Molting = weak immune system

Grinder

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Jan 26, 2013
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Military Macaw - 'Lady",
GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
Yesterday was a horrific day (for my wife and I) and a not-so-enjoyable one for our GW - Jazzy.

When I came home she seemed OK, but barely had strength enough to stand upright on my arm. She kept leaning into my chest with her head slowly bobbing up and down (the entire time) and occasionally she would squawk lightly while snapping her wings out. But she wasn't making an effort to bring her wings back in to her body. Most of us know that birds hide their illness so to see this complete change from the morning scared me to no end. She got worse over a very short period of time, about 10 minutes. I really (really) thought I was watching Jazzy die in my arms. My wife came downstairs and tried frantically to find an avian vet. Our regular vet had no avian vets there. We found an emergency exotics vet about 30 minutes away.

Already long story short - she had a bacterial infection. I forgot the paperwork at home so I cant remember what it was called, but it was bacteria associated with tetanus. She was given two medications to be given twice a day for three days. I learned something I could not believe I never knew. Thus the reason for this post - so others can learn too...

When our parrots molt (Jazzy started to molt her tail and other feathers this week) their immune system is much weaker than normal. I knew it took a toll physically, but had no idea their immune system was affected. The vet said that all those bacteria that hang out in the digestive tract, but don't do much take the opportunity to spread during a molt while the immune system is weak.

I honestly thought I was going to lose Jazzy last night. While self diagnosis is no substitute to seeing a vet, hopefully this can lead others in the right direction if they experience the same.

Jazzy is still lethargic, but in better spirits this morning and took her medications. She also ate like a champ when she got home after three hours at the vet last night (includes drive time). I am pretty sure she is doing better.
 

lucy1

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Nov 6, 2012
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Milo - my new baby B&G macaw! Rosie - Orange Wing Amazon & Rupert - Red Lored Amazon
Oh what an awful experience for you all!

I nursed and cuddled my beloved Amazon through his final night so I know that awful heart-wrenching moment you realise your bird is sick :( I'm *SO* pleased Jazzy had a good outcome from it

Does this start as soon as they start to lose feathers? A friend of mine notices her Grey is rather lethargic when growing new feathers in, but we've never noticed a change in our fids when losing the old ones. Something else to add to the new-mum book of things to worry about! :eek:
 
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Grinder

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Military Macaw - 'Lady",
GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
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Jazzy has been molting for less than a week. Yesterday was the first time I noticed anything different about her. It's also the first time I noticed a change in any of our parrots during a molt. I guess she got unlucky this time around :(
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Oh my, what a horrible scare!!! :eek:

THANK YOU for sharing Jazzy's story with us. I had NO clue about the immune system being weakened during a molt.

Thank GOD you got Jazzy to an avian vet as quickly as you did!! I'm sure she will make a full recovery with your TLC. :)

Best wishes to you and your Jazzy...and HUGS!!!!
 

crimson

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Oct 8, 2012
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Grinder, you are so spot on with this!, I have done extensive reading on moulting and how it effects our feathers loved ones. Not only does it affect them physically it affects them mentally, socially and most importantly it affects their immune system.

As I'm sure you know I have many different types of birds here. What I have observed is moulting affects different species differently. the smaller types of birds ie: canaries, finches, seem to loose their 'baby feathers', not all get pin feathers on their head and the back of the neck.
Gouldian Finches by far are the worst affected by a moult, it darn near kills them if they are not in peek condition before they moult. they typically will moult for over a month, become very weak, lethargic, and sleepy most of the day.
I lost my female just this morning due to her not being in peak condition before she started her moult.
Budgies, Cockatiels, lovebirds etc... don't seem to be affected by moulting much, at least mine don't, not sure about others.

I have yet to have my larger parrots go thru the moult process, so it will be interesting to see what transpires.
I remember my breeder friend who taught me everything, said to me 'Beth, a moult will kill a bird if they are not healthy, because it anything is lurking inside them, it will get them then'....I've never forgotten it.

I am so pleased you caught your bird in time, what a shame it would have been to loose such a magnificent bird and friend.
 
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Grinder

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GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
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Wendy - thank you for the kind words :) I can't wait to get home and see her. My wife just texted me and said she seems better.

Crimson - It's truly amazing. Up until now I always looked at molting as a wonderful time for our birds - old tired feathers being shed and beautiful new feathers coming in - especially flight feathers if you've been looking forward to a clipped parrot learning to fly. Now I know this is a time to really keep an eye on our parrots. I'm truly sorry you lost your female this morning. That is so sad :( I do thank you for the species specific information. Hopefully others get a chance to read it as well.
 

Mayden

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Apr 22, 2010
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Merlin & Charlie (Senegals)
Wendy - thank you for the kind words :) I can't wait to get home and see her. My wife just texted me and said she seems better.

Crimson - It's truly amazing. Up until now I always looked at molting as a wonderful time for our birds - old tired feathers being shed and beautiful new feathers coming in - especially flight feathers if you've been looking forward to a clipped parrot learning to fly. Now I know this is a time to really keep an eye on our parrots. I'm truly sorry you lost your female this morning. That is so sad :( I do thank you for the species specific information. Hopefully others get a chance to read it as well.

Haha oh god, moulting is the opposite in my head. I envision mean, nasty little gargoyles with tempers and mood swings to boot. It's uncomfortable for them, think... skulls and crossbows rather than beautiful flowers blooming in the sun!

I'm SO glad she's doing well. Moulting is an incredibly tough time on a birds body and so it's always wise to be more vigilant during this time. So glad she's doing well with you both now. My Wonsy passed away in my hands and it was truely heartbreaking, I'm relieved that your girl is doing well!

&Crimson, so sorry for your loss. xx
 

Blancaej

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Apr 5, 2013
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CAG Quincy - BD 3/27/00. Gotcha 6/00 ~ GW Macaw Savannah - BD 6/21/93. Gotcha 4/13 ~ B&G Macaw Coqui - BD 9/3/03. Gotcha 10/13 ~ Blue Crown Conure Sidney - BD Unknown Approx 5 Years Old. Gotcha 6/15/
I'm so sorry to hear you had to go through this with your sweet little Jazzy. I too had no idea about weakened immune system during molting. Thank goodness you found an emergency exotics vet close enough to take her in and check her. Thank you so much for sharing this info. I'm sure it will help others!

I am so glad to hear she is doing better today! :)
 

getwozzy

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Feb 26, 2013
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Ohmygoodness!!!!!! Poor Jazzy!!! So glad you got her medical care fast! Glad she's on the road to recovery.... I had no idea how moulting can take a toll on them :( thank you for sharing this info... I hope jazzy feels 100% better soon!
 

sodakat

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Jul 15, 2009
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I hope she improves rapidly! Please share the exact strain of bacteria when you can. Also, how did the non-avian vet identify the bacteria so accurately in such a short time?
 
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Grinder

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Military Macaw - 'Lady",
GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
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Hi Wendy. Thanks for asking.

When I got home last night, she was still pretty lethargic. She laid on my chest for about an hour and a half while we watched TV. This morning she was very active though. She played on her play stand and was moving around well. She takes two medications and I prepare the syringes in the kitchen. It's funny because she flew off her stand both times to follow me into the kitchen, but as soon as she saw the syringes she did her best to get away :) I'm very lucky she's so gentle because she allows me to open her beak with my fingers (without toweling her) to give her the medication. She forgives me after about two minutes :)

I brought her paperwork to work with me this morning so I could be more detailed on her diagnosis. The bacteria is called Clostridial and she is currently on Metronidazole (twice daily for ten days) and Meloxicam (once daily for 3-5 days).

So this morning was the first real sign of visible improvement. She'll get pampered tonight and all day tomorrow!
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Awww, what a SWEET sweet girl your Jazzy is. :)

Kind of funny the visual of her happily flying after you, then she sees what you're making her, her eyeballs pop, and she wants to haul butt out of there, lol.

I'm so happy she's doing better today!!!
 

Blancaej

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Apr 5, 2013
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CAG Quincy - BD 3/27/00. Gotcha 6/00 ~ GW Macaw Savannah - BD 6/21/93. Gotcha 4/13 ~ B&G Macaw Coqui - BD 9/3/03. Gotcha 10/13 ~ Blue Crown Conure Sidney - BD Unknown Approx 5 Years Old. Gotcha 6/15/
So glad she is improving! :D
 
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Grinder

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Jan 26, 2013
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East Coast, U.S.
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Military Macaw - 'Lady",
GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
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Wendy - she is doing much better. Thanks for checking in. She is still letting me open her beak to give her the meds, but she still tries to get away - after flying to me in the kitchen :) Although now she doesn't turn on her heels and run away. She keeps her on eyes me and just backs up the whole time! It's truly funny to watch. I'll take a video of her tonight and link it on this thread.
 
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Grinder

New member
Jan 26, 2013
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East Coast, U.S.
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Military Macaw - 'Lady",
GW Macaw - "Jazzy"
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Here is a quick video of Jazzy running away from me and doing everything she can not to get her medicine. I hid the syringe, but she knew what the next step was :) I apologize for my baby talk.

[ame="http://youtu.be/feHHNNCa7VQ"]Jazzy runs from her medicine - YouTube[/ame]
 
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JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Oh my gosh....it doesn't get any cuter than that!!! Thanks SO much for sharing this AWESOME clip!!! Jazzy is beyond adorable!! What a lovebug!!! :D
 

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