18 weeks DYH still not drinking water

[henpecked]

I would suggest not getting her wet while on the anti biotics. Are you using Baytril? For a respiratory infection i nubulize Baytril. That and most courses are for 10 days. baytril is so bitter i have issues administering the stuff. Oral with a dropper of the injectable (much more concentrated) followed quickly with something else, or injecting and of course nubulizing. There's no hiding the taste in anything i've found. If you fool them once it won't work the second time you try. The best result i've had is a drop at a time on a favorite (dry food) ,like toast or cracker snack. Good Luck. Holler if you need help.

 

[Pajarita]

I second Henpecked, do not get the bird wet. As to medicating, I just put the syringe on the left side of their beak and squirt. It doesn't taste good but they need it so...

Was he tested for Chlamydiosis? Because although it shows different symptoms (some birds don't even show a single one and just drop dead), it usually starts with a respiratory...

 

[iSancho]

Pajarita - you are freaking me out!

No, I forgot to ask for Chlamydiosis test when I was at the vet. But as soon as I got home from the vet I remembered and called the vet and ask for it. He asked where I got the bird and how long have I had it. Which I got at a pet store and I had for 3 months. He said it was pretty uncommon.

I did read up on Chlamydiosis and I understand some birds don't even show signs. His nares are inflamed and he scratches or shakes his head from the irritation. But his weight has been normal. He eats and poops fine. Just a few days ago his poop was dry but I do believe that is because he didn't start drinking until recently since I added a plastic water bowl. And since then his poop is normal. This morning Rio showed signs of clear discharge when he sneezed and he sounds a little congested. I'm waiting for the vet to call me back to see if that's normal from taking the antibiotics. My husband thinks Rio is just getting worst to get better. Like the antibiotics is taking it's course. I will request to get him tested for Chlamydiosis because I rather be safe than sorry.

I've been masking the Baytril with 1 shot of his formula with a syringe. The dr told me it's fruity flavored but I didn't taste it and I can tell Rio wouldn't take it by itself. I'm on day 3 and he's starting to figure it out. I have 2 more days to go and I'm hoping I can mask it for another 2 days. Baytril is what the dr gave me for Rio. Initially he instructed me to give it to Rio twice a day for 5 days but later came back to tell me just once a day for 5 days because the dosage was going to be higher than he first said.

 

[iSancho]

It's been 3 weeks since Rio started Baytril. And I was wrong he did take it for 10 days and not 5 days which was so hard because I couldn't get him to take it from the syringe with his formula after he figured out his formula tasted different on day 4. I started soaking it in toast and crackers. He ate the crackers more but it's all crumbly and not sure how much of the Baytril he actually ate verses toast he just liked tearing it up into pieces. Anyways, his nares improved and was less red. He started getting congested on day 5 so I used a humidifier for a week and it went away. He stopped scratching a lot and shook his head a lot less. My only concern was his nares still seems pink to me and a little swollen. I went back to the vet yesterday and asked for the bird fever test. He kept insisting it's so rare of his 20+ years of experience. Plus of where I got the bird he didn't think it was necessary. He also didn't think Rio's nares were bad. He said it might be normal for Rio to have pink nares. Rio didn't have them before. Should I be looking for a new vet? Does his nares look infected from the picture? Everything else is normal. He eats great, he's active, poops fine. Just his nares look pink to me and are dry. Also at night the bottom part of the skin around his eyes get pink too. That's why I asked in another post if Amazon's get red eyes when their tired? Do amazon's flare up their nares for a reason naturally?

 

[JerseyWendy]

His nostrils still look quite red to me. I would most definitely look for another avian vet.

IF he needs another round of antibiotics, especially since you don't know how much he actually took once he didn't like it in his formula, you can ask the vet to give you pre-filled syringes and give him the antibiotics via needle. It's given into the chest, as easy as 1-2-3, and you always know he got the exact dose.

I will attempt to get a picture of my DYH nostrils now for comparison.

Here are 2 pictures of my Sam's nostrils.

 

[SandyBee]

I have to agree with Wendy here, it doesn't look right.
I also would look at getting a second opinion. I wouldn't freak out though because there is so many things it could be including allergies. Try and find an avian specialist if you can. Where I am we have 6 different avian vets, there are all good for run of the mill stuff, but when dealing with unique issues there is only 1 lady in town that works with just birds and that is who we go to.

 

[SandyBee]

my amazon's nares

 

[henpecked]

If your AV says those look normal,, i'd look into other Avian Vets in your area.

 

[Pajarita]

I agree with Henpecked. Those nares are not normal (swollen and irritated) and, if he is now getting red around the eyes, the infection is not only still there, it's beginning to affect his eyes, too. Please look for another vet but also, please do not inject your bird, it's an unnecessary risk. Giving them the antibiotic in their beak with a syringe twice a day is a bit stressful to them but causes no physical harm which an injection might.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Giving them the antibiotic in their beak with a syringe twice a day is a bit stressful to them but causes no physical harm which an injection might.

I respectfully disagree with you on this, Pajarita. If the injection is done properly, there is no risk, and it's SO easy to do, plus you always know your bird got the exact amount he/she needed, with no risk of aspiration. It's also much quicker than trying to force it down a struggling bird's beak.

 

[Pajarita]

Giving them the antibiotic in their beak with a syringe twice a day is a bit stressful to them but causes no physical harm which an injection might.

I respectfully disagree with you on this, Pajarita. If the injection is done properly, there is no risk, and it's SO easy to do, plus you always know your bird got the exact amount he/she needed, with no risk of aspiration. It's also much quicker than trying to force it down a struggling bird's beak.

I beg your pardon but there is risk and this is not my opinion. Please see below, this is listed under Complications/Limitations/Risk for Intramuscular injections in birds in Veterinary Techniques:

Volumes must be adjusted relative to muscle mass. N.B. particularly important in small individuals (0.05ml in a canary is equivalent, volume-to-weight, to 40ml in a 25k.g. dog (B13.17.w16).
Not feasible in all birds.
Significant tissue damage may result from intramuscular injections due to volume, formulation and dosage frequency. Both haematoma formation and necrosis may result.
Injection may be painful.
Some drug concentrations may require multiple sites per dose.
Drugs injected into the thigh (femoral muscles) may clear through renal portal system before absorption in some species.
Small birds may not have sufficient muscle mass to accommodate any injections.
(Pectoral muscle injections) in downies/fledglings in which the sternum is still cartilaginous this may be penetrated, with the injection being given into the liver.
(Femoral muscle injections) risk of damage to nerve along posterior aspect of femur.

And this is under Level of Expertise:

Procedure should only be undertaken by an individual with appropriate clinical training and practical experience; this would usually be someone with veterinary training.

As to dosage quantity, you can control that perfectly with a syringe as well. And although there is a danger of aspiration when giving liquids in a bird's beak, it disappears if you do it correctly and this is a technique that every bird keeper needs to master anyway because you never know when you might have to hand-feed the bird: towel bird wrapping towel around body and leaving head out, hold bird in non-dominant hand and arm with hand holding the back of the head placing index and thumb under ears, insert syringe tip on left side of beak with tip resting inside the beak and not in the throat.

I am more than VERY careful about my birds, I am borderline paranoid. I admit it. And the more I learn about them (and I do research all the time and study text books constantly) the more paranoid I become so I only allow injections in my birds when there is no other practical way of achieving the desired result and, in over 20 years of keeping birds, I think I can count with the fingers of one hand the times that this was necessary. And, as an interesting note, in some states, non-professional people injecting birds could be considered animal abuse (there was a case of a young man who rescued birds in NYC and they charged him with animal abuse because of this).

 

[JerseyWendy]

Well pardon me VERY much. No need to get all defensive and uppity about it.

I WILL stick to this method should any of my birds ever require an antibiotic treatment again. My avian vet showed me precisely how to do it, it IS quite easy.

 

[JerseyWendy]

And some links about the injections:

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/31817-your-advice-please-giving-antibiotic-injections-fid.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/26379-learned-give-birdie-shots.html

 

[Pajarita]

LOL - I am not defensive about it. I just happen to disagree with you on the risk (as does the text book).

 

[iSancho]

Amazons aren't allergic to certain foods, are they? Like I said before the bottom of his eyes gets more noticably red at night and that is usually after he eats. During the day I take him outside and I don't see anything wrong with his eyes. Come to think about it his nares are redder at night too. But his nares use to look like the pictures everyone posted too.

Yes, I will go to for another vet. I wouldn't be apposed to injections after I see it done. I've been touching him in that area today and he doesn't seem to mind too much. He's way too picky about food so giving it to him orally is so stressful on us both I think. But I'll do whatever needs to be done as long as it cures him. Will keep you posted.

 

[SandyBee]

Birds can have allergies to things in the environment or food. You need to get him to a vet that will run the tests to determine what the issue is.
All we can do here is guess, but something is not right. Some vets will eben let you come in daily so they can give a shot if needed or teach you the best method to administer meds.

 

[iSancho]

So got a 2nd opinion and that avian vet said Rio seemed normal to her too. Rio had redness around the eyes but was not puffy. Inside of his beak looked very good. His nares look clear, nothing blocking. Feathers, heartbeat, breathing, eyes, ears looked good. His appetite hasn't changed and he's pretty active. I'm waiting for the results of the Psittacosis swab test but she even thinks it will be negative. I guess Rio's just changing and I can stop worrying. $144 later, small price to pay for peace of mind.