Bingo's prognosis is guarded.

[Birds lover from Hawaii]

Thought you would do another x-ray first before considering ultrasound?

 

[texsize]

FYI, good friend, you may want to start moving toward softer food sources as what you are providing will work for the short term, but! We talked a bit about baby Parrot food and you should start considering that possibility.

To tell you the truth I forgot about that.
I can go out and pick some up tomorrow but how do I give it to him?
He has to eat it willingly as I don’t have a clue how to direct feed it into his crop and if I mess it up he’ll be In worse shape.
spoon feeding probably won’t work because he is scared of the spoon.
If it tastes good enough to him I can put a spoon full in his food dish .

 

[texsize]

Thought you would do another x-ray first before considering ultrasound?

Well I guess that was a mistake on my part.
I really thought he was better but was just kidding myself.
Thats why I say he has ups and downs.
I should know better than to think this is something that will just go away on its own.
Right now he is having a fight with a paper plate on top of his cage.

Anything on top of his cage that doesn’t belong MUST COME DOWN.

 

[Botsari]

Been trying for the last 2/3 days to make a new appointment for the ultrasound.
No luck. Not getting a call back and when I call they tell me the coordinator is not there and they will have them call me.

Bingo seems to have ups/downs for how he is feeling.

Trying something different for feeding.
He looks to have some trouble eating dry/hard food like pellets and seeds.
So am giving him more fruit (mango and grapes at the moment) and vegetables every day instead of every other day.

His weight floats around 510 grams. Highest was 517.
Lowest was 505 grams

I have looked more for someone else that can do the ultrasound but no luck.

doing google searches for “near me” avian ultrasound doesn’t work. I get everything from New York to Washington state.
I tried asking aav.org about ultrasound vets and got nothing but silence from them.

You just need to find an avian-only SPECIALIST vet/hospital in your area and ask them. They will know who does it in the area if they don't already do it themselves. My guess is you are not getting any good hits with an "avian ultrasound" search for the same reason you are unlikely to get good hits from a "stethoscope doctor" search - it is a tool, not a specialty. I'd try something more like "what is the best avian medical center in the LA area" and call them. Again, in a pinch I suggest you call the center with the number I left previously in the bay area and ask them if they happen to know of a good place in your area. I'm sure they will get some info back to you.

My understanding is that, while not ubiquitous in the places that also treat dogs and cats, ultrasound is not that uncommon for parrots - it is basically the go-to method of imaging anything you can't get a good image on with an x-ray, and CERTAINLY what you would do before any blind exploratory surgery - if you had the time. It is not that exotic. Like I implied before, long term you probably should consider finding a vet that you trust with these sorts of referrals, if not for the everyday oil change type of vet visits, at least with their number on your fridge in case of emergencies. Sorry you are going through this.

If you are having trouble with the first place possibly the cancellation spooked them. They too have a budget, and have to line up their schedule and make sure the equipment and the personnel are in place, and then a cancellation can cause a certain lack of confidence. My personal experience is that every avian specialist medical center I have been to has been a very busy if not harried place, and I would guess some might take it personally if you waste their time. It is a hard call. Live and learn, I guess. One way to fix it might be to burn some cash - contritely show up bird-in-hand at the original place, and offer to board your bird with them until they can line up the tests on their own terms - a few days at most. As a possible side benefit - if they are good avian vets - having some experienced eyeballs on him for a few days can't hurt as far as the diagnostics go. At this point gaining a clear idea of what is actually going on with him is goal #1.

 

[Birds lover from Hawaii]

Well I guess that was a mistake on my part.
I really thought he was better but was just kidding myself.
Thats why I say he has ups and downs.
I should know better than to think this is something that will just go away on its own.
Right now he is having a fight with a paper plate on top of his cage.

Anything on top of his cage that doesn’t belong MUST COME DOWN.

Don't be as we all have been on that path and we know exactly what you meant.

It is a good sign that he is still being active having a fight with the paper plate.

 

[Birds lover from Hawaii]

To tell you the truth I forgot about that.
I can go out and pick some up tomorrow but how do I give it to him?
He has to eat it willingly as I don’t have a clue how to direct feed it into his crop and if I mess it up he’ll be In worse shape.
spoon feeding probably won’t work because he is scared of the spoon.
If it tastes good enough to him I can put a spoon full in his food dish .

Yeah I hear you it will be hard. When an adult bird is sick, didn't eat enough causing rapid weight loss will become so weak that will allow owners will be able to forcefeed. Bingo is not at that stage so it will be hard to do that. I believe baby formula mainly consists of high protein ingredients ie eggs, fruits and veggies to boost up energy. Maybe try to mash up a mixture of the above and his most favorite treats/food in it to see if he is willing to eat on his own.

 

[texsize]

You just need to find an avian-only SPECIALIST vet/hospital in your area and ask them. They will know who does it in the area if they don't already do it themselves. My guess is you are not getting any good hits with an "avian ultrasound" search for the same reason you are unlikely to get good hits from a "stethoscope doctor" search - it is a tool, not a specialty. I'd try something more like "what is the best avian medical center in the LA area" and call them. Again, in a pinch I suggest you call the center with the number I left previously in the bay area and ask them if they happen to know of a good place in your area. I'm sure they will get some info back to you.

My understanding is that, while not ubiquitous in the places that also treat dogs and cats, ultrasound is not that uncommon for parrots - it is basically the go-to method of imaging anything you can't get a good image on with an x-ray, and CERTAINLY what you would do before any blind exploratory surgery - if you had the time. It is not that exotic. Like I implied before, long term you probably should consider finding a vet that you trust with these sorts of referrals, if not for the everyday oil change type of vet visits, at least with their number on your fridge in case of emergencies. Sorry you are going through this.

If you are having trouble with the first place possibly the cancellation spooked them. They too have a budget, and have to line up their schedule and make sure the equipment and the personnel are in place, and then a cancellation can cause a certain lack of confidence. My personal experience is that every avian specialist medical center I have been to has been a very busy if not harried place, and I would guess some might take it personally if you waste their time. It is a hard call. Live and learn, I guess. One way to fix it might be to burn some cash - contritely show up bird-in-hand at the original place, and offer to board your bird with them until they can line up the tests on their own terms - a few days at most. As a possible side benefit - if they are good avian vets - having some experienced eyeballs on him for a few days can't hurt as far as the diagnostics go. At this point gaining a clear idea of what is actually going on with him is goal #1.

My local avian vet is the only local avian vet and he only knew of a place up near UC Berkly.

You could be right about the ultrasound place being a bit Leary of making a second appointment. That would be my gut feeling as to why I am not hearing from them. They aren't all that close to me either (not in driving time anyway).
I made that drive (roughly, my drive was just a bit further) every day for work for 23 years. the only thing that made it barrable was I worked non rush hours (swing shift). Wanting me to show up early and on time would make a 70 minuet drive into a 3 hour drive (with a sick bird in the car of course) and no guarantee of arriving on time.

They have walk in emergency care and are open 24 hours so maybe I can work out a plan to bring him in super early and avoid rush hour traffic and an extended time in the car.

Perhaps if I just keep calling they will come through and realize I am serious about the test. BUT it doesn't fill me with confidence their lack of .... follow-through. And maybe the horse will learn to sing LOL

I can try you recommended place up north tomorrow (give them a call not to go there) and see if they know of somewhere local to me that can do it.

 

[Botsari]

My local avian vet is the only local avian vet and he only knew of a place up near UC Berkly.

You could be right about the ultrasound place being a bit Leary of making a second appointment. That would be my gut feeling as to why I am not hearing from them. They aren't all that close to me either (not in driving time anyway).
I made that drive (roughly, my drive was just a bit further) every day for work for 23 years. the only thing that made it barrable was I worked non rush hours (swing shift). Wanting me to show up early and on time would make a 70 minuet drive into a 3 hour drive (with a sick bird in the car of course) and no guarantee of arriving on time.

They have walk in emergency care and are open 24 hours so maybe I can work out a plan to bring him in super early and avoid rush hour traffic and an extended time in the car.

Perhaps if I just keep calling they will come through and realize I am serious about the test. BUT it doesn't fill me with confidence their lack of .... follow-through. And maybe the horse will learn to sing LOL

I can try you recommended place up north tomorrow (give them a call not to go there) and see if they know of somewhere local to me that can do it.

Most of their vets are also bird owners, I found. If you sound desperate I'm sure they might have some ideas. I'd like to believe that the people who work at the front desk have some info sheets of this kind at the ready, without even having to query the actual vets, but I don't know. You can honestly tell them they were recommended to you for info by another parrot owner that had an ultrasound done by them!

If you just take him to the place at your convenience w/respect to rush hours, and let them board him and do the ultrasound when they can fit all the scheduling puzzle pieces together, I bet it will get the job done. The boarding is likely to be a tiny fraction of the cost.

There is "local" and "local". My main point is that the local "regular" vet that is closest apparently did not have the right answer about where a closer ultrasound for your bird might be. That might be fine for everyday use. How did you in fact find the closer one? But it just shows you may need to know in advance where to call next time if you (unfortunately) find yourself in desperate need of the correct medical referrals fast, and where "I heard there is a place 8 hours away" is not going cut it.

To paraphrase the Godfather - hopefully that day may never come.

 

[SailBoat]

Ya, the spoon thing!
Our go to is a food dish that has a few of Julio's favorite special treat stuff and we have added a bit of the formula with a bit of his favorite honey. Very special limited and sparingly provided. His birthday, the special occasions and special reward stuff.
It is clearly a whatever works approach .

 

[DonnaBudgie]

To tell you the truth I forgot about that.
I can go out and pick some up tomorrow but how do I give it to him?
He has to eat it willingly as I don’t have a clue how to direct feed it into his crop and if I mess it up he’ll be In worse shape.
spoon feeding probably won’t work because he is scared of the spoon.
If it tastes good enough to him I can put a spoon full in his food dish .

If you are in the Los Angeles area Dr Lavec is an amazing avian vet. All my birds were treated by him for a wide variety of illnesses Google him.

 

[texsize]

Ya, the spoon thing!
Our go to is a food dish that has a few of Julio's favorite special treat stuff and we have added a bit of the formula with a bit of his favorite honey. Very special limited and sparingly provided. His birthday, the special occasions and special reward stuff.
It is clearly a whatever works approach .

I think I could get him to eat some if Imix with oatmeal.
will try to get food this am but now I got a problem.
My Dr gave me an injection yesterday that made my BP go through the roof and left me very dizzy.
BP is better now but still dizzy, too dizzy to drive.
Have to get my Son to be the chuffer.

 

[texsize]

If you are in the Los Angeles area Dr Lavec is an amazing avian vet. All my birds were treated by him for a wide variety of illnesses Google him.

found him on Wilshire blvd. a bit closer than the place not calling me back. Will give them a call this am. Thanks

 

[DonnaBudgie]

found him on Wilshire blvd. a bit closer than the place not calling me back. Will give them a call this am. Thanks

Good. He's truly world class when it comes to avian medicine. I think he sees other animals too but most avian vets do.

 

[texsize]

I have an appointment for this Saturday.

 

[ravvlet]

Yay! Sorry to hear you’re not feeling your best. I hope the appointment goes smoothly. My sister in law lives in the LA area and we went to visit her last summer and the traffic was hell. She lives in West Hollywood, and it was so expensive to stay anywhere near her.

 

[texsize]

I got a call this morning from the place I WAS going to take Bingo tomorrow.

They wanted to change the game plan from ultrasound to.
CT scan.
Another blood test.
endoscope.
For a total cost of $6,000. 00 US.
I told them my last name is not Musk or Rockefeller.
If I could spend that kind of money and bring home a health bird I might do it even at that cost but this will only find out what's wrong (maybe).
It's quit possible whatever is wrong might not BE fixable.

There is a local vet that already said they can do a CT scan and even recommended it as a next step for a lot less than 6,000.
It was still a lot of money but IDK . I want to talk with my CAV and see what he says about all this.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I think I could get him to eat some if Imix with oatmeal.
will try to get food this am but now I got a problem.
My Dr gave me an injection yesterday that made my BP go through the roof and left me very dizzy.
BP is better now but still dizzy, too dizzy to drive.
Have to get my Son to be the chuffer.

No honey for birds, I hear, due to possible microbial toxins.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I have an appointment for this Saturday.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[SailBoat]

No honey for birds, I hear, due to possible microbial toxins.

Yup, but only provided it in very tiny amounts to create interest in eating. If they do not eat, they die.

 

[texsize]

Got a prescription for that pain med meticam ?
may help him be more comfortable and help reduce swelling.
He is eating some of the oatmeal/baby formula as I type this.
Will give him his first dose of pain med in afternoon out of cage time.