Recognize this symptom?

Hi,

LuLu is having seizures when he drops to the floor or flies into things or has some short of physical shock to his body. He is clipped and can arrest a fall to the floor. Whenever he flies off his perch which is about 4 feet high he flutters down and often does a soft landing but not always. He then seems normal but slowly starts to have a seizure. His whole body is twitching and he looses control of his legs and feet. This has happened about a dozen times over the last several years. I have had him about 5 years now.

I remember the day I got him because he flew off his perch and hit the ground and he did the same thing. The owner picked him up and set him on his back in between his legs in his lap. It took about 5 - 10 minutes for him to recover to his normal self. I thought it was a bit odd since the fall was not very severe in my experience. I figured he just hit his head and was knocked senseless.

So it happened again today one of my other parrots launched and I guess that startled LuLu and he went airborne. I saw him do a nice landing not an uncontrolled crash into the floor. It took about 15 seconds for the seizure to reach its maximum convulsions. As I normally do I contain his wings from moving and I pick him up and place him on a towel and I hold him as you see in the video until the seizing stops. He then is calm but clearly cannot use his legs for a time. The right one is usually more severely affected that the left. He seems dazed and like he is "out of it". Normally this bird will not let me touch him in any way so as you can see in the video he seems unaffected by the fact that I am touching him. He shows signs of extreme fatigue because his eyes are very heavy and he seems to be struggling to keep them open. He will stay in this state for 10-15 minutes as he slowly regains normal functioning. Then he has trouble walking for another 10-15 minutes and his right leg seems to be crippled and unable to get a grip or move properly. Left leg is much stronger. After another 10 minutes he seems normal and as feisty as usual.

Anyway have a look at the videos and let me know what you think.

I have sent these videos to my vet and she said it is not a seizure. I will bring him as soon as I can to get a definitive answer.

But until then I was hoping someone could tell me what is going on.

Please let me know your thoughts.



Having a seizure - [ame="https://youtu.be/FBTdypvuxK8"]IMG 4579 - YouTube[/ame]

After seizure - [ame="https://youtu.be/CkQ7eNU8yHw"]IMG 4527 1 - YouTube[/ame]

Yes that is a seizure! Not a doubt in my mind! I have a dog that has seizure, same thing, then droopy tired out of it and disoriented , and ataxic after it. You might need a new vet!!! But I have no ideas on the cause....... That's got to be scary to deal with!!

Oh, wow... terrifying. I am so, so, so sorry. I think you're absolutely on the right tack with a vet visit asap! It could be so many things, so few of which feel competent to contemplate!
In case you'd like to scout out some faster/additional avian vets...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

If your vet can not recognize this a seizure, you absolutely need a new vet!!! You need an x-ray, and every work up. In the end it may be cause unknown like my dog was, but I had everything tested first, I elected nit to do daily meds as they are about once every other month or less, and they are petite mal, nit grand Mal seizures. But I have Valium on hand in case that happens, because if it dies and you don't stop the seizure they will seize until they die from their brain overheating ect... I would have calcium levels checked, glucose, x Ray, CBC and chemistry, abd anything else vet WHO can recognize a seizure thinks needed!

Before you condemn my vet you should know that actually I have some of the finest avian vets in the country here in town. I have seen most of them in the 25 years that I have kept parrots. So I will not pass judgement on anyone's competency until all the facts are in. It looks like a seizure to me but I am not qualified enough to be absolutely sure.

Yes I was a bit surprised when she said it was not a seizure but she sounded confident. Of course she was not going to provide a diagnosis over the phone and suggested I bring him in. Of course that is the plan. I was trying to get the event documented by sending them some video because it does not happen very often and when it does I don't usually have a camera at the ready. If I am not confident in her diagnosis then I can get other opinions. Which I have done in the past.

Anyway It's going to be interesting to see what the diagnosis is. I will keep you informed.

Not condemming anyone, but has Lulu had his bloodwork done (regulary/ once/ never?) and his scary-diseases check?

I may not be reading you right, but do the seizures start spontanously or is it a reaction to something happening around him? (Like nightfrights in some birds)

Poor guy is really out of it.

But with the shiney beak and not so shiney feathers (once again-> that could just be the recording, not real life -> that is why CAVs actually *see* their patients instead of skyping etc. ) .. it could even be something nutritionally that works on the nervous system.

Keeping my fingers crossed for an 'easy fix'.

I would second an X-ray.


Perhaps there is some spinal damage for an injury 'in the nest' or something like that.


It looks awful, I am sure you poor bird is terrified not understanding what's happening.