Bixby Update

[Betrisher]

I can't help agreeing with miloslave, Stephen. And Kalidasa's suggestion about probiotics seems a good one as well. Why don't you check with your vet and see what he says? Sometimes, prolongued use of antibiotics can cause a bit of malaise and failure to thrive as the gut flora rebalance themselves. I know birdian guts aren't quite the same as humanian guts, but they still need 'good' flora. Perhaps there's a specific avian kind?

I can't tell you how sorry I am that Bixby's still ailing: Barney and Madge and Dommie are quite beside themselves. Sending virtual bouquets of millet and oat-grass and barley to our dear friend, Bixby. XXX

 

[Anansi]

Well thank goodness it's not PDD! So sorry you're going thru this, and hope mr. Bill Bixby turns into the Hulk and squashes this bug dead and fast. Never had an eclectus before, but am wondering are probiotics ok for them as with other parrots? (Special diet and all) maybe give the immune system a kickstart? Keeping my fingers crossed for him. He's awfully cute.

Thank you, Chris! I'm actually not sure about your probiotics question in relation to ekkies, but I'll certainly ask the vet about it. Anything that could give Bixby an advantage would be quite welcome at this point.

Could his lethargy be an reaction to the medication? I am just asking because I once had a budgie who just did not seem to get better. After giving him prescribed medicine for 3 weeks I thought "nooo, this poor birds body must be so tired of the medicine" and decided to give him a break for a day or two as he did not seem to really get any better at that stage. Very lethargic, sleepy etc. About 3 days after stopping the medicine he perked right up, started playing, chirping stopped sleeping so much etc. Still healthy today.

Might it be that Bixby's little body is just tired of the medicine as well if his counts shows normal? Maybe just a question for the vet?

Thanks, Ronel! I'd actually thought the same thing toward the end of his last round of antibiotics. And once he'd finished, he definitely did perk up for a few days. Maybe even a week or so. I thought the fight was finally over. But then, once he'd reached the two week mark, it was obvious that he was again deteriorating. He'd begun doing flight drills with me again up until that point, but then he lost his coordination again. He began missing his mark when aiming for my arm. So I stopped having him fly. Again. And then he started losing strength in his left foot, which is new. He can still grasp, but not like he could before. And all this was after the medicine would have cleared his system.

But Bixby is indeed tired of being medicated. I had to actually force him for the first time, today. And now there are two, so he's really too through. But even now my sweet guy hasn't taken an angry nip at me. I REALLY hope this is the end of it.

I can't help agreeing with miloslave, Stephen. And Kalidasa's suggestion about probiotics seems a good one as well. Why don't you check with your vet and see what he says? Sometimes, prolongued use of antibiotics can cause a bit of malaise and failure to thrive as the gut flora rebalance themselves. I know birdian guts aren't quite the same as humanian guts, but they still need 'good' flora. Perhaps there's a specific avian kind?

I can't tell you how sorry I am that Bixby's still ailing: Barney and Madge and Dommie are quite beside themselves. Sending virtual bouquets of millet and oat-grass and barley to our dear friend, Bixby. XXX

Thank you, Trish! The current medication is definitely causing more lethargy, but he was napping frequently regardless. As for the gut flora, I had asked about that. He said that all the antibiotics he's used up until this point do not have the effect of damaging any of the beneficial intestinal bacteria.

And I'm quite sure Bixby will ingest said virtual bouquets with all due enthusiasm, my friend. Please thank Barney, Madge and Dommie for us!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Stephen, how is Bixby doing?? He's been on the new combination antibiotics for a week now, right?

Sorry for checking in so late, please know that Bixby's been on my mind and in my heart!! :smile015:

 

[Anansi]

Stephen, how is Bixby doing?? He's been on the new combination antibiotics for a week now, right?

Sorry for checking in so late, please know that Bixby's been on my mind and in my heart!! :smile015:

Thanks, Wendy! Yes, Bixby has been on Azithromycin and Metacam since Monday. It's hard to know how he's doing right now, because the medication makes him far more lethargic than he was before. Hard to tell, really, where the effects of medication ends and sickness begins. But it really breaks my heart right now to watch him struggle.

He is generally exhibiting weakness in both feet, though moreso in the left. The weakness in his left was an issue even before he started on this latest round of medication, so I can't be sure of whether the weakness in his right is due to sickness or side-effects of the drugs.

I've been closely monitoring his weight, and while it's not optimal it's not in the red zone either. I've had to move him to his travel cage, however, because the weakness of his feet sometimes causes him to lose balance and fall.

He's been such a trooper about everything, though. He's gone back to voluntarily taking his medication every time, opening his mouth wide on command anytime that I ask him to open up. I just pray this is the last round.

 

[Kalidasa]

Poor little guy! Hope he feels better and gets his full health back.

 

[RavensGryf]

Oh Stephen, how completely stressful that is! I really feel for you and your family and poor little Bixby. My continued prayers and well wishes to all of you.

Does he seem worse now since you've been giving the meds? Is it more of the same meds or different this time? Seems like they give Azithromycin first, as a wide spectrum antibiotic for both people and pets!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear that Sir Bixby is not doing well.

Why did he put him on Metacam? I understand it's used for pain management and/or anti-inflammatory. Is/was Bixby in pain?

I pray that he will make a FULL recovery. Bless his sweet heart, and yours, too, my Rock!!

 

[thekarens]

Thanks for the update Stephen. I truly wish you and Bixby the best. It's so hard when they aren't well.

 

[miloslave]

Both of you are in my prayers. I know how horrible it must be to see him struggle like this. Please keep us updated. [emoji253]

 

[Anansi]

Poor little guy! Hope he feels better and gets his full health back.

Thank you, Chris! I'm really hoping so, as well. The weakness he's feeling reminds me so much of what my cockatiel went through before dying of kidney disease that, at times, it gets a little hard to stay positive and believe he'll come out of this okay.

Oh Stephen, how completely stressful that is! I really feel for you and your family and poor little Bixby. My continued prayers and well wishes to all of you.

Does he seem worse now since you've been giving the meds? Is it more of the same meds or different this time? Seems like they give Azithromycin first, as a wide spectrum antibiotic for both people and pets!

Thanks, Julie! In terms of his lethargy, yes, he does seem worse. But I'm hoping this is the darkness before the dawn, so to speak. Maybe 3 weeks of lethargy will be what it takes to finally knock this thing out of his system. He was on a different antibiotic at first. This one is apparently stronger, and this is the first time metacam is being used as well.

Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear that Sir Bixby is not doing well.

Why did he put him on Metacam? I understand it's used for pain management and/or anti-inflammatory. Is/was Bixby in pain?

I pray that he will make a FULL recovery. Bless his sweet heart, and yours, too, my Rock!!

Thank you, Wendy! And bless you, too!

They put Bixby on Metacam because weakness is often associated with inflammation. He hasn't been in any pain that I know of, but the fact that it's also a pain-killer doesn't hurt.

 

[Anansi]

Thanks for the update Stephen. I truly wish you and Bixby the best. It's so hard when they aren't well.

Thanks, Karen! It really is hard. Poor Bixby has been fighting with this thing for so long. I'll definitely be doing backflips when he finally beats this thing!

Both of you are in my prayers. I know how horrible it must be to see him struggle like this. Please keep us updated. [emoji253]

Thanks, Ronel! Prayer is always welcomed and much appreciated! And yes, I'll continue to keep you all updated.

All of the support from all of you means so much to me and Bixby. This extended family truly helps. Thank you.

 

[RavensGryf]

Okay, then maybe it's the stronger antibiotic that he's just reacting to. Did the vet say the lethargy is normal with the meds and nothing to be alarmed over?

I wonder if it's the Metacam that could be causing the side effect too?

 

[Anansi]

Okay, then maybe it's the stronger antibiotic that he's just reacting to. Did the vet say the lethargy is normal with the meds and nothing to be alarmed over?

I wonder if it's the Metacam that could be causing the side effect too?

I'm still waiting to hear back from the vet for certain, but according to his technician the Metacam is not very likely to be the cause of the increased lethargy. He felt that we couldn't be sure one way or the other if the medication was the cause short of stopping the medication for a few days and observing him for improvements. Obviously, I'd rather not do that unless I feel he is deteriorating. Hopefully I'll get through to the vet himself by today or latest tomorrow.

I personally believe it is the medication causing the increased lethargy because of a mistake that I made on Thursday. In the morning, I'd prepped his medication and given it to him before prepping his fresh food breakfast. Well, that was apparently a big mistake! For the rest of that day I had to support Bixby in my hands, as he was unable to even stand on his own. I had to handfeed him the entire day. He finally regained some strength in his legs later that night. (Yeah, stupid mistake. I know.)

Since that day, I've made his breakfast FIRST every time. I've also given him frequent treats while chopping up his food. And it made a world of difference. My thinking is that if taking his medication on an empty stomach caused an intensification of his current symptoms of lethargy, then the medication is likely causing his current symptoms... at least in part. (Remember that he was exhibiting some lethargy before the medication.)

I'll let you all know what the vet says, though.

 

[RavensGryf]

Waiting anxiously with you Stephen.
Sounds to me also like it might be mostly because of the medication since your little oops experiment on Thursday.. It's okay, Bixby has the best daddy !

 

[Anansi]

Thursday's episode was definitely due to that mistake. But his current lethargy is back to the levels shown from Monday through Wednesday. I just can't wait for him to start flying, again.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

My Zon had a very adverse effect on Metacam. She was very lethargic ,would not eat even vomited. I told the vet I was taking her off it [she agreed]. Just wanted to share my experience.

 

[Anansi]

My Zon had a very adverse effect on Metacam. She was very lethargic ,would not eat even vomited. I told the vet I was taking her off it [she agreed]. Just wanted to share my experience.

Thank you so much for sharing that! Helps a lot. Bixby hasn't vomited, thank God, but the lethargy is a bit worrisome. If he starts any vomiting, I'll definitely look to discontinue the Metacam as well. (Unless something else is proven to be the cause.)

On a positive new development, Bixby just flew to me from across the kitchen! He lost altitude near the end, but he managed to reach me from maybe 8 feet away! Not normally a big deal, but phenomenal given the circumstances. (I certainly wasn't expecting it! Turned when I heard the flutter of wings, moving the ceramic knife in my right hand away from the sound even as I lowered my left to give him a landing surface. Whew!)

And now he's eating like a madman! (Turns out he's a fiend for barley! Who knew?)

 

[Minimaker]

Poor baby, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[RavensGryf]

Stephen that sounds like some good news! Sounds like someone is feeling a little more energy! and that he really was liking the barley?! Sounds great! Happy to hear. Hopefully this is a good sign.

 

[Allee]

Stephen, that's great! Bixby flew eight feet, that's a big deal and I'm so happy to hear it. Barley, huh, who knew indeed?