Ill Red-Bellied Parrot - please help/need advice

Apr 16, 2010
4
0
Los Angeles
Parrots
Echo - African Red Bellied Parrot
Scully - Jenday Conure
Hi everyone -

I'm new to the forum and sure wish I had a better first post. I'm desperately reaching out to this parrot loving community to help me with my ill red-bellied parrot.

Echo is about 1.5 years old, and has always been a super healthy, happy playful parrot. Couldn't ask for a better bird. Recently, he started sneezing. At first it was only 2-3 times a day. Then all of a sudden it seemed like he was sneezing over 10 times a day and I instantly called the avian vet. Some sneezes were producing clear snot.

I should mention I recently moved to a new apartment and he was separated from two other birds who he used to live with. Neither of whom are sick, even though he was showing symptoms before the move. Perhaps the stress of leaving the flock and a move exacerbated the illness?

The avian vet did several tests: throat swab and gram stains. He said that when he did the throat swab that the top of the inside of his beak (there's a certain name for it) was full of a very thick mucus. He was given a shot of Doxy (sp?) on the spot. Gram stains later revealed a gram negative of 80% which is extremely high. The bacteria strain is Enterobacter. He has been given .08ccs of an antibiotic who's name escapes me at the moment (it's a pink liquid) every day for 15 days now. He is still sneezing. He seems frustrated all the time (I'm sure from the discomfort), screaming more than normal and constantly acting like he's trying to get somewhere in his cage but can't (beating his wings, screaming, frantically looking around), even though a perch might be right in front of him. He seems to be eating and drinking just fine, and poops are consistent and normal in appearance.

I took him to the vet yesterday for another shot of Doxy. Still sneezing as of last night and this morning... Next step is to take him to the vet next week for further gram stains.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, was your parrot able to overcome this? Do you know the odds of Echo overcoming this as he seems resistant to treatment? Is there anything more I can do or that you can recommend to keep him comfortable?

I'm so upset... please, any advice would help. Thank you in advance. Sorry for the long post but I figure more detail than less is helpful.

My best,
Lyndsey
 
OP
New Bird on the Block
Apr 16, 2010
4
0
Los Angeles
Parrots
Echo - African Red Bellied Parrot
Scully - Jenday Conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Thanks, Ratzy. It gives me some hope your little ones were able to overcome this. I have a heat lamp on him and he's been staying under it almost all day and night. The vet said it was important to keep him warm so he could spend his energy getting well instead of trying to get warm.
 

greycloud

New member
Mar 21, 2010
1,034
1
Baltimore, MD
Parrots
Sammy-Umbrella Too-rescued,
Dexter-CAG-rehomed handicapped,
Sterling-CAG-rehomed retired breeder.
Sunshine-12 yo CAG-adopted
Hi, sorry to hear your little guy is ill. Baytril is excellent. It is broad spectrum and can treat many illnesses. My grey had pneumonia one month ago and after baytril is very healthy now. It does take about a week before I saw a change in his symptoms. Please keep a light on him or a heating pad on one side of his cage and cover his cage on 3 sides with a blanket. This keeps the heat in. As long as his nares are not clogged shut he should be ok. I think he just does not feel good. Being in the new place and away from his flock may be causing him some upset.
 

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