GraciesMom
New member
Hi all,
I just wanted to share what we've been going thru recently maybe it will help someone else & remind everyone how important vet care/testing is. Can't fight what you don't know.
When I got Gracie I took her to an avian vet to have a full work up done as I thought/think it's very important to establish baselines and maintain good medical care for our pets. Since she hadn't had good care, bad husbandry, bad diet etc. the doctor felt certain that the blood work would show liver and/or kidney damage. She was also seriously underweight with a very low muscle index.
When the doctor called & said all of the tests came back totally normal to her shock & amazement no problems whatsoever I should have been over the moon...
She advised me to continue doing what I was doing, basically keep working to overcome a lifetime of neglect, bad diet & bad habits. We scheduled a visit for 4 weeks to check her progress.
Yippee?... instead of relieved I spent the next few days with a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong regardless of the results.
Gracie has weird quirks she acts very thirsty but won't drink out of a bowl, acts hungry (makes baby type of sounds) but is extremely "picky" and tosses almost everything except carrots, corn, eggs, nuts aside (birdie bread gets the evil eye and tossed with a foot - unworthy of a beak toss), seemed frustrated to me. Positions herself weird when she is about to go potty & goes a lot. I think she over preens (no feather damage), scratches neck/head a lot. Her droppings are "off" & change consistency constantly even when eating same foods etc. etc. etc.
But the test all said healthy, no outward signs of any illness, she was gaining weight & strength and every symptom could be explained by new home, new diet, adjustments, changes or just "typical African Grey" behaviors.
Made another appointment - 3 weeks earlier than expected. Needless to say the doc expressed her surprise & confusion since nothing indicated a problem. She looked better, gained weight - nothing to be concerned about.
I explained that I just know something isn't right (went over list of behaviors). She suggested that they keep Gracie for the day to observe her away from me and see if she behaves differently. I was most likely just experiencing the joys of an over-bonded, picky, quirky, pouting, controlling African Grey that has had a bad history & is going thru adjustments.
She would also rerun the fecal tests using a different method, take X-rays, barium etc. to put my concerns at ease and at the least it would establish more baselines for any further issues.
When I went to pick up Gracie I could tell by the doctors demeanor that she was about to break my heart. No obstructions, all other tests negative again however, X-Rays showed a massive infection, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and an abnormality in her reproductive/renal area (will need to do further testing after infection clears). No arthritis (at least she has something going for her).
Nothing in any of the other tests showed any indication of these problems. The vet did consult with other avian vets since the test results were so contradictory.
Gracie is taking her meds like a trooper. Her eating habits have definitely improved (she's even tried pellets), gaining weight & her droppings are looking more normal/consistent. Not overly preening/scratching anymore.
The first step is clearing the infection. I am of course adjusting her diet to take her heart disease into account. I understand there isn't any reversing the damage already done but I can make her remaining time happy & healthy.
The vet also recommended a Suprelorin implant. Her concern throwing blood clots, strokes, seizures etc. if she were to become overly hormonal. The alternative (which I rejected) was to limit our contact & hope she doesn't become hormonal anyway.
No way will I put her back into a cage to live what life she has left as miserably as she did before (she goes to work with me daily, hangs out at home at night / weekends with the whole fam etc.)
I am sorry this is so long but I felt it was important to share & remind everyone that no one knows your feathered family better than you (plus I talk err type a lot ). Maybe it isn't always typical "insert parrot type" behaviors.
I just wanted to share what we've been going thru recently maybe it will help someone else & remind everyone how important vet care/testing is. Can't fight what you don't know.
When I got Gracie I took her to an avian vet to have a full work up done as I thought/think it's very important to establish baselines and maintain good medical care for our pets. Since she hadn't had good care, bad husbandry, bad diet etc. the doctor felt certain that the blood work would show liver and/or kidney damage. She was also seriously underweight with a very low muscle index.
When the doctor called & said all of the tests came back totally normal to her shock & amazement no problems whatsoever I should have been over the moon...
She advised me to continue doing what I was doing, basically keep working to overcome a lifetime of neglect, bad diet & bad habits. We scheduled a visit for 4 weeks to check her progress.
Yippee?... instead of relieved I spent the next few days with a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong regardless of the results.
Gracie has weird quirks she acts very thirsty but won't drink out of a bowl, acts hungry (makes baby type of sounds) but is extremely "picky" and tosses almost everything except carrots, corn, eggs, nuts aside (birdie bread gets the evil eye and tossed with a foot - unworthy of a beak toss), seemed frustrated to me. Positions herself weird when she is about to go potty & goes a lot. I think she over preens (no feather damage), scratches neck/head a lot. Her droppings are "off" & change consistency constantly even when eating same foods etc. etc. etc.
But the test all said healthy, no outward signs of any illness, she was gaining weight & strength and every symptom could be explained by new home, new diet, adjustments, changes or just "typical African Grey" behaviors.
Made another appointment - 3 weeks earlier than expected. Needless to say the doc expressed her surprise & confusion since nothing indicated a problem. She looked better, gained weight - nothing to be concerned about.
I explained that I just know something isn't right (went over list of behaviors). She suggested that they keep Gracie for the day to observe her away from me and see if she behaves differently. I was most likely just experiencing the joys of an over-bonded, picky, quirky, pouting, controlling African Grey that has had a bad history & is going thru adjustments.
She would also rerun the fecal tests using a different method, take X-rays, barium etc. to put my concerns at ease and at the least it would establish more baselines for any further issues.
When I went to pick up Gracie I could tell by the doctors demeanor that she was about to break my heart. No obstructions, all other tests negative again however, X-Rays showed a massive infection, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and an abnormality in her reproductive/renal area (will need to do further testing after infection clears). No arthritis (at least she has something going for her).
Nothing in any of the other tests showed any indication of these problems. The vet did consult with other avian vets since the test results were so contradictory.
Gracie is taking her meds like a trooper. Her eating habits have definitely improved (she's even tried pellets), gaining weight & her droppings are looking more normal/consistent. Not overly preening/scratching anymore.
The first step is clearing the infection. I am of course adjusting her diet to take her heart disease into account. I understand there isn't any reversing the damage already done but I can make her remaining time happy & healthy.
The vet also recommended a Suprelorin implant. Her concern throwing blood clots, strokes, seizures etc. if she were to become overly hormonal. The alternative (which I rejected) was to limit our contact & hope she doesn't become hormonal anyway.
No way will I put her back into a cage to live what life she has left as miserably as she did before (she goes to work with me daily, hangs out at home at night / weekends with the whole fam etc.)
I am sorry this is so long but I felt it was important to share & remind everyone that no one knows your feathered family better than you (plus I talk err type a lot ). Maybe it isn't always typical "insert parrot type" behaviors.