Ear Infection?

[Akraya]

We are still investigating as to why Nimbus is holding her head weird and has so-so balance.
She's on calcium supplements, her balance is getting better, she's stronger, and has put on the lost weight plus some. My old vet whom I trust suggested it might be an inner ear infection and to trial antibiotics (no idea what this will cost, so if anyone has experience in this that would be nice to know!) and yeah.


TLDR:
So my question is have any of your fids had an ear infection? How did you find out? What were the symptoms etc.?


I'll add photos of how she rests her head when she's not doing anything (plus a normal because she's gorgeous!) any input would be great because the vet's stumped =(
Sorry for quality, excited bird and trying to take photos on iphone don't mix!

 

[Akraya]

I'll just add, she seems to be holding her head like that less but I don't know if that's me being too optimistic?
She can also make herself dizzy in a way when she keeps turning her head from side to side.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here are a few links for you, hopefully they will prove somewhat helpful.

Head Shaking

http://www.beaknwings.org/ed/health.pdf

Avian Maintenance

How long has this been going on with Nimbus?

 

[Akraya]

For a couple of weeks, we've had her less than a month.

Original post is here if you're interested:
http://www.parrotforums.com/alexandrines/26694-advice-please.html

 

[JerseyWendy]

I just read through your entire thread. Thanks for that link.

Is it possible for you to post a video of Nimbus?

Have you seen ANY kind of improvement at all? Or has it gotten worse?

If the behaviour started when she flapped to the ground, could she have possibly suffered some sort of brain injury?

How is her appetite?

 

[goalerjones]

Read an article I will post about head/neck trauma symptoms.

Avian Maintenance

Also, the term for head tilted fully back is called "stargazing". It aparantly isnt a common symptom but can be linked to Paramyxovirus. And here is an exerpt from another thread,

"Simply holding the head in a tilted position for long periods is also suggestive of an ear infection, but stargazing is not a common symptom, as far as I'm aware."

In the same post it referenced ear mites as a possible source if there is head shaking like attempts are being made to clear the ears.

 

[goalerjones]

Here is an info page from Avian Web for stargazing
Bird Disease: Stargazing / Twirling / Torticollus

 

[Akraya]

Thanks jones, I'll read those now... and read!

Wendy - I can't work out how to post a vid, I tried so many ways and it failed each time.
I've seen a huge improvement over the last week, she doesn't stargaze as much anymore, if she's not doing anything then she'll fluff up and sit like in the 2nd picture but most of the time she's either grooming, eating or playing. Her appetite's increased (didn't seem low but she's put on 10 grams) her balance is good, she didn't perch very well initially but now she's climbing, pulling herself up and destroying wood toys and is a lot more active in and out of the cage.
We haven't ruled out brain injury but she's learning tricks fine? I don't pretend to know anything about those kinds of injurys though. Her xray didn't show any damage, but I know that doesn't show anything to do with the brain.

I've edited this so much, the not knowing is the hard part with all this =(

 

[henpecked]

I read that you;ve only had the bird for a month, how old is it?

 

[Akraya]

She was approx 15 weeks when we got her sooo around 19 weeks.

 

[goalerjones]

How is Nimbus geting on?

 

[Akraya]

Overall she seems the same though she doesn't appear to be holding her head as far back as before, more straight up than trying to look backwards, which is good.

I was just watching her and she was sitting with her head back and opening her beak really wide over and over again (ears?)

And she wants to fly, she flaps around a lot which usually results in some form of loss of balance.

It's a miserably weathered Australia day so all the birds are just fluffing up and chilling.

 

[Akraya]

Email from vet update (she consulted with another vet)
Would appreciate input =)

After ruling out heavy metal toxicity he thought perhaps nutritional (thiamine, vit A, calcium) or infectious agent could be responsible.
There has been a study showing a parrot with hydrocephalus (enlarged ventricles in the brain) due to nutritional deficiency that resulted in a head tilt.
Inner or middle infections while resulting in a head tilt will not cause head tremors, but without a CT it would be very difficult to rule in or out. This particular specialist has never conclusively seen ear infections in parrots (he has worked in the US and Australia) but as mentioned before very difficult to diagnose.
As it is improving, it is less likely to be so, but if you would like to trial Nimbus on some antibiotics that can be organised. I can also give him a multivitamin injection to rule out nutritional causes if desired (that would work more quickly than just improving the diet).