Avery is staying the night at the vet... [emoji20]

[Dinosrawr]

I feel like a wreck, though I know others have certainly experienced worse. When I got home today I took the birds out so I could clean their cages. Avery and Shiko flew around the room, per norm, and when she landed I went to go give her some cuddles and love. I tried to give her a treat, but she rejected it twice... then she started panting exceptionally hard and vomited twice in immediate succession. I took her to the emergency avian vet within 15 minutes of it happening.

They told me that based on her symptoms, chances are she contracted Influenza A (the only influenza strain avian easily contract from humans). They'll be doing a blood panel to check her CBC and a biochem panel to check overall organ functionality, as well as an X-Ray of her lungs and abdomen. Thankfully the vet doesn't ever do anesthesia or complete sedation for X-Rays, just a small dosage of a sedative which is also a painkiller as well as a muscle relaxant that leaves the system within 5-10 minutes of ingestion.

I'm trying really hard not to blame myself, but it's hard and it was so hard leaving without her in my arms to take her home. I genuinely feel for all of you who have had to deal with an especially sick bird. [emoji17]

 

[Christinenc2000]

I'm so sorry. Keep us posted. So glad you took her as soon as you did. Some people tend to wait.

 

[itchyfeet]

Oh no! Thinking of you <3

 

[Anansi]

I'm really sorry to hear that, Chantal. And you really shouldn't blame yourself. In fact, you did everything right. She was at the avian vet 15 minutes after you became aware of the symptoms. You did all that you could.

And I had no idea that Influenza A was transmissible to birds.

You and Avery both will be in my thoughts and prayers, tonight. Please keep us updated.

 

[Allee]

Chantal, I'm so sorry you and Avery are going through this. As Stephen said, you did everything exactly right. No reason at all to blame yourself. I like your vet's method of anesthesia, that's a relief. I know how hard it must have been to have left her there but it's good they are keeping her for observation. Big hugs, I know you need them.

Hoping for a quick and full recovery. You and Avery will be in my thoughts.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate it. The house is just really quiet and Shiko seems just as subdued as I am. I also didn't know birds could be infected by Influenza, and I was really surprised when he asked us what our professions were because apparently it's rather common (in the grand scheme of things). I'm just glad that I know now, because the general consensus was that it wasn't common for it to go from human to bird.

I can't wait until she's back home... it's crazy how much of your heart becomes filled with them and how empty it becomes with their absence.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kiwibird]

Oh no! That must be nerve wracking for you. I hope Avery gets lots of rest and feels better in the morning so she can go home.

 

[Piasa]

How heartbreaking I hope she is diagnosed soon and makes a speedy recovery.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh my gosh, Chantal!!! I am so sorry to see this!

How is Avery this morning??? Any word from the vet yet???

HUGS to you!!!!

 

[Dinosrawr]

They just called! When I got there yesterday it was just an hour before they went into full emergency hours and before the lab closed, so they decided to wait until this morning to do the blood tests so no strange artifacts would appear from old blood drawn the night before.

They said that she's an exceptionally feisty bird and that she can come home today! They don't know exactly yet what's wrong because the blood and X-rays need to be analyzed now, but based on her behaviour they said she should be perfectly fine to come home. She ate and drank and fought them tooth and nail when they tried to take blood and do the X-rays, which is a great sign that she's recovered from whatever it was that hit her yesterday. She's also perching fine and apparently showed her great displeasure of them by attacking a towel and then glaring right at them, haha. Sounds just like my girl! I'll be going to pick her up when Brendon gets home so we can both go see her together.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Christinenc2000]

YEAH Glad she is coming home. I know how upset you were without her. Keep us updated

 

[JerseyWendy]

You show 'em Avery!!

GREAT news, Chantal! You must be beyond elated!!! :heart: I bet you can't wait to have her back home, where she belongs.

 

[Anansi]

Judging from the treatment she's been giving the veterinary staff, it sounds like Avery has missed you as much as you've missed her. I'm so glad she'll be home with you soon, Chantal!

It's great that she's no longer showing any symptoms. Hopefully whatever it was has passed out of her system.

 

[Terry57]

Chantal, I am so glad that Avery is coming home today! I too hope that it has just passed from her system.

 

[Dinosrawr]

She's HOME!!! [emoji16] She was so happy to see us, kept chirping away. As soon as we got into the house I opened her carrier and she clung to me like glue - then bee lined to her food, so if that isn't an excellent sign I don't know what is. She's been chowing down for the past 10 minutes.

We still don't have her blood tests back, but the vets think that the most likely cause of such acute symptoms that then disappeared was the flu. From there, they said the X-rays do look like she may be potentially beginning to form an egg, but they want the results from her blood test to confirm based on the calcium of phosphorous levels. I'm just glad she's back home so soon though. I didn't sleep well last night and was up at the crack of dawn waiting for a phone call.

Thank you everyone for your kind support. We're not 100% clear yet, but I'm glad things are going well otherwise. Your words of kindness mean a lot!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blancaej]

Chanta - so sorry you've had to deal with all this stress the past couple of days! BUT I am so glad Avery is home and doing well!! She sounds like a feisty little one! Hee Hee

 

[RavensGryf]

Chantal, sorry I didn't post, but I'm just now seeing this. I am glad that all is well, and Avery is getting back to her old self quickly . That's good news! Hm, so Influenza "A" is zoonotic.

 

[GracelynNBirds]

Very sorry to hear, but you know it was on intentional. I don't think you did anything wrong, accidents like this happened. Your bird loves you, and misses you, just remember that.

Praying for you!

 

[GracelynNBirds]

Oh, she is home.. LOL! Well, glad she is back!

 

[Dinosrawr]

Thanks everyone [emoji4] And yeah Julie, I was surprised. I looked more into myself with just basic searching and apparently Influenza A strains are also the most common zoonotic flu as well, and they generally go from bird to human. So chances are it easily goes from human to bird, too, though not all are as virulent as say Avian Flu or Swine Flu. My avian vet said that it's not uncommon for them to contract it, just that they usually can fight it off relatively easy for the most part. Considering how well she's doing now without any medication, I wouldn't be surprised. But once again, we still have to wait to hear on the blood test before we really know what's going on.

She's very happy to be home though, preening away and saying "hey baby!" then blowing me kisses. You can definitely tell she missed us though, because she keeps going back and forth between Brendon and I to receive love. Anyone who says birds don't love and form strong emotion bonds clearly don't know quack!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk