Almost lost my Mango....

Hello folks, I know it's been a while.
Mango has been VERY sick as of late. A month ago he showed signs of dehydration by drinking ALOT and lost his appetite, and had diarrhea. Brought him to the Medvet in Columbus OH. They did some blood work and found his liver values were dangerously high. They kept him for 2 days and he started to improve, and eating again. They sent me home with liver meds and metrodizanol. He continued improving for 2 more days, than downhill he went again. Same symptoms. Rushed him back for more bloodwork.
Now he was showing white blood cell count over 40,000!
AND elevated kidney values. He weighed only 312g at that time. They have me Azythromiacin, more metrodizanol, and gave him liquids under his skin, and we took him home. He would eat but continued to lose weight all the way down to 270g this past Tuesday. He looked absolutely horrible, emaciated, miserable, always sleeping. Thought of bringing him back to the hospital to be put down. Called the vet and they figured his diarrhea would have cleared up by now, and start gaining weight. They advised to bring him in to tube feed or end of life care. Man, we were all very upset. Started feeding him hourly for 2 days, anything he would eat. By Thursday morning he was gaining weight again. Brought him to Medvet yesterday for his check up, and they were very impressed by his improvement. They thought he would have passed, after my call Tuesday.
His liver values have improved by half, white blood cell count is normal, but his kidney values have not changed. They prescribed ALLOPURINOL for inflammation in the kidneys. He is currently staying awake most of the day, still very weak, but gaining his strength back. Fighting to give his meds now.
They still think he MAY have bornavirus, a fatal disease. Not sure because they have not tested for it. We may have this test done when he is healthy. The test may give a false negative I was told, so we are treating him for that.
They also think that the kidney issues are a sign of avian clymidia. Both of which he could have been born with.
Now, I am furious with my breeder for not returning, answering my calls and texts! To my understanding bornavirus can be transferred from the mother to the chicks. I know he has a brother and wanted to see how he was faring. I'm not convinced he has bornavirus, nor is the vet since he has had slightly elevated liver enzymes in the past. More leaning towards liver disease. Which I think caused the kidney issues. Because, he was improving before the white blood cell count rose. I believe the kidney issues started while he was improving from the liver disease, his kidneys started inflaming after trying to work overtime since the liver wasn't working.

Anyway, he is mounting now too which complicates his recovery. The vet seems to think I may have been giving him too much protein, in the form of beans, which he loves. So we cut that down and feeding him more vegetables, fruits and some Harrisons lifetime pellets.
Not sure we are out of the woods yet, but regardless, he has been going through this for a month. He has amazing strength to have held his own during this battle.
My family and i pray he will fully recover.

I’m so sorry to hear that Mango has been sick, it sounds like he’s a been a trooper and a fighter. Hoping to hear about his continued improvement.

That's terrible he's been so sick, but it sounds like he's hopefully on the road to recovery now!

was Mango bought from Bakers Nest in Columbus?

You have my most sincere empathy.
You're very brave. I admire how you're being so active and inquisitive.
Mango will be in my thoughts as I wait and hope for more good news.

Poor guy, I hope he gets better

Keeping you and Mango in my thoughts and hoping for a happy outcome. Feel better, little Mango!


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Oh no, so sorry to hear about Mango’s illness. I do hope it’s not ABV. I’ve had an experience with that. Good vibes your way for Mango. Hoping to hear good news upcoming!

davefv92c said:

was Mango bought from Bakers Nest in Columbus?

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No, bought him in WV.

I am so sorry to hear this! :smile016:
I am praying that it isn't bornavirus and he makes a complete recovery!! :heart:

I'm so sorry to hear this Keeping both of you in my thoughts

Keeping Mango in our thoughts and prayers. Sounds like a tough guy !

What brand of pellets have you been giving Mango? Dyes and added sugars in pellets can cause various kidney problems so if the brand you have contains many of dyes and added sugars I’d suggest changing them soon.:33:

Very sorry to hear of Mango's challenges. He has a fighting spirit and support on many levels.

Googled Medvet out of curiosity, the Hilliard location seems to have several avian specialists.

If Mango's significant issue turns out to be liver related, FYI many members have had success with aloe supplements of a specific type. Definitely a homeopathic approach, one IMO carefully coordinated with Mango's DVM.

No dyes in his food of any kind. He did lose weight. Now he is 299 this morning. He's eating normally. Worried.

You can pull through this Mango!! Keeping you in my thoughts. I am very upset at the breeder for being so careless, possibly if they're avoiding your calls/texts, others may havealso stepped forward with sick birds from them.

itzjbean said:

You can pull through this Mango!! Keeping you in my thoughts. I am very upset at the breeder for being so careless, possibly if they're avoiding your calls/texts, others may havealso stepped forward with sick birds from them.

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This is exactly my feelings. I have called and texted yet again today, no response. Absolute jerk. Made such a big deal making sure I was fit to take care of Mango....at this point I am furious with the guy.

I'm so sorry to hear that Mango is going through this. My heart goes out to both of you, as my Bixby went through PDD (which is the disease that is spawned from Avian Bornavirus). So I am all too familiar with this illness.

What you've posted so far does not yet seem conclusive of ABV or PDD, though. Are you seeing any undigested food in his droppings? Does his coordination seem off? Or does his eyesight seem poor? Are you seeing any neurological symptoms? Any inexplicable toe-tapping or wing-flipping? Biting at an area of irritation?

The vet is right about the test for ABV being rather unreliable, but a good indicator would be an x-ray. If the ABV/PDD has advanced to clinical levels, the proventriculus should be significantly enlarged. Also, undigested food particles may show in both the proventriculus and the ventriculus.

If it turns out to be PDD/ABV you will be in a better position than I was with Bixby, as I didn't know at the time what was ailing him. A mixture of anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and nerve pain meds could potentially serve to bring the worst of the symptoms under control for the moment. While PDD can't be cured, it can certainly be managed if caught early enough.

We're all really pulling for Mango! To help him build up weight, you might want to give him things like rice and pasta.

Really sorry to hear about Mango and prayers for his recovery.

Just going to throw something out there for thought?

Two separate issues Liver problems usually from a too high fat diet but also kidney problems from too high protein. Too much protein results in Gout and kidney problems. We all have the strongest urge to nurture our parrots beyond their needs. Examine his diet with a microscope.

AV's are always looking for a disease to treat rather than considering illness due to diet. If this is in anyway close then you may want to drop the Harrisons and just stick to the natural, organic if possible veggies and fruits. How much protein would this species get in the wild?

Anansi said:

I'm so sorry to hear that Mango is going through this. My heart goes out to both of you, as my Bixby went through PDD (which is the disease that is spawned from Avian Bornavirus). So I am all too familiar with this illness.

What you've posted so far does not yet seem conclusive of ABV or PDD, though. Are you seeing any undigested food in his droppings? Does his coordination seem off? Or does his eyesight seem poor? Are you seeing any neurological symptoms? Any inexplicable toe-tapping or wing-flipping? Biting at an area of irritation?

The vet is right about the test for ABV being rather unreliable, but a good indicator would be an x-ray. If the ABV/PDD has advanced to clinical levels, the proventriculus should be significantly enlarged. Also, undigested food particles may show in both the proventriculus and the ventriculus.

If it turns out to be PDD/ABV you will be in a better position than I was with Bixby, as I didn't know at the time what was ailing him. A mixture of anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and nerve pain meds could potentially serve to bring the worst of the symptoms under control for the moment. While PDD can't be cured, it can certainly be managed if caught early enough.

We're all really pulling for Mango! To help him build up weight, you might want to give him things like rice and pasta.

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Thank you. I haven't been here for a while. So, I apologize for not knowing, did Bixby survive?

They did an xray and showed only liver enlargement. Then they admitted him to the hospital. Gave him intravenous fluids and meds.

He came home 2 days later. Was improving, than down he went again. That's when he showed elevated kidney, and very high white blood cell levels and they said it was likely clymidia and began treating for that. They said elevated kidney values are a sign of inflammation. They didn't feel another xray was warranted at this time.

Brought him back for a checkup Saturday and said everything is improving, a side from his kidney values. They remain the same. I'm still waiting for Diamondback to fill and send his script. Gonna call them again today.

They did tell me if it is ABV, his life will be shortened, but once under control, it is manageable. No cure available, he may live 1yr or 25yr. They said once managed he isn't in pain.

Droppings were bright green, no undigested food. Lots of water/mucus consistancy. Coordination seems fine, sleeps on one leg. In the past, about 1yr or so, he fell off his perch to the bottom of his cage while sleeping. But climbed back up, checked him he seemed fine. Does feather mutilate, which he has done 3yrs. Which could be a sign of liver disease as well. Can make skin itchy they said. Been trying everything for the past few years to figure out why he's doing this. Since he has been medicated, have not seen excessive itching, preening. But he's not "himself " yet either. Not vocal at all. Used to talk ALL the time, now not a word. He will whistle when in the shower, just not so much as before.

He weighed the same this morning as yesterday, been feeding him constantly. His appetite is about how it was before hand. ABSOLUTELY hates having to force meds down him, tears me up having him run from me, refusing to step up. But, he still will eventually give in. Poor guy doesn't know why I keep tormenting him with syringes.
He won't touch his favorite food if he detects meds on it.