Discolored feathers around vent

[parapig23]

Hello everyone,

the feathers around my budgie Dove's vent are green. I will try and get a picture. I don't know if this is normal. Also last night and this morning she was making kind of a buzzing sound. This morning it sounded more like grinding though. Can they be related? Should I schedule a vet appointment? Thank you!!!

 

[Laurasea]

this can be an egg binding emergency. If you gently put you finger over the vent most times you can feel the egg. If sn egg is stuck it is sn emergency.

But a messy butt is probably a serious critical issue either way.

 

[wrench13]

SO true, as Laura, one of our more educated-in-parrot physiology members mentions! A discolored vent is nothing to ignore. Certified Avian Vet visit ASAP.

 

[noodles123]

Yeah- get her in. The clicking and tail bobbing last night + this= emergency

 

[parapig23]

I found an avian vet near me but they are booked out until the end of may! There are no other avian vets near me! What else can I do? Would a regular vet work?

 

[noodles123]

Tell the avian vet it is an emergency and beg them-- offer to pay a fee if needed or just show up....that's hit or miss...a regular vet is not going to know enough to necessarily help. Do whatever you can to get her to avian-- tell them audible breathing, bobbing tail, stained vent and about the other eggs.

 

[parapig23]

I will try. What if they say no?

 

[parapig23]

And I think they are closing in like 5 minutes. Will it work to do it tomorrow afternoon? Or is that too late?

 

[noodles123]

call the avian one and ask- I would not wait...It's unlikely that the regular vet will have the tools needed to deal with this but you could try calling them and asking..My experience is that even vets who see parrots (who are not avian)often do not know that they do not know enough...so they are more confident than they should be because they don't understand all that they are missing..They don't know what they don't know, so asking them is sometimes tricky.


It's kind of like the difference between asking a 1st week freshman about college (the freshman feels like an expert because they have a week under their belt), vs a doctoral student who has spent 8 years there and could tell you way more.

 

[parapig23]

All the vets are closed- avian and regular! What should I do? She is acting fine. I don't know what to do!

 

[noodles123]

If it's not too far, you might try showing up with her when they open..I know it's unorthodox,but they'd probably work you in if its an emergency. If it is egg binding, it generally doesn't just become fatal instantly (unless the egg breaks etc and then you are looking at a much more narrow window), but I am concerned about a variety of factors in this instance. A stained vent is a sign of a sick bird, as are the breathing sounds you mentioned. It's just hard to know without testing, but something is definitely up.

 

[parapig23]

So tomorrow morning when they open I show up? I will do that. Thank you very much.

 

[noodles123]

So tomorrow morning when they open I show up? I will do that. Thank you very much.

They could tell you no, but it has worked for others in the past. I would just beg them and offer to pay an urgency fee if needed-- tell them it's been ongoing and don't downplay. The tail bobbing and respiratory sounds, followed by green vent = serious. They will know that as long as you emphasize it. You could mention that you tried calling but that no one else can see her and you are worried that she may not pull through if she doesn't get seen.

 

[parapig23]

All right I will do that. Thank you very much for your help. I appreciate your concern.

 

[Laurasea]

Keep an eye on her don't stress her. I'd wait till avain vet in morning. Beg emergency work in I guess is best.
I agree show up! Hardwr to turnaround away in person
So sorry

 

[parapig23]

I will do that. On an ask an avian vet I was advised to tape a heating pad on the lowest setting to one side of her cage. Should I do that?

 

[parapig23]

There are these three vets after hour emergency. https://www.cliftonparkvet.com/after-hour-emergency-services.pml Would it work better to take her to one of these now?

 

[parapig23]

I actually didn't realize this but IDK if any of these take birds. I guess I'll take her to the avian vet tomorrow. I just want to get her in ASAP

 

[Laurasea]

I will do that. On an ask an avian vet I was advised to tape a heating pad on the lowest setting to one side of her cage. Should I do that?

Warmth helps sick birds a lot. I think thst could help. Watch fir signs over heating like open mouth panting

https://www.littlecrittersvet.com/sick-birds.pml

 

[noodles123]

I will do that. On an ask an avian vet I was advised to tape a heating pad on the lowest setting to one side of her cage. Should I do that?

If it isn't too hot, and f you know the heating pad contains no teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs (and, ideally, not fresh out of the box, as plastics need to air out and should be used away from the bird first (due to factory coatings, VOCs etc)-- that is the tricky part....so many things that heat can be unsafe.


I'd look on amazon at things that you could buy now in case you are ever in this situation again