General anaesthesia

Hello all!

The past few days i have been unwell, its a very long story, but i haven't been able to breathe, and apparently my chest and lungs are very tight!
But xrays didn't show anything, which is good, just waiting for more results about the blood tests and to see if any allergies! But all my oxygen and all those other levels are all fine!

So they have no idea, but put me on these asthma puffers so i can open up the airways.. Cause at the moment it hurts to breathe.. and i am breathing so deeply :31:

ANYWAY!!!

So they want to rule out if i am having a reaction to Fargo or my horses.. But when im around Fargo its fine, and when im sitting in my room i breathe normally.. Its just when i have to stand up and walk around or do something, so the doctor think it may be exercise induced because i have started really riding and jumping my horses, which may have brought the asthma on? Strange..

But to be on the safe side, we took Fargo to the vet yesterday, to see if he may have anything that he could have given me..

Spent an hour or 2 talking to our avian vet, he just loves me and Fargo haha
But he said he is INCREDIBLY healthy, and has perfect beautiful feathers

He was going to take the blood tests, because mum wants him fully tested!

But Fargo's leg ring is starting to cause him irritation, so really want that off, but the vet wont take it off unless he is under the general anaesthesia..
So he said we might as well just do the blood tests and cut the leg ring off all in one day, and at least then he wont be upset when he takes the blood!

Of course he knows how much i love Fargo, he just sat there smiling as Fargo was sleeping in my arms and giving me kisses haha

He said he was a very confident well socialised bird.. and he was so well behaved, like usual haha

So Bob said i have to just drop Fargo off with him in the morning, and go out and have breakfast, and when i come back in an hour, Fargo will be awake and ready to go.. Cause he knows i would just sit there worrying..

He said that the general anaesthesia is as safe as driving around town, and theres nothing to worry about..

But i am very unlucky when it comes to my animals

When i was leaving, Dr Bob said that Fargo is in so much better condition from when he saw him when we got him from the breeders, he said he is much healthier and happier :09:




Car trip!



I swear he just likes attracting attention to himself.. We were waiting outside Mc Donalds, and he decided to sit there yelling stuff to everyone... So people were going through the drive through.. and they would hear MUM.. HELLO.. WHAT?!?!?! rarararar

And they were looking around, then spotted him and would laugh
At least 30 people came and wanted to see him as we waited :20:


So what are your guys thoughts on this?! Whats the chances that something could go wrong?
Any stories about your birds going under it would be good

Stories? Ok...here goes...

Once upon a time, not all that long ago, my Hunter girl was put under 3 times within a 4 month period to remove a growth on her third eyelid. Each time she came out of it perfectly, with absolutely NO ill effects whatsoever.

...and she lived happily after after because the growth hasn't returned.

Can't wait to see you how your lungs are feeling once your mum brings the right puffer home for you.

Urgh! Poor Tab! You're having a rough trot lately! Is it cold up your way ATM? I get exercise-induced asthma, especially in the cold weather - my lungs don't like being chilly and so they tighten up when I exert myself. It's a nuisance, but you can control it with puffers etc. I hope you feel better soon! (Any news from Houston???)

I once had my Galah, Aloysius, anaesthetised to have an air sac abscess drained and flushed. It took half an hour and he was pretty groggy and sick for the rest of the day, but he came out of everything just fine. That was donkey's years ago, though, and I reckon avian anaesthesia has come a long way since then. As Fargo's procedure should only take a couple of minutes, I wouldn't worry: he'll only need a very low dose of drug, so the after-effects should be minimal.

Get well, the two of you!

Thank you both!! So thats 2 positive stories hehe

So it should just be a very quick procedure, not like a huge surgery that would need more of the gas!

Trish it actually wasn't a very cold winter at all!!! :S

I have always had troubles breathing when i ride, just after a serious work out, especially jumping, i would have to cough to let the air out..

The doctor said some kind of fancy term, but something that its like a quick or early release of something, which means i dont let all the air out of my lungs..

So when i try and get air in, i cant get enough, because i hadn't released it all?

The puffer helps for a few minutes, cause it like opens the airway so the muscles are relaxed, but then it wears off and it hurts again!

But on sunday, when i was at the horse competition, thats when it started hurting, and usually it goes away.. But it hasn't!

Hopefully the steroid puffer mum gets today will help!!

Just sitting here its hurting, but i am breathing normally, but when i get up to do stuff, thats when i have difficulty breathing, but when i talk its even harder, cause have to control it and talk, while trying to breathe hahahaha

Doctor just said im in the 'very unwell' stage of the asthma, but as long as i keep using the puffers, it will finally stop hurting and i wont need to use them much!
She just said my chest and lungs are so tight, thats why its always aching

Houston is a no go, he was absolutely horrible at this show :O and he cant be tied up, and he wont stand still, so all day i had to just walk around on him, which was so boring haha


Oh and i shouldnt feed Fargo before the procedure right?
It will be at 9am, so i just dont give him breakfast?

Hey there, usually, it's nothing to worry about because they only do a 15mn anaesthesia. It's a really low dose.
However, I don't understand why they would have to put him to sleep to remove a leg band and get a bit of blood???

As far as your asthma, won't they prescribe Prednosone? My son has had asthma from 4 years of age but if he gets an attack (which is when it hurts and seems like you can't get a deep breath even with the use of Albuterol), prednosone helps tremendously! Hope you feel better tho.....

I thought that birds didn't need to fast, but I just read that for birds over 300gr, it is recommended to fast 8-12 hours......so just in case, you could call the vet in the morning and ask? I am curious to know now....

He doesn't have to be put under to get the blood, but every avian vet in queensland wont remove the leg ring without it, because its too dangerous to try and cut it off because its soo thick and has to be sawed, and if they tried to use bolt cutters or anything while the bird is awake, they may break their leg.

I emailed every avian vet in QLD and they all said the same thing!!



I have no idea what they have prescribed me, they may have given me Prednosone, i have no idea what im actually on at the moment hahaha

I haven't had an attack i dont think, which is why they cant fully say its asthma, they just believe it is... They are pretty unsure whats going on with me But they gave me the puffers just so it will help with my breathing until they figure it out!
Have to go back next week for more blood tests for allergies and stuff!

Thanks!

Fair dinkum! What a rotten week, Tab! If I were closer by, I'd visit and bring piles of chocolate for you. As it is, rest up and concentrate on staying calm. Hopefully Fargo's vet visit will go without any hitches and you can have a nice easy weekend.

Sorry Houston was a no-go. In a way, it's probably just as well - what with you feeling crook and all. You don't need any extra stresses right now.

tab_xo said:

He doesn't have to be put under to get the blood, but every avian vet in queensland wont remove the leg ring without it, because its too dangerous to try and cut it off because its soo thick and has to be sawed, and if they tried to use bolt cutters or anything while the bird is awake, they may break their leg.

I emailed every avian vet in QLD and they all said the same thing!!

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Makes sense now! If they need to saw the band, they can't have him moving. I'm positive all will be well with Fargo...... And you!

Aw sorry Tab!! Just rest up, they'll figure out what's up. I'm sure Fargo will be fine! Feel better!

I was diagnosed with asthma a few years back, I was having attacks and didn't know what they were!.... it feels like you have the wind knocked out of you is really the best and only way I can describe it. I scares the bejeepers out of you when it does happen.

I went years with not being diagnosed, as it wasn't that bad....it started with coughing on and off, then progressed to coughing more and more, wheezing, difficulty breathing at times, then full blown asthma attacks.that is when I went to the doctors.

my inhalers help, but not good enough, so I went and had a pulmonary function test done.
I get the results this coming Wednesday.

what I do know is if is left untreated, it will progress and worsen.

I've had many birds put under general anesthesia and I've never lost a single one because of it.

Betrisher said:

Fair dinkum! What a rotten week, Tab! If I were closer by, I'd visit and bring piles of chocolate for you. As it is, rest up and concentrate on staying calm. Hopefully Fargo's vet visit will go without any hitches and you can have a nice easy weekend.

Sorry Houston was a no-go. In a way, it's probably just as well - what with you feeling crook and all. You don't need any extra stresses right now.

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Oh its really been like a rotten few months hahaha

Did absolutely nothing yesterday, and finally last night it didn't hurt as much!

And today theres still a tiny ache, but breathing normally! Yay



Extra stress? Found out Wednesday afternoon that Kitai cant be ridden for 6 months at least :54:

Thanks everyone! You have all made me feel alot better!

His appointment is 9am on Tuesday! So will let you all know how it goes

Merlin went under to have his microchip implanted. (Must be GA'd for smaller birds otherwise they could do serious injury when implanting the chip!)

Scariest 15 mins of my life (asides from him going up a tree... or getting his head stuck between bars... etc!). Was terribly worried he wouldn't come out from it, but it's as safe as anything these days, especially if not kept under for long/repeatedly He came out, fine and cuddly!

Also, regarding your breathing, I was diagnosed with asthma a long long time ago, but recently been struggling with my breathing after any exertion (standing up from sitting/laying, climbing stairs)... I'm not that unfit! Upon speaking to my asthma nurse, she said it might very well be because of my low blood pressure. I don't recall you saying anything about BP, so maybe something to think about

tab_xo said:

Thanks everyone! You have all made me feel alot better!

His appointment is 9am on Tuesday! So will let you all know how it goes

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That is why we are all here for! When others don't understand why you get so worried about your bird, we totally can relate and sympathize! And with so many people on the forum, you are bound to know someone going through the same thing or has gone through it and can alleviate your worries .....It is a good feeling isn't it?

My Quaker, Sam has had a lot of health issues and has had anesthesia several times. I have never had an issue. Sam always comes out wrapped in a towel for me to hold as he wakes up. I have also had a budgie have anesthesia. That went fine as well.

I understand completely you being nervous. One of the times Sam had to have minor surgery. I was a nervous wreck. I could hardly function knowing that my baby was going to have anesthesia. But everything turned out just fine!

Good luck with your appointment! I hope all goes well!

-ZoeyFredrik