The problem with Smokey...

Hello! I apologize, but this'll probably be quite the read. English is also my second language, so I'm sorry if grammar or wording is off in places. I have a long story to tell about Smokey.

A few months back, when searching for a budgie or similarly-sized bird for a pet, I got an e-mail that was coincidentally from a classmate who owned three cockatiels and was in need of a home for them. I'm eighteen years old, and having a steady part-time job from home (I do commissioned artwork) and disposable income, I wanted an animal-- see, I've never been without an animal in my life, and for the past three or four years I've been enamored with parrots as we all tend to become. I knew being young I'd be unable to handle anything too large, and wanted an older bird. They told me Smokey, their oldest, was nine years old. I ordered all the parrot supplies I needed and took him home.

I've had Smokey for about three months, and realized he wasn't as active as regular birds. He seemed to spend a lot of time sitting in one place or sleeping. I also noticed he had a bit of a tail bob, so I was really worried and scheduled a vet appt with the only avian specialist in Ottawa.

The doctor said he seemed fine, good body condition. They took a fecal ($67) while I was there, and it came back normal. The problem was how fast his heart rate was. The doctor suggested an Xray, but when asked how much it would cost, she told me $220-- for a test that might be inconclusive. For the xray alone... just to come through the door is almost $90. I knew avian vet bills are expensive, but I wasn't expecting something that expensive. I had even googled how much avian vets and the general costs for tests were, and never came across numbers that high. I feel maybe I didn't search hard enough and that this is my fault, but...



Yikes. I went for the vet's second treatment suggestion, which was a trial of heart medication which reduces blood pressure-- 1mg every 12 hours, by syringe.

Additionally, it turns our his original owners were wrong. He isn't 9 years old, he's 12.

It's been three days he's been on it, but he still seems sleepy all the time. He doesn't move or explore-- it's 6 PM and in fact, he's sleeping right now. I'll try to get a video of his tail bob.

I don't know if it'll help, but: he gets fresh water every day, and a mix of Zupreem Fruitblend (they're the only pellets he'll touch; I've tried Harrison's, Roudybush, and Lafeber as well.) and seeds with the sunflower seeds removed, otherwise he eats only those. Different types of fresh veggies are offered every day, but he doesn't seem to like to try any of them. His paper is changed every other day, he is allowed out of his cage the whole afternoon, has foraging and shreddable toys in his cage... different types of natural perches, too. He's put to bed at 11 PM every night after he gets his meds. He is in my bedroom so I am up on my computer until 2 or 3 AM, but it is at the other end of the room with the screen brightness down. He is woken again at 11 AM the next day. No teflon, harsh chemicals, or candles.

I'm worried if I did something wrong, or if possibly it could be something nutritional, or if anyone has an idea what he might have? I'll call the vet Monday to see her opinion. Are there any tests I should suggest? I'm just fishing for ideas here now. I love Smokey very much, he is possibly the best thing that ever happened to me. I want him to be okay.



Here he is, at the vet.

If his tail is bobbing and he is having a "noticeable sound" when breathing I would have the Xray, that's how Zilla was diagnosed with asper just after I got her. Not trying to scare you, Zilla recovered super duper and is the picture of good health now, but it was touch and go there for a while.

Amanda_Bennett said:

If his tail is bobbing and he is having a "noticeable sound" when breathing I would have the Xray, that's how Zilla was diagnosed with asper just after I got her. Not trying to scare you, Zilla recovered super duper and is the picture of good health now, but it was touch and go there for a while.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the response Amanda. I'm glad Zilla is doing great now, she's very handsome!

I looked up the symptoms of Asper, since I had heard of it, and I'm not sure why that didn't occur to me before. He does have nasal discharge, but only when he sneezes. He also has exercise intolerance. The xray is very expensive, and I can't imagine what treatment might cost. I'll have to work my hardest to make the money up for that soon.

Does anyone know how common survival of Asper is? Or have anecdotes of what treatment was like/costed approximately?

Hello and a warm welcome to the forums! Your Smokey looks like a real sweetheart. I'm not sure what the average charges for veterinary procedures are in your area. I'm sorry your new bird isn't feeling too well. I hope your vet is on the right track with the blood pressure medicine based on the rapid heart rate. Hopefully, your bird's condition will improve immediately. Please discuss all your concerns with your vet at the next opportunity, including the lethargy and sneezing.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Since your bird is 12 years old, it's normal for him to have his own ideas about a proper diet. I know it seems like he will never give in, but keep offering the healthier foods in addition to
his familiar favorites and he's very likely to come around in time. Here's a couple of good links on diets.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

You have an excellent command of the English language, by the way. Please keep us updated on Smokey's progress.

Another thing for you to consider is that all birds and especially parrots need 12 hrs of sleep a day and their rhythm is highly dictated by the sun. Go to bed at dark, wake up at light.

Interrupting this cycle is very bad for their health and can cause many of the symptoms you describe. Try moving the bird into another area for sleep, cover him at sunset and uncover in the morning. I will bet it will make a huge difference in him.

Thank you all very much for your responses! I'll be calling the vet's office on Monday to see when I can come in again, I'm worried bout his often sneezing which I hadn't thought too much about before.

I'll try to provide him a better night's sleep, and try different sorts of veggies. He seems relatively alert today, he's playing with one of his shreddable toys and having quite a good time with himself.

Welcome to our Forum.

Amanda_Bennett referenced tail bobbing with a 'noticeable sound' while breathing. That sound is commonly a 'dull click' that occurs with breathing. It is more commonly heard at night because the sound level of the home is lower. However, that should have been picked-up by the Vet. What you are looking for is both occurring (tail bobbing and the dull click) while breathing.

If present at the time of the visit, an Avian or Avian qualified Vet would have picked-up on any lung problems and/or infections (i.e. odd sounds in the air sacks).

Capsteve recommended timing your birds sleeping with the natural sunlight outdoors, which is healthier than having the bird adjust to our schedule. A parrot with questionable health will need increased sleep time, so 12+ hours is reasonable. Cockatiels are more prone to 'night flights' (see posting by henpecked) and a soft night light can be helpful. Your computer screen at a lower light setting and facing away from your tiel should be OK.

Run the medication as prescribed and keep-up the good work. I am guessing that there is a follow-up visit based on the type of medication provided?

Where are you located? If you're near a college with a veterinary program, you might be able to go there for treatment and it's often less expensive.