Tucker's vet visit

Tucker had his checkup with the vet yesterday. He was awesome. Not a peep or struggle with the physical exam. Even the stethoscope didn't bother him too much. Out back for the blood draw and nails was another story... Vet brought him back to me, and I think his (the vet's) ears were bleeding lol. He said Tucker was the loudest Ekkie he's ever heard. On the physical side, Tucker looks perfect, save for a few broken feathers from falls in the past. Now to wait for the lab results.

While I wait, I'm trying not to worry too much. He's lost weight. I discussed it with the vet, and assuming nothing sinister with the labs, there's a couple of things to consider...

1: Previous weight was on a different scale at the refuge, so could account for a few grams one way or the other. However, we're talking about 40 grams over about 3 months since then.

2: At the time of previous weight, his wings were clipped, he ate like a piggy, and had the flight abilities of a fluffy rock. Hence the broken feathers. He may very well have been a little over weight at that point, so hopefully the loss is a good thing. Previous owners fed him lots of zupreem and nutraberries. Ugh!

He eats well for me, but I don't see him pigging out. He's oddly not a big fruit fan. He would choose green beans over berries in a heartbeat.

He's now pretty well flighted in the house, and flies frequently.(lots of exercise) His landings are improving rapidly :-D

Vet says his current weight of 410 is great. Not fat, not under weight at all, and his muscle tone feels excellent.

So, while I await the results, and try not to stress over the weight loss, I'll be buying a new scale this weekend, and keeping close watch. Fingers crossed!

Tucker is a great patient. Oh yes, that fabled Ekkie "Foghorn!"

Prior weight may be a combination of specific scale but more likely sub par diet. If the vet is satisfied with his weight and labs return more or less routine, your regimen becomes validated. If some labs return a bit off, may be halo effect from previous diet? Might take time for chemistry to rationalize.

Thanks Scott. I'm hoping it's just the result of better diet and lots of exercise, but as I said in the other thread, I have that underlying paranoia that I'm missing something or doing something wrong. Hurry up, lab results... I can't stand not knowing!

I'm optimistic. I just have a good feeling.

As for all the 'good patient' aspect... I am TRYING not to be a hater, my friend! The Rb visited his doctor this week and it was the usual shock and awe. He raises so much Hades in the waiting room that the nurse makes a standing joke of coming out and saying "Dr. Lindstrom would like everyone to know that the Patagonian is here".

I will be waiting for your good news. I just know he's finding his healthy fighting rooster weight.

Julio is a perfect Amazon with our CAV and her Avian Tech. With the exception of his need to prove who is stronger! He saves all his comments for the clerk that handles the billing. That is where he unloads his displeasure, Loud and in Public! Specific Words and his Amazon 'You're Going to Die!' call.

I'm going with it being a scale issue and no specific time in which they weighed him. You're doing an excellent job!

I have always used the first Vet Check as a starting point and adjusted diet, etc... from that point.

I have a good feeling about this too, I can't wait until you get the labs back to ease your mind. I think the weight loss is probably a good thing and due to his new diet and exercise.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you, you so deserve some really good news!

Just the fact that he's now flying where he wasn't flying at all at the Refuge is enough to account for a 40g weight loss over 3 months. They burn a tremendous amount of calories by flying even short distances around the house (that's why wild parrots can eat a diet heavy in seeds, nuts, etc. and stay thin and muscular). So it's very likely that the 40g weight-loss is due to a combination of his increased exercise from none to flying, and also the change in his daily diet...If he was being fed Zupreem pellets and Nutriberries and now he's eating mostly fresh veggies, greens, and fruit, that's a huge drop in his regular, daily intake of calories, protein, fat, and carbs/sugar. Huge difference. In fact, now that I think about it, just that type of change in an Eclectus's diet would more than account for a 40g weight loss over 3 months...Chances are he was at least a bit over-weight at the Refuge...

It's always good to get full blood-work done to get a full picture of his overall health (especially his Liver and Kidney health and function), and for an Eclectus with such a specialized diet it's very important. But I'm guessing that if his blood-work shows any issues it's not anything that is related or causing the weight loss. If the CAV said his weight is within the "normal" range for an adult Eclectus and he felt his Kell Bone and said his muscle-mass is normal, then that means that the 40g weight loss was actually a good thing...

Amazons are the species of parrot with the greatest propensity for obesity by-far, but if I had to pick the second most commonly overweight parrot species that I see at the Avian Rescue, I'd say that it would be a tie between The Eclectus's and the Macaw (we see some fat Macaws, lol...I mean they're FAT!!!) Recently, I'd say in the last 5 years, for whatever reason we've had an influx of Eclectus's being surrendered and/or sold locally throughout the entire central Pennsylvania area on sites like Craigslist, Kijiji, etc. Prior to about 5 years ago I don't think we had even had a single Eclectus in the Rescue at all since I started working there (a bit over 8 years ago)...Then suddenly they were all over the place, being surrendered left and right and we were finding them for sale on Craigslist all over the place, a bunch of them coming from the Harrisburg/York/Lancaster area and then also the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre areas...And I bet every single Eclectus that we have had staying with us, both males and females, have ALL been overweight...But they've also for the most-part all been pluckers too...So I obviously attribute them being overweight due to them being fed totally improper diets...Most people who "adopt" them on Craigslist or elsewhere don't know that they require a specialized diet, so they feed them a "normal" parrot diet, and unfortunately a "normal" parrot diet, as I'm finding out more and more to most people means a cheap seed-mix from Walmart or their Grocery Store, along with Millet-Sprays and Honey-Sticks, also from Walmart or the Grocery Store...

So I think that you're going to find that your Eclectus's 40g weight-loss over the last 3 months since you've had him is actually a very good thing and is due to you providing him with a much healthier lifestyle than he's had prior...

And THIS is why I love this community! Great, helpful information abounds, and much appreciated support. I've found my people. Thanks everyone!

I've always read that a loss of more than 5% is cause for concern and should trigger examination by a good ,qualified avian vet. So a 400 gram parrot might go uo or down 20 for various reasons. I am happy to learn that Tucker had a good vet visit.

They love Salty at his vet, they call him Amazon light and don't even have to towel him for close examinations. He is almost due for his annual wellness check up.

EllenD said:

Just the fact that he's now flying where he wasn't flying at all at the Refuge is enough to account for a 40g weight loss over 3 months. They burn a tremendous amount of calories by flying even short distances around the house (that's why wild parrots can eat a diet heavy in seeds, nuts, etc. and stay thin and muscular). So it's very likely that the 40g weight-loss is due to a combination of his increased exercise from none to flying, and also the change in his daily diet...

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I agree 100%! Just to give you an example, my first ekkie, Bixby, used to weigh 415-20 when he was actively flying around (He was a red-sided, so definitely bigger than Tucker). But there was a 2 week period where he'd injured himself and didn't fly. Would you believe he ballooned up to around 445-450? The flying makes a world of difference, my friend.

Looking forward to hearing those test results. I'm betting we'll be hearing good things.

Anansi said:

EllenD said:

Just the fact that he's now flying where he wasn't flying at all at the Refuge is enough to account for a 40g weight loss over 3 months. They burn a tremendous amount of calories by flying even short distances around the house (that's why wild parrots can eat a diet heavy in seeds, nuts, etc. and stay thin and muscular). So it's very likely that the 40g weight-loss is due to a combination of his increased exercise from none to flying, and also the change in his daily diet...

Click to expand...

I agree 100%! Just to give you an example, my first ekkie, Bixby, used to weigh 415-20 when he was actively flying around (He was a red-sided, so definitely bigger than Tucker). But there was a 2 week period where he'd injured himself and didn't fly. Would you believe he ballooned up to around 445-450? The flying makes a world of difference, my friend.



Looking forward to hearing those test results. I'm betting we'll be hearing good things.

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Thanks Stephen. Aside from the weight loss, I don't suspect anything going on with him. He's active, outgoing, and happy. Just waiting for the confirmation sucks!

BTW, Tucker is a red sided as well, so his previous weight at 450 didn't seem at all out of the ordinary. My baby Patches was a grand.

saxguy64 said:

BTW, Tucker is a red sided as well, so his previous weight at 450 didn't seem at all out of the ordinary. My baby Patches was a grand.

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Really? Where'd I get it from that Tucker was a Solomon Island? Ah, never mind me.

Anansi said:

saxguy64 said:

BTW, Tucker is a red sided as well, so his previous weight at 450 didn't seem at all out of the ordinary. My baby Patches was a grand.

Click to expand...

Really? Where'd I get it from that Tucker was a Solomon Island? Ah, never mind me.

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Hahaha! It's all good. Well, almost. No results yet... :-(

Results finally!!! Tucker is in fact a healthy, awesome little guy. So happy. Still waiting for the fungal results, but they can take 3-6 weeks to grow. We don't expect anything, but good to have a baseline for everything we can. So, all is well!

I'm wondering if he was trying to look his best for the weight in, and now it's done, he's decided to eat like nobody's business. Yay Tucker!

Congratulations to you and Tucker! Love reading a success story!!

Final fungal results came back. No growth! Yay!!! Good to know my boy is healthy.

Didn't find a suitable scale locally, so I ordered one online just to keep up on his weight. Arriving Tuesday. I'm curious what he will be at given his recent voracious appetite and increased flying. This morning was not the typical A to B. He flew laps around the house looking for me. He's getting stronger every day.

Can't ask for anything better! Congrats to you and Tucker! Now go rescue Baxter!!



Jim

This is great news! Go Tucker!!!