Lovebird acting frantic & twitching/shaking head

themacinjosh

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I waited a few days before posting this to make sure it wasn't an isolated incident. Our bird in the past week has started a weird twitch in her neck/head...she jerks around quite a bit in a way that seems involuntarily (as far as I can tell) accompanied by a strange scratchy chatter noise that also sounds forced or involuntary. She'll just constantly shake her head in all different ways. She does this several times a day, and these bouts can last half hour to an hour off and on. She even gets unusually mean and bites pretty hard during these episodes too. It's almost impossible to have her out when she's doing this.

She is still very young, about 9 weeks old now, and we've had her since she was 6 weeks old. She didn't do anything like this that first week or so that we had her. She does seem to calm down ok at night, and sleeps ok. What could this be?? Anyone have a similar experience? I'd like to know what we can do!

**I wanted to add that it's real spastic-type movements when this happens. I can feel if she's on my shoulder her body jerking around, and this is way different than when she would just be hyper and energetic. I've been finding it difficult to get anyone to think it's not typical behavior, but it's certainly a change.
 
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roxynoodle

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I think the best thing you can do is take her to a vet. Maybe it's a normal thing for lovebirds, but it doesn't sound like it. It could be an infection, seizures, or some other neurological problem. If you aren't seeing anything splashed it wouldn't be vomiting, but look carefully as she is a small bird. My best guess is infection, but I'm not a vet. Can you post a video? That might help some here identify whether it is an actual health problem. Would you call it a bob up and down or a flick to the side?
 
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themacinjosh

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I haven't really been able to get video of when she REALLY gets upset from it, sometimes she's just uncontrollable she just gets so flustered. Here's a couple videos though of the actual twitching that I'm concerned about. It's also not an easy decision to go to a vet because I've heard several stories of people who bring in their birds for something and end up with much worse things happening. So it really comes down to me not trusting a lot of vets, even the avian specific ones. If I need to bring her in, I will, though. I just DID bring her in and the bloodwork they did came back all good....except she hadn't been doing this particular action a whole lot so I didn't think of it as a problem until it persisted.

Here's the videos I have though to show this:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj9PmKS0R3A]Lily twitching - YouTube[/ame]

and

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iUNWvSa91g]Lily twitching 2 - YouTube[/ame]
 

Pedro

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I don't think it's a normal behaviour at all. I am wondering if she has a seed husk or a fungal infection. She seems to be trying to close her eyes a lot in the second video. Check her droppings for any changes. If they appear green & sticky i think you have no choice than take her to your Vet.

Hope she is fine though.
 
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themacinjosh

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Well the odd thing is...it only happens in the afternoon when she's most active. At night she doesn't do this, she just relaxes and is seemingly her normal self. I do think I will plan a trip to the vet. But I'm of course afraid that she won't show any of the symptoms when I take her, and they won't be able to tell me much. When she was just at the vet the other day they said she looked great.

I have noticed the closing of the eyes, however, that is not the norm either...she was quite relaxed when having this episode, when she gets more upset from it, she definitely doesn't have the squinty eyes going on. I'm not saying it isn't part of it, perhaps it is, it's just not what I typically notice. Like I said, it's been very difficult to capture the moment on video when it really gets crazy.
 

Pedro

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Would there be anything in her diet that she may have some sort of reaction to. The only other thing i can think of if there isn't anything wrong with her health, maybe she has learned that when she acts this way she really gets your attention. Providing there are no health concerns I wonder if taking no notice of her when she does this she may just stop. Worth a try.

But never forget that any changed behaviour no matter how small sometimes does warrant a visit to the Vet.
 

kc_y0

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If you do take her to the vet, just to be on the safe side, maybe put the videos on your phone or take a laptop etc so that you can show the vet the videos in case she does not do it while there.
 
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themacinjosh

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I don't think it's a plea for attention...she genuinely seems scared and stressed when this happens. It's just odd that it doesn't ever become a problem at night...maybe left unchecked it will though. I now am just agonizing over what avian vet to take her to, haha. I'm nervous about letting anyone do anything to her!

I will definitely take those videos in with me to show them. I just wish I had some clue or idea of what this would be.
 

Remy

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Check online reviews of the vets before you take her in! That's what I did, and I seem to have gotten lucky!

I wonder if it's something irritating her or something. I'm not familiar with lovebirds. Maybe an ear thing?
 

lene1949

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It looks like tourette symdrome...

I wouldn't know, if that can occur in birds - I've certainly never heard of it...

It could possible also be some kind of seizure...
 

roxynoodle

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You did mention in another post that it was very dusty in the place you rent. She could just be stuffed up with dust. I would first do what you can to rectify that situation and maybe invest in a good air cleaner. It could also be due to a fungal infection as Pedro said. I am having that with one of my birds right now as well. That requires a visit to the vet no matter your feelings on vets. Contact your local bird clubs and get a recommendation for who to take her to.

As for seizures there are many different kinds and that can be hard to diagnose for yourself. My Grey has ataxic seizures, which I did not even recognize as a seizure. I did not know what was happening, and just rushed her to the vet, who, of course, did know what it was. But, if she is having seizures, you will need medications for that as well. I have injections that I can give her while she is having one, and a daily med as well that I give her to prevent them.
 

mandolynn

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I have known lovies who have seizures, but they were all over 15 years old. A resident pet at a bird store I worked at had seizures at least once a week, sometimes more, but he didn't start having them until he was 14 years old. Most seizures ive seen in birds don't involve the amount of noise the video shows. She seems to be uncomfortable or in pain, and the eye symptoms are indicative of some kind of ear, nose infection or irritant. I'm not a vet, but all the possibilities need to be treated by one because that's not normal behavior.
Even if you don't trust vets, which I can relate to, you must take her in. Ask around about local vets, and make sure they don't just brush you off an say its nothing. Most vets know way more than we do si we shouldn't play doctor. And I wouldn't take the gamble of waiting any longer. Once birds start to act ill, it can be too late. Especially in such a young bird, you can never be too careful.
Good luck! Let us know the diagnosis.
 

roxynoodle

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I don't think it's seizures, but I'm not a vet. I think it's an infection in her sinuses. Take her to a vet asap though because no matter what it is, it needs to be treated before she gets worse.

And do what you can about the dust as that no doubt is aggravating the condition.

But, yeah, I don't think you have a choice here. You must take her to a vet.
 

Cliffordsmom

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It looks like something is bothering her and she is trying to "shake it off" I have no REAL clue here, but Tyson (my dog) did the same thing when he had ear mites. He constantly shook and twitched and wimpered. It looked just like that and he would wake up from a dead sleep to shake and twitch and would get really really frustrated. This is a bird, I know that its different but maybe it is her sinuses or a husk or something like that.
 

CYCK22

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Hello all,
My name is Cory, I have a 2 year old parrotlet and a 1-1/2 year old green cheek, but more on them and myself later...
I believe your lovebird may have stargazers disease. The condition is more of a symptom than a disease as it can be brought on by any number of aliments including poor nutrition, head trauma, tumors, genetics, etc...
I used to have a lovebird with a twitch and I'm convinced that what your bird is experiencing is the same thing that my bird went though. From what I red the condition is degenerative and over time could begin to affect balance. It may make finding food and water more difficult for your bird so keep a close eye out and make sure your bird "cleans her plate". I agree that a vet visit is a good idea. I wish you the best!

Regards,
c-
 
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themacinjosh

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I actually got an Austin Air healthmate for the room we're in and we did go through and get a lot of dust out. So interesting thing I just found out recently...the place we got her from maintains that this is not a health concern, but an emotional one. I brought her to the vet, and they took blood from her neck. She said that she's now associating that pain and trauma with me, and is finding ways to relieve the tension (head twitching and going crazy with biting). She thinks the last thing I should do is go to the vet.

This makes sense for a couple of reasons actually...one being, maybe her neck pain or itchiness is still from them taking blood from there. The other is indeed that I created some trust issues.

Given that analysis what do you think? Do you think there's still a medical concern? Or could this all be emotional in nature?
 

roxynoodle

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I would take her to the vet. Taking blood properly shouldn't cause her pain that would make her move her head like that I don't think. If anything I would expect the opposite, that she wouldn't want to move it around. At least that is how it is for me any time I've had someone injure a vein taking blood on me.

You could have caused a behavior problem by responding to her too much at first, and now she is doing it to get your attention. I'd still take her to a vet to be sure. Fungal infections become deadly if not treated.
 

Spiritbird

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Flat out take this bird to an avian vet asap. It could be several things. Could be seizures, calcium deficiency, ear infections, or tumor. I suggest we stop guessing here and let the professioal do an examination. We cannot do that on the forum. video should go to vet too. Good luck
 

Remy

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I'd still take her to the vet. You know your bird best, and you know when something is not right. One time I took Puck in to the vet when he started making a weird new sound that sounded unhappy, but it turned out it was just a new behavior. He decided he didn't like my shower.

But the next time I took him to the vet, he was really sick, and could have died if I hadn't brought him in.
 

Pedro

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This could possibility go under the heading of Neurology. Neurologic changes in birds may occur from primary or secondary diseases, including genetic abnormalities, neoplasms, metabolic diseases, malnutrition, exposure to toxins, trauma & bacterial,viral,fungal or parasitic infections. Some of the symptoms are strange head movements.

Two most common are lead toxicity & hypocalcemia/vitamin D3 deficiency. Many neurologic problems can be resolved with supportive care & supplementations.

If the problem gets worse I think you know what needs to be done.

Good luck & i hope this can be resolved.
 

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