How to help bird recover from severe Anemia?

[sandramast]

My cockatiel Rosie was diagnosed with Giardia the first week of Sept. and put on Flagyl for 7 days. This was followed by 7 days of Panacur, then 7 days of Amoxi and Prozyme because he continued to lose weight. He has had many tests done, nothing definitive. Dr. suggested bone marrow cancer and I suspect the Pancur damaged his immune system, liver, and bone marrow leading to this. His red blood cell count was 15 on Tuesday and his wieght dropped to 61 grams, very enemic with no red blood cell regeneration. I stopped all meds and he is still real interested in eating but very lethargic and losing balance. Anybody been able to bring their bird back to good health from this point and how did you do it?

 

[MonicaMc]

Tomi Girl, when I took her in, weighed less than 60 grams... she was so underweight only because of neglect, not due to health... and I was able to bring her back up to a good weight simply by making sure she had enough food to eat...

Here's another thread bout Panacur if you haven't seen it already.
http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies...-cockatiel-panacur-possible-liver-damage.html


Here are some supplements you may want to speak with your a-vet about
AVIAN ENZYME 2 oz Bag-harrisonbirdfoods.com
RECOVERY FORMULA - 350g-harrisonbirdfoods.com
Emeraid Nutritional Care System: Lafeber Company Premium Pet Bird Foods & Toys


Also this site, which I haven't used their stuff before but others have, with mixed results.
Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!

 

[sandramast]

Thank you for replying. I have him on Harrisons High Potency Fine Pellets but he's not crazy about it along with cooked grains (my own combo), organic corn flakes and all sprinkled with Prozyme (enzyme). I read that I should take him off seeds (Volkmans) because his digestive track needs softer foods but haven't done that yet. I also have Booster concentrate but haven't found anything I can put a piece in that he will eat. He shares the cage with his buddy who is healthy. I read about Milk Thistle to help his immune system but am unsure about that. He is so weak it may be too late but he is still eating.

 

[MonicaMc]

What about sprouted seeds over dry seeds then?

Typically, I *don't* recommend having parakeets and cockatiels on a diet of more than 50% pellets due to the potential health hazards, however when it comes to health issues already present, sometimes a diet high in pellets would outweigh the potential health hazards.

I would still recommend giving milk thistle a shot. Here's a little something on humans, which I'm sure that a birds liver acts much in the same way, at least with the experience I've had with it.

The Liver: Anatomy and Functions

• Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion
• Production of certain proteins for blood plasma
• Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body
• Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy)
• Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins
• Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content (the liver stores iron)
• Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (urea is an end product of protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine)
• Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances
• Regulating blood clotting
• Resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream

At the least, just discuss it with your a-vet! Milk thistle can be given straight, or added to his water (not as effective, but would still get him consuming it).


The avian booster is rather difficult to get a tiel to consume, so I can't blame you there! I ended up having to let my tiel that I had just eat it from my hand. She didn't like it shoved in her mouth, so it was a bit of a compromise.

 

[sandramast]

Thank you also for the helpful advice. I will purchase the milk thistle and I started a batch of sprouted seeds. He is quite the fighter and was incredibly healthy prior to all this starting a month ago. It may be too late but I have to keep my hope up, just praying and asking for advice. Thank you so much for responding!

 

[DebsFlock]

What does the vet suggest? For anemia, you want iron, but if there is no red blood cell production at all, I don't know that he'd be able to utilize the iron.

 

[sandramast]

On Tuesday he gave him a shot of Iron and B Vitamin. His only other suggestion as a treatment was a blood transfusion from my other cockatiel. We've spend $1200 in 3 weeks and it just seems like we keep going in a different direction each week with continued deterioration so we decided to stop more medical treatments. He suggested he had cancer but I don't think so. His symptoms exactly match those for Panacur side effects. Rosies immune system no longer works but the Dr. said it "may" recover although he wasn't hopeful. On Tuesday he said we'd know one way or the other by Saturday.:31:

 

[MonicaMc]

If you do get milk thistle, make sure to get the kind without alcohol in it. If giving orally, it's something like .03-.05 twice per day (confirm/speak to your vet about this?). I don't recall the amount to use for water, but Avitec(?) mentions how many drops per oz of water, and it needs to be changed twice a day.

I'm really sorry to hear you have to go through this as well (along with the other member here), and I can only imagine how tough it must be. I hope he shows improvement soon!


It sounds like the milk thistle might be good for iron as well, which I wasn't even thinking about.

 

[sandramast]

I found this Avian Vet in California that has a 75 % success rate with this drug treatment program. I've sent the info to my vet although it may be too late for Rosie - http://www.altaranchopet.com/Informa...ne_anemia1.htm

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHIA) is a serious disease in which the body’s immune system destroys the red blood cells.

The first drug we use is Prednisone (a form of cortisone). Given at high doses, this drug will inhibit the immune system’s ability to kill the red cells. Often times, we must add additional drugs such as Cyclophosphamide, Azathiaprine or Cyclosporine, all of which are very potent drugs. All of these drugs have side effects that are fairly common. In general, the positive, life saving effects of the drugs outweigh the negative side effects, however, these patients must be monitored carefully both at home and through laboratory tests.
For patients that are severely anemic, blood transfusions may be necessary to provide red cells until their body can produce more. Transfusions can be life saving, but they do pose some risk of adverse reaction where the body rejects the new cells.
Because prednisone can cause stomach ulcers, we typically administer drugs to help protect the stomach during the course of treatment.
Vitamin and iron supplements are given to provide the building blocks for the new red cells.
PROGNOSIS: It is important to understand that our treatment may not cure the disease, but instead, may keep it in remission. Most pets require treatment for a minimum of 6 months during which time we try to wean them slowly off the life saving drugs. In some cases, drugs are not enough to control the disease and we may have to surgically remove the spleen because this organ is the site where the majority of the red cell destruction takes place. Overall, 75% of pets with AHIA can go on to live a normal life. Unfortunately, some patients will die from this disease despite even the most aggressive treatment.

 

[DebsFlock]

I've never actually seen a solid source for Panacur-related issues (I wouldn't say side effects, it's more like a severe adverse reaction to the drug) and I'd be interested if you don't mind sharing your source. I have a 'tiel treated with it who became ill, although not nearly as seriously. OTOH, the vet could be right about the cancer, too.

I understand grapes are fairly high in iron and they are pretty palatable, so you might want to try offering some. I'd think if you have ruled out medical treatment, the main thing at this point you can do is getting nutrition in -- plain old calories if nothing else -- and hoping he picks up.

 

[sandramast]

I am sorry I didn't bookmark the websites but they were very easy to find an a search. Most of the postings were by Vets, Researchers and Breeders of pigeons but also other animals such as rabbits, goats, and dogs. From what I have read both the Panacur and Amoxi (a sulfa drug) BOTH cause autoimmune anemia. It was two weeks of prescribed drugs with the same adverse reactions on an already weakened from the Giardia and it's treatment with Flagyl. Rosie will probably not make it thru the night.

 

[sandramast]

Well surprise, surprise Rosie is still with us. He has been eating all morning and still very unsteady (drunken sailor) but he has rallied a bit. I don't know if we are imagining things but his feet appear to have more color in them today. Thank you all for your support and comforting thoughts. It's up to Rosie now and it appears he is fighting to live.

 

[MonicaMc]

I was afraid of what I might read in the morning! Glad to hear he made it through the night!

I don't know if it would help, but are you making sure he's kept warm? Might even consider giving him an electrolyte solution in his water to keep him hydrated!


Wishing him the best!

 

[sandramast]

Today Rosie continues to improve, we are just overjoyed and amazed. He was so far gone we really thought there wasnt' a chance. Today his tongue is nice and pink, he is eating almost non-stop and his poops are improving. We started him on probiotics last night as was suggested. We have kept the cage covered and out of drafts with the heating pad along the outside/top of the cage. We are optimistic that he has successfully fought his way thru this illness. Thanks to everyone for all their prayers and words of wisdom. Tiel hugs from and . :jumping40

 

[MonicaMc]

Keep up the great work! So glad to hear he's feeling better!