as parent raising) is one that involves a lot of warm wet food; VERY conducive to bacteria and yeast. It's just the way it is, even when parent birds are allowed to raise their own babies. It's actually that way in humans, too. Ever heard a mom say her human baby has "thrush"? That's a yeast infection in the mouth.

Basically babies don't yet have super strong immune systems and the feeding process can fuel infections even with the most careful of feeders, and even more in a lax setting. The stress of weaning (most breeders and nearly all pet stores use the cruel practice of force weaning) and going to a new home further weakens the immune system, opening wide the possibility for illness. That's why I always urge people to take new birds, especially babies, to the vet immediately for a checkup with gram stains. Without them, an infection will almost always be missed and they are quite vulnerable.

So don't worry, this infection isn't some harbinger of doom, it's a routine illness. Follow the advice of your avian vet to the letter. Ask him or her about avian probiotics, and be glad you took your baby in while the infection was still minimal



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[Pilaf]

Sorry, I was at the grocery store

Most parrots that are raised as pets are hand raised. Ethical breeders work our butts off to keep the babies healthy, but the process of hand feeding (as well as parent raising) is one that involves a lot of warm wet food; VERY conducive to bacteria and yeast. It's just the way it is, even when parent birds are allowed to raise their own babies. It's actually that way in humans, too. Ever heard a mom say her human baby has "thrush"? That's a yeast infection in the mouth.

Basically babies don't yet have super strong immune systems and the feeding process can fuel infections even with the most careful of feeders, and even more in a lax setting. The stress of weaning (most breeders and nearly all pet stores use the cruel practice of force weaning) and going to a new home further weakens the immune system, opening wide the possibility for illness. That's why I always urge people to take new birds, especially babies, to the vet immediately for a checkup with gram stains. Without them, an infection will almost always be missed and they are quite vulnerable.

So don't worry, this infection isn't some harbinger of doom, it's a routine illness. Follow the advice of your avian vet to the letter. Ask him or her about avian probiotics, and be glad you took your baby in while the infection was still minimal



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Wow, thank you very much for your explanation. I didn't know this at all. That makes me feel relieved. I took him to the vet for the first check up in the first 2 weeks he was with me. I'm happy about that. Echo has a lot of stress marks too on his tail feathers. He already had those when I adopted him. Is that quite common too? I hope this will be better when he gets new feathers.

By the way, I don't give him apple cider vinegar anymore, the vet told me to stop with that when he go his meds.

 

[SilverSage]

Stress bars on babies are very common not actually due to stress but simply because those feathers grow in SO FAST and all at once. If you see stress bars after future molts take note, but these are normal

And I'm glad you aren't mixing vinegar with meds . I'm personally a huge fan of tried and true home remedies AS PREVENTATIVES but once a bird is actually ill I don't mess around with them as it's hard to be sure you are doing the exact right thing, and a simple illness can become fatal so fast.

It sounds like you and echo are on the right track!


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[Pilaf]

Stress bars on babies are very common not actually due to stress but simply because those feathers grow in SO FAST and all at once. If you see stress bars after future molts take note, but these are normal

And I'm glad you aren't mixing vinegar with meds . I'm personally a huge fan of tried and true home remedies AS PREVENTATIVES but once a bird is actually ill I don't mess around with them as it's hard to be sure you are doing the exact right thing, and a simple illness can become fatal so fast.

It sounds like you and echo are on the right track!


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Thank you very much. It also relieves me that those stress bars are quite common and not due to stress. He's very happy here, so I'm sure his next feathers will look very pretty.

I'm doing my very best with the meds. I give them in a piece of banana. He absolutely loves banana. I tried it with a syringe but he keeps shaking his head then after getting it in his mouth, and it's hard to tell if he took in everything. With the banana I'm more sure he gets all of it, because he eats all the banana (although he gets a bit suspicious so I'm also trying other things to give him the meds in).

 

[SilverSage]

Lol if he's good with the banana then that's probably the best method. When using the syringe it needs to be done in such a way as to be completely sure it is swallowed and quite honestly most parrot owners aren't able to do that safely. It's not that hard once you have a bit of practice hand feeding, but I wish avian vets would come up with a better way for the average parrot owner!


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[Pilaf]

Lol if he's good with the banana then that's probably the best method. When using the syringe it needs to be done in such a way as to be completely sure it is swallowed and quite honestly most parrot owners aren't able to do that safely. It's not that hard once you have a bit of practice hand feeding, but I wish avian vets would come up with a better way for the average parrot owner!


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I wished that too, because I find it a stress. I did give meds to my 18 year old lovebird with syringes, but he was very calm and trusted me completely. I just don't want to hold Echo like that and force it into his mouth, we just established some trust. I don't want to ruin that. The vet could at least make it taste nicer, because one of the meds tastes very bitter.

 

[clark_conure]

Could it be mixed with fresh orange juice or apple juice? something like that to disguise the flavor? Just an idea...I don't know.

 

[Scott]

I've had great success mixing meds with cooked cereal such as oatmeal. Just make sure the temperature is sufficiently cool, and check with the vet to ensure this is compatible with the specific antibiotic. FTR, my avian vet says no conflict exists with cereal and typically prescribed antibiotics. I've also done so with pain and cardio drugs.

 

[Pilaf]

Thank you all very much. I have been trying with birds bread now. I just drizzle the meds over it and it will soak it up. Echo is often shaking his head though, even though he does like the bread. I just hope he gets everything. He doesn't like things that are too 'wet'. I will keep on trying different things.

 

[SilverSage]

The important thing is to remember to schedule a follow up for right away after the meds are done to be SURE they worked


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