Oliver update

charliebrown

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Jan 7, 2011
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Jacksonville, FL
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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
Where to begin.... about a week ago I notice that Oliver was breathing heavily after flapping his wings, I didn't think much of it at first because he had only done it the once and it was a smokey day here because of all the fires around us. Well last Tuesday I had him out playing and he did his wing flapping thing again and afterwards he wheezed for a good minute. So I was a little concerned. Then Wednesday he did it again and wheezed for a good two minutes. Called the vet and had him in Thursday morning at eight am for x-rays. They kept him until nine o'clock at night!!!!!!:mad: The vet didn't know what she was looking at.... she thought at first his lung weren't developed correctly:(. After having another more experienced vet look at the x-rays, however, they believe he has an aspergillosis infection. We get the test results back Monday and go over our treatment options then. So hopefully everything will work out and we'll finally get our new baby healthy and happy.

Has anyone had a bird with an aspergillosis infection? What are we looking at over the next few weeks or even months?:confused: The vet wasn't very clear on everything, it was late and I felt rushed to get out of there. The vet did mention an oral antifungal medicine that he'd be on for awhile and we called friday to request that be filled but haven't heard back on it yet, which is frustrating because the vet said even if the test came back negative she wanted to try him on this medicine.

Heather
 

merlinsmom13

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Jul 27, 2010
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Beckley, WV
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Merlin a Red Crowned Amazon
I'm really sorry he's sick. He was underweight when you got him? I found this article.

Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection in birds caused by aspergella fumigates. Although birds are commonly exposed to the spores of this fungus, they develop the disease only under certain conditions. If a bird's immune system is suppressed by a concurrent illness, malnutrition or stress, it may become sick after exposure. Stress-induced Aspergillosis is frequently seen in birds subjected to surgery, reproduction, environmental changes, capture, confinement or shipping.

Aspergella, as well as other fungi, grows readily in damp, dark conditions with poor ventilation. Encrusted fecal matter, damp feed, dirty feeding utensils and food that falls through cage grates all encourage mold growth. Interestingly, we see a high incidence of Aspergillosis in birds in the southwest where the environment is dry and not conducive to fungal replication. The speculation is the low humidity, coupled with the dusty environment, interferes with the normal mucous secretion in the birds' respiratory tracts and predisposes them to mycoses.
Two forms of Aspergillosis are commonly seen in Amazons. The first is an acute generalized form characterized by the fungus in the lower respiratory tree as well as in the intestinal tract and other organs. Patients with this form of Aspergillosis exhibit labored respiration, severe depression and extreme emaciation, and are generally very ill. Unfortunately, the mortality rate is exceptionally high in this form. The second form is called a chronic localized form. This is the most common type of infection seen in Amazons. This chronic Aspergillosis tends to develop localized aspergellomas (pockets of fungal infection). The location will determine the clinical signs. A common place for aspergellomas to localize in Amazons is in the sinus cavity, characterized by intermittent mucoid exudation.
Diagnosis of avian Aspergillosis can be difficult, at best, other than by autopsy. Tentative diagnosis can be made with clinical signs as well as the absence of bacterial infection in moist exudates. A blood test showing an elevation in white blood cell count, mild anemia and an elevation in the monocytes also supports this diagnosis. X-rays should be taken on any suspect patient-many times the radiograph will reveal densities or nodules consistent with aspergellomas. Additionally, your avian veterinarian should take samples and attempt to culture the fungus in specially prepared culture media. Blood should also be submitted for serologic evaluation.
Once a bird is diagnosed as having Aspergillosis, appropriate treatment should be instituted by a qualified avian veterinarian. Each treatment protocol has to be tailored to the individual bird. A prerequisite for success is removing the concurrent immunosuppression that exists. This can be accomplished by management, by treating concurrent maladies and by the judicious use of immunostimulants. Aggressive antifungal treatment is in order, either localized or systemic. Surgery may be necessary with certain localized Aspergellomas, while aggressive nebulization and sinus flushings are warranted in certain other cases. Additionally, a long-term treatment schedule should be instituted

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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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After reading that it sounds like he has the first one because he has GI problems as well, gas and off and on diarrhea, but he isn't really depressed or showing signs of extreme illness thank god. I think getting him on antibiotics and an antifungal early on after his first vet visit before we even knew anything was wrong with his lungs probably saved his life. I just hope everything works out and he makes it through this.

Heather
 
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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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He seems to be doing okay... The medicine has decreased his appetite some but its to be expected. The vet is frustrating me by not giving me all the information I feel I need or telling me a kind of general game plan of how she wants to handle this. I know every bird is different and that aspergillosis can take months to clear up and the long term effects from being on the medicines that long can be hard to deal with too. But he is now fighting a lot when we try to give him his medicine, which I take as a good sign even though its an inconvenient one. Next week or the week after depending on mine and my boyfriends work schedule and what appointments are available he goes back for another CBC to see where we are at. It's going to be a very long and very challenging road to get our little guy better. Not what I was looking for but well worth the effort he's such a sweet little guy, and he's starting to talk and show his personality a little more every day. Only thing we can tell for sure he's said are hello and hi but who knows what new thing he will say tomorrow.

Heather
 

Rani

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Aug 30, 2010
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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
I wish Oliver the best!

Did Oliver just learn to fly?

Rani is just learning to fly and I hear her breathing heavy after 2 rounds across the room. Should I be worried as well?

Chrisi
 
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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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Oliver is clipped so he can't fly but he is at the age where he should be experimenting and trying to learn which is why he flaps and likes doing it, but he well only flap for maybe five seconds and then he is wheezing for a good ten to fifteen seconds somethings longer and if he gets to crazy playing in his cage he'll start wheezing as well. As to your situation depending on how long it takes her fly around the room and how long it takes her to recover her breathe it could be completely normal or it could indicate a prolem, but while aspergillosis is everywhere normally healthy unstressed birds are unaffected especially if their living space is kept clean and you don't have a mold problem in your home. But as bird owners we should all make sure we use good quality air filters in our air conditioning units and make sure their arent any damp areas in our homes where potentially dangerous mold could grow.
 

Rani

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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
Ok thank you that cleared up a lot of questions.

She flies and I can hear her breath heavy for may be 3-4 seconds. Plus she is not even 2 yes old yet. As far as clean cage goes her cage is cleaned everyday and a deep clean over the weekend. Filters clean once a month and I am a clean freak:) I feel she does not have the energy flighted birds have since she was never exposed to it. Good thing is now she is trying to fly on her own.

I hope everything is ok with Oliver soon.
Chrisi
 
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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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Her behavior sounds normal to me, I don't think you have anything to worry about. As she gets stronger her endurance will build up and you probably won't even notice her breathing heavy anymore. It just like us after start running or exercising we have to build up to things.
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Im sorry to hear that about Oliver!!! I've been so busy that I haven't checked in lately. Perhaps you need to find a good avian vet?
 

Amber

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Jun 1, 2011
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Just wanted to wish you and your Oliver the best of luck! Like Mike said, any chance of finding a better vet? Preferably an avian one?

Lots of good wishes your way!
 
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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Jacksonville, FL
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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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I go to the only avian vet in all of Jacksonville is just had the bad luck to get the newest vet on staff at the hospital I go to. The owner of the hospital has been an avian vet for twenty years and she has stepped in to start helping with Oliver's care.
 

Rani

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Atlanta,ga
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Solomon island female eclectus
If you need to call around for avian vets check out loving hands animal clinic in atlanta. They have 2 avian vets and Dr. Parker is very nice i am sure she might not mind even speaking with you on the phone if needed.
 
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charliebrown

charliebrown

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Jan 7, 2011
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Jacksonville, FL
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Charlie Brown- SI Eclectus, RIP. Oliver aka Ollie - Vosmaeri Eclectus
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And he's not doing that bad. He is actually improving in my opinion I posted some new pictures in my images that are pretty cute and I posted a video of him playing with a couple of toys in the Congo/tim African grey thread videos. I tried to post it as a new thread under the eclectus stuff but ant asked me to move it to that thread.
 

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