Macaw vomiting and lung infection

[Martin93]

And vomiting again... Frustrating to say at the very least.
Altough i did notice that his vomiting starts after he's been screaming real loud.
Whenever he screams he suddenly stops to vomit but when he's just quiet and calm nothing happens. I called the vet but the guy is in surgery now so cant talk to him.
But i was wondering, if he vomits while screaming, doesn't that mean that he's just pushing his food without it being any nausea?
Also when running around and breathing fast after trying to fly usually causes him to vomit but only a little.
Maybe the root of the vomiting is just shortness of breath because of the lung infection?

I'll try calling the vet again in an hour or two hopefuly he'll be done by then.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Perhaps the screaming is an indication he feels unwell?

 

[LordTriggs]

if he's pushing the food out through screaming and breathing then it's in his lungs. the stomach has very little to do with the vocal process.

I think it's related to the sores in his stomach. I believe it may be that the food is touching them and causing pain which would explain the screaming and vomiting. Poor baby, I really hope he pulls through. He must be eating at least some of it though as he's still around

 

[wrench13]

Right, so try to keep his screaming and running around to a minimum. Just like a person, when you have an infection, the body needs rest so internal body functions can concentrate on fighting the infection. Keep on it Martin, we are all rooting for him!

 

[Martin93]

I'll keep try my best to keep him calm.
But i can assure you that he's not screaming becouse he's unwell.
Its a macaw, they scream. and when i turn on the vacuum cleaner he goes crazy, so does my eclectus.
I was vacuuming and thats when it happend.
I fed him again afterwards and put him in his cage and he's sleeping now keeping it all in.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I'll keep try my best to keep him calm.
But i can assure you that he's not screaming becouse he's unwell.
Its a macaw, they scream. and when i turn on the vacuum cleaner he goes crazy, so does my eclectus.
I was vacuuming and thats when it happend.
I fed him again afterwards and put him in his cage and he's sleeping now keeping it all in.

Thank goodness for that!

 

[LordTriggs]

really good to hear he's keeping it in now! try not hoovering for a few days maybe? Maybe he's scared of it to a point it makes him sick? Can't hurt to try

 

[Martin93]

I've been trying to remember if jacky has been vomiting even before being on antibiotics.
I'm not sure actually.
Maybe the vomiting is something simple as a side effect from the antibiotics.
Also the day i went to a specialist i did not feed him anything that day, also no medication and the day after he seemed to be doing quite well, he was even bobbing his head a little bit. but now after a few days the vomiting has returned and he stopped bobbing again.
Not sure if that is because he did not get medication then or just really hungry or something.
Just trying to think here on what the problem might be.
Seeing the vet again tomorrow.

 

[Martin93]

Doxycycline side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to doxycycline: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

changes in your vision;
severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, weakness;
skin rash, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
upper stomach pain (may spread to your back), loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, feeling short of breath;
confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;
new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing;
increased pressure inside the skull--severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes; or
severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common doxycycline side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;
mild diarrhea;
skin rash or itching


Just a possibility.
Stomach pain, so it must irritate the stomach, jacky's stomach was red as seen with the endosocpy. perhaps he cant handle antibiotics.

 

[Scott]

Did the vet ever share with you a diagnosis? I can't help but believe the red soreness in the stomach is a central part of the problem.

With a reasonably sure diagnosis, you can Google for all sorts of therapies, background information, etc.

If there is no definitive diagnosis, the vet may be using a scattershot approach trying various therapies with the hope of stumbling on the correct drug.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Would you consider calling a CAV in the UK as closer than US for a phone diagnosis?

Will help with which one. Rapidly losing faith and this little guy is not getting better.

What do you and others think?

 

[Martin93]

I'm not losing faith yet, since he's still very alive and playfull. The only thing why you might say he's sick is becuase he's vomiting.
Plumsmum2005, I'd like to call your vet for a phone diagnosis! Every bit of help is welcome.

 

[Martin93]

Did the vet ever share with you a diagnosis? I can't help but believe the red soreness in the stomach is a central part of the problem.

With a reasonably sure diagnosis, you can Google for all sorts of therapies, background information, etc.

If there is no definitive diagnosis, the vet may be using a scattershot approach trying various therapies with the hope of stumbling on the correct drug.

Vet never told me about a diagnosis, also they did not do a biopsy, which i prefer they had.
I think that indeed its a scattershot approach, but the specialist told me that the bird does not strike him as very sick, he's a little underweight thats all, he added that if the bird would be sitting in a corner silent fluffed up that is a sign of a very sick bird and he assured me that mine is not in a critical condition.
Just very difficult to handle as things are now.

Anyway he wanted to see how things go after he finnished his new antibiotics and the medicine for his stomach.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Avian Vets | Parrot Veterinary Services

This is the parrot society list of CAV's. I can give you mine if you wish perhaps you would pm me? I would like to add, only one CA/Exotics Vet at this practice and he is rushed off his feet much of the time. The communication coming from your vet may help?

I remember LordTriggs stating he has a good vet near and looking for input from him.
Bear in mind that this is more than likely still going to incur cost to you, unfortunately.

Is your vet taking this seriously, do not think so? A sick bird is a serious thing, one fluffed up is critical. What a twit!

 

[LordTriggs]

yeah that doesn't sound like a CAV to me. A bird that is in the corner and fluffed up is practically dead. Even you said he has a lung infection and red sores in his stomach. If that was a human they would be in hospital.

the vet near me is called CJ Hall vets. They're the only CAV for London and I met with some of them at a show in june and they had an extensive list of former patients with some pretty serious conditions that they fixed. Might be worth sending them an email with a couple pictures, maybe even a video of him having a feed to see what they think

 

[Martin93]

Alright, i don't want to be cheering to early again but he seems to be doing a lot better!
The vet told me to stop all the medication since he did not respond to them at all.
Two days ago i quit the medication and today he seems to be doing so much better.
I don't know how or why but i thank god for this miracle!
So here's how things are;
Vomiting almost gone, sometimes just a few drops, happend twice today.
Some interest in getting fed, whenever crop is empty she fluffs up and starts moving her head up and down.
Still no headbobbing while feeding, but i can feed about 10 - 20ml which she can swallow at once. Swallowing is still little slow, but i'm already happy to see her do this.
Total feeding is 100ml now 3x daily.

Oh yeah, she had her first flight today.
Hit her head pretty hard against the wall but she shook it off and tried flying again.
Took me by suprise but i'm very happy to see progress.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thank you, so very pleased and let the improvement continue.

She is truly gorgeous and so very precious.

what is her name?

Love the pics btw.

 

[Scott]

She is beautiful!! So glad to hear the symptoms have subsided. Hopefully she is on the road to a cure and will put this nasty episode in the past forever!

Should the vomiting recur, I would strongly suggest a visit with a certified avian vet or at least a phone consultation. She may spontaneously be cured or possibly have gain benefit from the shotgun approach to meds.

 

[Martin93]

Thank you all!
Her name is jacky.
May the symptoms ever come back i'll contact CAV, One of the forum members from my country has helped me find some.

 

[plumsmum2005]

That is good news. Could you add the contacts gained to our list of AV's on here? It may help someone like you quicker next time?

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/9841-vets-your-area.html

Please continue to update us about Jacky, she is super cute.

Do you think there would be any harm in giving Jacky some live yoghurt after the antibiotics? (Look for yoghurt with live cultures and little or no sugar).