Help, I'm really scared for my amazon

[LuceandEllie]

This morning Ellie refused her food, and went out of her cage only to go back in shortly after. I offered her a toy and, although she took it, let it go shortly after. She keeps squinting and only drank water so far. Her breathing is regular for her pace when she sleeps, maybe a bit more laboured or rushed, which is what she has been doing a lot since yesterday. Her droppings are normal, although a bit on the dry side. Yesterday she slept on the lower perch and today moved for a bit to the top one, but returned to the lower one (and the one closer to food/water) shortly after.

Tomorrow morning I have a vet's appointment with her doctor, but that's around 18 hours away for me right now and I'm freaking out, I want to do something to help her and I am terrified something bad is going to happen before the doctor can see her.
Her behaviour changes I was only able to see yesterday, as I have been away from home a lot during the day to take care of my mother in the hospital. I cannot tell if she fell or hurt herself in a way I can't see the consequences right now, but before yesterday she seemed to have been eating quite well, being picky as always and all that.
I am really scared, and I hate to think that I maybe neglected her somehow in these last few days and she has gotten sick because of it. Any advice is appreciated, please don't be too harsh.
Thank you

 

[Laurasea]

I'm sorry you are so worried. Can you take a pic of her. So she us squinting, not eating just started today? Can you offer her most favorite thing and see if she will eat that? Do you know for sure she is a girl? Because if you know she is a girl one thing that is an emergency is if she is egg bound. But I'm not saying that's what's going on. One day without food is ok . It's just whatever is making her sick that is the biggest problem and I don't know what to say or how to offer help. Can you call the vets oncl Service and see what they advise? Warmth always helps sick birds so make your house warner if you can. You can out a lamp on next to the cage and cover three sides to help make it warmer, keep her calm don't stress her out...

 

[wrench13]

Well we know Quickly our parrots pickup our moods, so I would try to pick out a favorite chop dish and let them help prepare it !!

 

[mgarvie]

" I have been away from home a lot during the day to take care of my mother in the hospital "

You may have answered your own question. Mine can get rather moody and if you piss him off he remembers for days. Normally he would kill for a peanut but if he's pissed it gets thrown on the floor.

 

[Scott]

Best advice is to keep her calm and warm until the appointment. Do you know if the vet is "certified avian" or equivalent? Many offices advertise "exotic doctors" but lack the specialized training and equipment.

Please let us know whatever you find.

 

[EllenD]

Just keep a close eye on him and hopefully it's something more psychological than physical...The "squinting" is a weird symptom that's throwing me off a bit though. Is he squinting his eyes constantly? And is it both eyes that are squinted, or just one?

Very important point that Scott made, I hope that your Vet is either a Certified Avian Vet or an Avian Specialist who sees only birds, and not an Exotics Vet who sees every type of animal imaginable...

 

[LuceandEllie]

@Laurasea, @wrench13, @mgarvie, @Scott, @EllenD: First of all, thank you all so muchfor your support and your kind words. I don't think I would have been able to get any shut eye if not for the comfort that your advice gave me.

Ellie was taken to her vet earlier today (he is a certified avian vet, has been in charge of her health since day one and taken care of several of our birds for years on end) and he diagnosed her with a mild respiratory infection. She was administered antibiotics and started a nebulization treatment here at home, which she is taking as I write this. Hopefully she will start feeling better after the nebulizations, and eat something by tomorrow.

Her next check-up is on 3-4 days from now, where her vet will evaluate how the the antibiotics are working.

Again, thank you so much for your advice, your concern, and your support. In my country pet parrots are not very common, and this community has made me feel welcomed from day one and never ceases to enlighten my in different topics.

Words cannot express how thankful I am, and I will keep this thread updated with her progression after her next doc's visit.

Wish us luck.
Thank you, again,

Luce and Ellie

 

[GaleriaGila]

I guess I'll just throw this in, in case ou ever want a second opinion.
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803

Good for you, for being so vigilant and quick-acting.

 

[Laurasea]

I am so happy that you could get her right in and are getting great treatment!! Taking care if mom and a sick bird baby at once! Aww.. hope they both feel better soon. When I am stressed as you must be! I make hot water and add honey , a slice of orange, lemon, and lime, I call it Laura's Tea lol even tho no tea, it's very soothing and refreshing, won't keep you awake and even helps me with upset tummy. If I was there I would make you some. I hope you keep us updated and you stick around with us! We live to live our Fids!!!

 

[Scott]

Thanks so much for the updates! Nice to have a diagnosis and treatment plan.... now to see a cure!

 

[LuceandEllie]

Hi, forum. After a long fight with what was stated to be a birth defect in her lungs, Ellie passed away a few days ago. She was the child of a pair of pet parrots, hence her breeding and hatching wasn't the best, and the overlook I made about it is something I will never make again, I am just heartbroken that my mistake, my learning, cost her her life. She was supported with oxygen and nebulizations but her lil heart couldn't keep up,and she let go while on my dad's hands.

To say I am heartbroken is an understatement. I lost a big part of my life, an animal that became a friend, and all I can think right now is how much more she deserved.
If there's something to say to parrot owners out there, aside from telling them to kiss them and spoil them as much as they sure deserve, is to take on every project you have. That aviary expansion, that trip to the park, that new trick you were meaning to teach them. Do them all today, you never know if you will have a chance tomorrow. Also take pictures of them, take videos, and although it may hurt like hell to see them when they are gone, one day they will keep them alive alongside the memories to everyone that loved them.
Here's to those waiting across the rainbow bridge. Bye.

 

[LaManuka]

Oh no, this is very sad news, I am truly sorry for your loss! I too lost a very special boy only a few months ago and I’m still trying to learn to live without him, missing him desperately and thinking I could have done so much more for him! Maybe I could have or I’m just second-guessing myself. But I understand your heartbreak because I feel it too every day. It sounds to me like you did everything you possibly could have done for beautiful Ellie and she knew how much she was loved by you, she will definitely be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

 

[texsize]

I can't see how you did anything wrong here.
I am so sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through.
I lost 2 of my beloved Amazons within a year of each other. The first one I had for 30 years, number 2 for 26 years.
The first was unavoidable, I should have seen the second one coming and done more.
I hope in time you will be able to let another bird into your life.

texsize.

 

[ChristaNL]

Thank you, for sharing but especially for all you have done for her.

 

[Laurasea]

Oh no!!!!!!! I am so sorry for your loss! I'm shocked , you got her right in and got great treatment I thought she was going to pull through. Big hugs to you, and a shoulder to cry on if only I was there, but in spirit we are with you. I lost my Burt the Bird earlier this year.....I feel guilty because now I have a house full of new birds, but I like to think she was the bridge to that. And I know she would not have want Ta-dah to be alone. But it does hurt, so my empathy is from the heart. If you want to share some of your happy memories with us , and talk about your lovely girl. We are here for you. I hope your mom is better. I will take your warnings to cram as much love in as possible, no one knows what tomorrow brings.. you are not alone. My deepest condolences, and a bit of tears here in Florida as I think of you..

 

[Scott]

My deepest condolences for your loss of Ellie. Please don't blame yourself for what is stated as a birth defect. There is nothing inherently wrong with the breeding of pet parrots.

Thanks so much for your reality check of not taking our precious feathered children for granted. I hope Ellie's sweet memories will lead you to another companion bird when the time is comfortable.

 

[Allee]

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[EllenD]

I'm very, very sorry for your loss..Nothing that you could have done if it was an underlying birth defect, though I have to agree with Scott that there is nothing at all wrong with the "breeding of pet parrots", it's the breeder who does it and the way they do it that can cause issues. Either way it's not anything that you did, and I only hope that you get through this and start the healing process...

 

[LuceandEllie]

Again, hi everyone. I have been understandably absent form the forum, but I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful messages.

It is, like a lot of you said, a challenge to go everyday without someone (I refuse to call them 'it') that took a big chunk of your day. It is really hard waking up and not going right for the morning chop, or going to the place where her cage was to greet her good morning. I miss her every day, but I've been focusing a lot on spending time with my dad's BF Amazon, and although he is a grump and is a complete opposite in personality to Ellie, with all her quiet mumbles and the mocking way she copied my laugh; it is comforting in a way.
I never shared how I got Ellie, I think. She was an impulse buy of my dad when I was sixteen. She was a baby. I didn't want her, but I fed her and trained her while we were trying to find her a new home. I knew NOTHING of birds, the only pet with wings I had had before were baby chicks. But the pesky little thing took a liking to me, and suddenly I was walking around with a parrot, and suddenly all I read was about making food for them, and training them, and foraging and enrichment and so many wonderful things that made me love parrots so much. I didn't want her, true, and I wouldn't have brought her into my life when I was so young and planning to leave the country shortly after; but she made herself lovable anyway. She amazed me every day with all her crazy antics, her clownish dances and the mumbled things she tried to learn to say (she was never much of a talker). I am heartbroken to see her go, but I will never stop being thankful for the time I got with her, and how that little brat made me find the love I have for these wonderful birds.

I will be taking a few months on my next year to work on a parrot sanctuary abroad and a baby Blue and Gold will be joining the flock soon. I will update as I go on my journey with the new bird, but it will be a few months until I go through with the adoption.
Again, thank you all so much for your support, and your kind words. And, my condolences to those who sadly share a similar experience with me. Lots of love, LuceandEllie

 

[Scott]

The grieving period following the loss of a parrot can be intense. Their relatively small size belies intense personalities and deep bonds. Looking forward to hearing about your baby blue and gold.