Poorly African Grey

Jacksmother12 · Jun 13, 2020

Hi all,

I have a rescue African Grey. In the past week, she has gone downhill very quickly. I use deepdale vets as I find them very kind, but they haven't got the facilities to hospitalise a bird (and they do think she needs hospitalisation).

Unfortunately every exotic vet I have rung either (a) isn't back in until next week or (b) furloughed. Neither Scott's or Acorn are accepting new clients but both have the facilities for birds.

Scott's told me to email back in a few weeks time but I am honestly not sure she will make it through that time. I've tried St Albans (Redbourne) too.

She is now improving in terms of eating and drinking and she has been prescribed 15mg veraflox pradofloxacin and has had two tablets so far. I have to crush them up and syringe them.

I've been waiting for blood results for three days and now the vets is closed and I have called ten or so times a day and still to no avail and she is also squeaking a little bit when she breathes but it isn't all the time.

I'm no closer to the truth of what's going on and wondered if anyone had any ideas of what's causing this?

P. S abdominal xray showed up clean and she was put under to get blood which was an extremely high risk

I'm so lost and exhausted from this week and she is fighting so hard and so am I but I'm losing hope

noodles123 · Jun 13, 2020

Why did they have to put her under to take blood? Generally, that is not needed- they can take it from the neck or even a nail in a pinch (although the nail method is more common among exotics vets and less popular with avian vets).
Did they do a gram stain or swabs of any sort?

How long have you had her?

I'm sorry you are going through this...
It sounds respiratory (face value), but there could be a lot going on, from virus, to fungus, to bacterial---to some diagnosed underlying issue that made her susceptible to infection on top of the root cause-- hard to know...I am glad they took blood- do you know what tests they ran?
If you are able, in the future, see if you can find an avian vet instead of exotics vets. Although an exotics vet is better than nothing, they don't have the same training as avian vets.

Jacksmother12 · Jun 13, 2020

noodles123 said:
Why did they have to put her under to take blood? Generally, that is not needed- they can take it from the neck or even a nail in a pinch (although the nail method is more common among exotics vets and less popular with avian vets).
Did they do a gram stain or swabs of any sort?

How long have you had her?

I'm sorry you are going through this...
It sounds respiratory (face value), but there could be a lot going on, from virus, to fungus, to bacterial---to some diagnosed underlying issue that made her susceptible to infection on top of the root cause-- hard to know...I am glad they took blood- do you know what tests they ran?
If you are able, in the future, see if you can find an avian vet instead of exotics vets. Although an exotics vet is better than nothing, they don't have the same training as avian vets.

Hello

Thanks so much for the reply. I have had her for 13 years. However I moved out last year and as we are bonded, wore my landlord down until I got permission for her to be with me. So she has lived with me only for about 7 months.

I'm very surprised that she didn't need to be put to sleep. It's a big shock to hear because she was very high risk and I quite literally said my emotional snotty goodbyes just in case she didn't make it through.

I have been recommended exotic vets by many vets not accepting new clients but none avian, so I very much appreciate that advice.

I have no idea what tests they ran. Just that it took two days longer to get the results than was supposed to be and that she had bloods taken and they need a vet to interpret the results.

The week has been exhausting and I am at my wits end and I do not want her to have to go 70 miles away to somewhere that is very strange and new without me.

No swabs were taken they put a thermometer inside of her and checked her breathing which was OK. There was a lot of mucus in her poo.

I am sorry if my answer is all over the place. This week has been an uphill battle trying to find treatment for my best friend before it is too late. I will add she does not have a ring and her age is unknown and also her past owner passed away so for the past 13 years I knew nothing of her history.

I have had some kisses and whistles and she even tried to feed me a little which is all good but her energy is so low it is is destroying me and I am so let down by the vets who werre meant to get her results to me today

noodles123 · Jun 13, 2020

Jacksmother12 said:
noodles123 said:

Why did they have to put her under to take blood? Generally, that is not needed- they can take it from the neck or even a nail in a pinch (although the nail method is more common among exotics vets and less popular with avian vets).
Did they do a gram stain or swabs of any sort?

How long have you had her?

I'm sorry you are going through this...
It sounds respiratory (face value), but there could be a lot going on, from virus, to fungus, to bacterial---to some diagnosed underlying issue that made her susceptible to infection on top of the root cause-- hard to know...I am glad they took blood- do you know what tests they ran?
If you are able, in the future, see if you can find an avian vet instead of exotics vets. Although an exotics vet is better than nothing, they don't have the same training as avian vets.

Click to expand...

Hello

Thanks so much for the reply. I have had her for 13 years. However I moved out last year and as we are bonded, wore my landlord down until I got permission for her to be with me. So she has lived with me only for about 7 months.

I'm very surprised that she didn't need to be put to sleep. It's a big shock to hear because she was very high risk and I quite literally said my emotional snotty goodbyes just in case she didn't make it through.

I have been recommended exotic vets by many vets not accepting new clients but none avian, so I very much appreciate that advice.

I have no idea what tests they ran. Just that it took two days longer to get the results than was supposed to be and that she had bloods taken and they need a vet to interpret the results.

The week has been exhausting and I am at my wits end and I do not want her to have to go 70 miles away to somewhere that is very strange and new without me.

No swabs were taken they put a thermometer inside of her and checked her breathing which was OK. There was a lot of mucus in her poo.

I am sorry if my answer is all over the place. This week has been an uphill battle trying to find treatment for my best friend before it is too late. I will add she does not have a ring and her age is unknown and also her past owner passed away so for the past 13 years I knew nothing of her history.

I have had some kisses and whistles and she even tried to feed me a little which is all good but her energy is so low it is is destroying me and I am so let down by the vets who werre meant to get her results to me today

"She was put under to get blood which was an extremely high risk" <-- I meant, why didn't they just take blood while she was awake? Did they act like this was standard protocol, or was it due to her particular situation?

Has she been sick for a chunk of time, or did you just start seeing this when she moved?
A move could cause stress, which could cause underlying issues to flare up/weaken immune response, but I also ask in case it could be environmentally triggered to some extent.
Chemicals, cleaners, scents etc can really hurt their respiratory systems--do you use any smelly stuff or do your neighbors? --anything that would have been different from where she was before?

Anjelicahyde · Jun 13, 2020

Hey there, based on the fact you mentioned St Albans, are you in the UK?

It sounds like you’re fairly near me. There is a vet in Hatfield which has a specialist Avian chap - it’s called Bishops Vet surgery, they say they’re “exotic” but we had a cockatiel treated there are he was very good. I’ve not taken my grey in yet because he’s only a baby. If you need any advice on other local vets drop me a message as I’m aware of some and I also know someone who will definitely know some.

Scott · Jun 13, 2020

Welcome to you and your Grey, thanks for joining. Seems the vet clinic is busier than usual with the COVID emergency. Regardless, indifference is never excusable when you worry about a beloved companion.

Do you know if the vet is "avian certified" or equivalent? Many practices advertise "exotics" but lack the requisite training and equipment to best manage parrot illnesses The use of pradofloxacin suggests the vet suspects bacterial infection pending lab results. Medications are often refined with diagnosis. Transparency is critical for you to fully understand the nature of illness and prognosis. At times hospitalization is necessary for breathing issues, the use of a nebulizer is immensely therapeutic.

I hope you receive results soon so a targeted treatment can begin. Please keep us updated!

Jacksmother12 · Jun 14, 2020

noodles123 said:
Jacksmother12 said:

noodles123 said:

Why did they have to put her under to take blood? Generally, that is not needed- they can take it from the neck or even a nail in a pinch (although the nail method is more common among exotics vets and less popular with avian vets).
Did they do a gram stain or swabs of any sort?

How long have you had her?

I'm sorry you are going through this...
It sounds respiratory (face value), but there could be a lot going on, from virus, to fungus, to bacterial---to some diagnosed underlying issue that made her susceptible to infection on top of the root cause-- hard to know...I am glad they took blood- do you know what tests they ran?
If you are able, in the future, see if you can find an avian vet instead of exotics vets. Although an exotics vet is better than nothing, they don't have the same training as avian vets.

Click to expand...

Hello

Thanks so much for the reply. I have had her for 13 years. However I moved out last year and as we are bonded, wore my landlord down until I got permission for her to be with me. So she has lived with me only for about 7 months.

I'm very surprised that she didn't need to be put to sleep. It's a big shock to hear because she was very high risk and I quite literally said my emotional snotty goodbyes just in case she didn't make it through.

I have been recommended exotic vets by many vets not accepting new clients but none avian, so I very much appreciate that advice.

I have no idea what tests they ran. Just that it took two days longer to get the results than was supposed to be and that she had bloods taken and they need a vet to interpret the results.

The week has been exhausting and I am at my wits end and I do not want her to have to go 70 miles away to somewhere that is very strange and new without me.

No swabs were taken they put a thermometer inside of her and checked her breathing which was OK. There was a lot of mucus in her poo.

I am sorry if my answer is all over the place. This week has been an uphill battle trying to find treatment for my best friend before it is too late. I will add she does not have a ring and her age is unknown and also her past owner passed away so for the past 13 years I knew nothing of her history.

I have had some kisses and whistles and she even tried to feed me a little which is all good but her energy is so low it is is destroying me and I am so let down by the vets who werre meant to get her results to me today

Click to expand...

"She was put under to get blood which was an extremely high risk" <-- I meant, why didn't they just take blood while she was awake? Did they act like this was standard protocol, or was it due to her particular situation?

Has she been sick for a chunk of time, or did you just start seeing this when she moved?
A move could cause stress, which could cause underlying issues to flare up/weaken immune response, but I also ask in case it could be environmentally triggered to some extent.
Chemicals, cleaners, scents etc can really hurt their respiratory systems--do you use any smelly stuff or do your neighbors? --anything that would have been different from where she was before?

This was treated as standard protocol - I wasn't given any other options than for her to be put to sleep.

All smellies inc disinfectants are used quite far away from her cage - in any case, her infection seems to be clearing up but she hasn't the energy to fly. I have purchased a parrot friendly disinfectant for future reference but highly unlikely anything caused upset as the vet couldn't hear anything wrong with her breathing, not that I have much faith now.

Scott · Jun 14, 2020

If she has an infection, the key is matching the correct antibiotic to organism. Lab tests should confirm and may require a different medicine. If fungi are present, a different and longer course of treatment is required. Hopefully you will receive results early this week!

Poorly African Grey

Jacksmother12

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noodles123

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Jacksmother12

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noodles123

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Anjelicahyde

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