Kiwi regurgitated for the first time today...

[Sterling1113]

So, as you may know/have seen, Kiwi is my beloved White-Eared conure. It's become pretty apparent she's bonded to me, as she seeks me out for cuddles and playing rather than my boyfriend. She actually went through a phase a little while ago where she PROTECTED ME from him! I dismissed it as hormones, and we both worked with her on it and had the behavior corrected shortly.

Today she was cuddling with me, and when she flew over to me she had something on her beak. I figured it was probably food or something she'd soaked with water since there's nothing within her immediate reach she can get into. So I got a napkin and cleaned her face then she nestled into my hand like the adorable ball of fluff she is. (The pictures I posted in the "Conures" section.)

A few minutes pass and she takes a tiny nap, and then starts bobbing her head dramatically. I immediately knew what she was doing. So I grabbed for a napkin again to try to "catch" the mess that was coming. Well, instead, she decided it's better if she shakes her head and throw it around. :20:
So I cleaned her mess and cleaned her face again, and when I looked at the regurg. I noticed it looked exactly like what was on her beak. So that wasn't the first time she'd done it today, and the first time she was most likely on her own, likely on the back of a chair or on the TV. I highly doubt she'd do it for Loki because she's a "human" bird, not much of a bird-bird, yknow?

Anyway, after the mess was cleaned I offered her my hand and she stepped up, fluffed up into a ball and slept some more. Usually she's quite active. Her balance is good, she is climbing around and flying just fine, and her droppings are normal.

Maybe I'm just worried because in over a year I've never seen her do that, and even though it is "mating season" for some birds, she really hasn't been very hormonal at all. Just minimal nippyness, no other displays other than today's regurging.. somebody want to ease my mind and tell me this is normal birdie behavior??

Of course if anything progresses or if she shows any other signs of illness she'll go to a vet right away. But Brad works until 7, vets will be closed, and atleast for the day I'd like to ease my mind a little.
She's back at her cage eating/bickering with Loki, so maybe she just needed a nap after all that work of showing her affection to me?

 

[Anansi]

Keep in mind that I've only experienced affectionate regurgitation, not vomiting. But, that said, it was pointed out to me recently by Julie (RavensGryf) that the difference between presentation regurgitation and sickness vomiting tends to be found in the action of flinging the vomit around. A show of affection is supposed to be more controlled. So, much as I hate to say it, you might have cause for concern. Especially if she seems a little more lethargic than usual. I would personally take her in to the vet.

There are others far more knowledgeable than I on this topic, though. Just my thought, for what it's worth. I hope that it's really nothing, Ashley.

 

[Sterling1113]

Keep in mind that I've only experienced affectionate regurgitation, not vomiting. But, that said, it was pointed out to me recently by Julie (RavensGryf) that the difference between presentation regurgitation and sickness vomiting tends to be found in the action of flinging the vomit around. A show of affection is supposed to be more controlled. So, much as I hate to say it, you might have cause for concern. Especially if she seems a little more lethargic than usual. I would personally take her in to the vet.

There are others far more knowledgeable than I on this topic, though. Just my thought, for what it's worth. I hope that it's really nothing, Ashley.

Thank you!! I'm pretty sure I read the same thing you did, about the controlled-regurg and then the flinging..
She didn't start shaking her head until the very end, I was hoping it may have been because I wasn't "taking" her present.. but it could very well be something more serious.
She seems normal, except really clingy.. I'll hold my hand out and tell her to go home(her command to fly to the stand/cage) and she will, but she immediately comes back and gets into the palm of my hand. She's nestled against my cheek as I type this. As much as I'd like to appreciate her cute-ness, I do worry she's trying to find comfort in me because she doesnt feel well. I'm going to talk to my boyfriend and see what we can do about getting her a vet visit.

Also, just noticed her feet are much warmer than usual.. is that like a birdie fever?

 

[jenphilly]

I thankfully have not experienced the birdie gift of love, but from what I've read here and understand, that they tend to place it lovingly on you or beak smear it to make sure you get the nutrition and love they so affectionately (and grossly) are offering.

I agree with Anansi, if Kiwi is stilling taking more naps then usual or acting even a tad bit odd I would call the vet. Did Kiwi get ahold of anything different or unusual today?

 

[Sterling1113]

I can't think of anything different she could have gotten into. Just this morning she was rolling around in bed with me being as silly as can be.
Now she's fluffed up trying to sleep on one foot.. (Which she NEVER does.. she usually perches with both feet.)
I gave her and Loki a little bit of white bread last night, I was making sandwiches for a late dinner, and of course I try to share with them.. but I figure a little bit of bread wouldn't do anything like this? And if it was that, Loki should be showing signs too, and he's perfectly normal..
both of their droppings are normal. She's eating and drinking, so I guess that's good, but I'm definitely going to call a vet today and see what we can do.
Poor Kiwi. I really hope it's just a minor thing.

 

[Anansi]

Sleeping on one foot isn't a bad sign, Ashley. That's actually the usual pose for a nap. And I doubt the white bread is an issue, in and of itself. And if it were somehow compromised, I'd think Loki would be affected as well, like you said. Not a guarantee, of course, but I'm thinking in terms of likelihood, here.

Hopefully you'll be able to get her to the vet, soon. God-willing it's just a false alarm. Wait, do you know her regular weight for comparison? (I don't know whether you got that scale, yet.)

 

[Sterling1113]

Buh! No, I haven't got a scale, and I have *no* idea what her normal weight should be..
The vet I called is avian and exotics certified though, so if Brad can take off work and take us over there(He gets off at 7, they close at 7.. appt is at 4:15) hopefully he'll be able to tell me more about her. I didn't even know much about her species until just recently! I always assumed it was a sub of the GCC.. boy was I wrong.
I know perching with one foot is normal, but that's just not normal for Kiwi, you know what I mean? She's on one food and leaning against my thumb for support.
Usually she sleeps in her snuggle-hut, and before that she had a nesting box, so she never really slept on one-foot.

 

[Starlit_Night]

This happened with Aleta a few months back. She vomited and then napped on me.It worried me to no end, as she never settles down. It was late at night on a Sunday, and our emergency vet doesn't have an avian vet on staff. I made sure she got lots of water and put her to bed early to get extra sleep.

When she started getting sick I thought back through the evening to everything that happend. I *think* what happend was I used an appliance that I don't normally use. I am pretty sure the appliance had teflon on it. Never even occured to me. Especially since it was something I don't usually use. Could it be something like that?

Hope she is ok! Poor Kiwi.

 

[Sterling1113]

Starlit_Night: I rarely use nonstick cookware, haven't lately, and when I do, it's low/meduim heat and the apartment is well ventilated. (Fans on above the stove, door open, etc.) They've never been bothered by it.
She's going to see the vet in about half an hour, so I'll let you guys know what the vet thinks.
Thanks so much for the input/support. I know she's a tough cookie, but she's losing balance :/ so its time for a doctor visit.

 

[Anansi]

I'll keep you both in my prayers, Ashley. Please let us know what's going on as soon as you can.

 

[Sterling1113]

Well, that was less than eventful.
Pretty much he told me to just keep an eye on her over the next couple of days to see if anything continues or gets worse. If she isn't herself by then though I'll probably be taking her to a different vet.
Nothing against this guy, he's a good guy, but I mean he's the vet at Banfield in PetSmart, so maybe my expectations were high. He was very good with kiwi, she let him put her on her back so he could feel her stomach and look at her vent, which impressed me. Normally she's weary of other people even holding her, but it probably helps that she was out of her "home" environment.
However when he saw Kiwi and Loki he was like "Cool! Green Cheeks! I have one of these, he lives here! Everyone loves having him here." and I thanked his compliments on their colour, and when he looked at Kiwi he asked me if she was a turquoise, because she has blue on her back. I told him she was actually not a GCC and in fact a White-Eared, and he'd never heard of it before. He referred to the white-eared as a color mutation of the GCC, as if she were yellow sided or pineapple. A minor thing, probably, but I'd like the next vet I see to be aware of her species.
He said she wasn't showing any major symptoms(Vent was clean, vent feathers were not soiled, no drainage around the eyes/nose) so he didn't want to give her a medicine she might not need, which is understandable.

The only thing I can think of that's new is almond slices as treats. (Not very many, and not like a diet staple or anything.) and that was introduced a couple days ago, so I'm not sure that would cause her crop distress today? I dunno.

I didn't even realize until after I'd left (I have social anxiety and had to go alone because Brad is at work, so I was in a hurry to get out I guess.) that he didn't even weigh her. I feel like I kind of goofed up on this vet visit, but we get paid Tuesday so if we end up having to take her elsewhere we can afford a better vet... (Someone who knows about Kiwi's species, I'll be looking for vets near me and emailing them..)

Sigh. Hopefully she's herself soon. This is stressful.

 

[jenphilly]

Did he do a smear on either of them? If not, I'd plan for another vet visit with an avian vet if she is not back to herself tomorrow.

Bird poop is such a great indicator if something is going on. Doesn't always give the answer, but there are usually indications or something awry with the smear that leads to the need for bloodwork or more testing if needed.

Good luck with her overnight and I hope all posts from here out are good news and just improvement reports!!

 

[Sterling1113]

Nope. :/ Didn't even bring it up. (And of course, in my nervous state of mind didn't think to ask.)
I'll try my hardest to only have good news! Most of that is up to Kiwi though..
Fingers crossed it was just something that didn't sit right in her tummy.

 

[Anansi]

Your instinct to go with another vet sounds like a good one, Ashley. Weighing her and checking her poop are two big diagnostic tools. It worries me that he did neither. But let's hope she just shakes this off by tomorrow. Give Kiwi a scritch for me.

 

[Sterling1113]

Haha, Stephen, don't worry! She'll get enough scritches for everybody on here! Especially since she's not feeling well, she seems rather fond of following my hand and leaning against it, then lightly beaking my hand until I get the hint and rub her cheeks/head. She's such a cutie pie when she wants to be.
Jen might enjoy some good stories: She kept flying off my knee and into the bathroom area, and the flock-calling for me, where I would go retrieve her and then come back. She'd fly off again. So I tried putting her on her stand, then she flew to me, then to the bathroom.. Then flock-call. (this is odd, since ever since this morning she wouldn't even let me be on the other side of the room- she's been chasing me down all day!) Eventually Loki got curious, too, and waddled down his play-stand and walked into the bathroom like "What do you want?"
I followed him in and I heard a growling-type noise. Hmm. Not a sound Kiwi usually makes.
I look up at the rod where she usually perches, and she's not there!
So I look around, following her purring/growling.. and find her in the sink. Of course. So I turned on the water for her(luke-warm, so she doesn't get chilled.) and she spend a good 10 minutes enthusiastically bathing herself! She was so excited about it she bathed Loki pretty good too.. (He doesn't like baths. He just sits there and she gets water all over him then preens him.) So now they're both on the playstand preening/rubbing on their rope perch after a good towel-dry.
You'd think she hadn't bathed in weeks- but really, she had one yesterday.. she just decided she REALLY wanted a bath!! Haha. Clever little guys.

 

[BirdyMomma]

How is Kiwi doing today?

 

[Sterling1113]

Today she's doing just fine. thank you! By thursday night after she'd had her bath I could tell she was feeling much better.
Yesterday she didn't show any signs of lethargy, sleepiness, loss of balance, etc. Just nippy and somewhat hormonal. I'm betting she just ate something that upset her stomach, and then the vomiting drained her and made her weak. But she was eating and drinking so it didn't take much rest for her to get back to being her normal self.
Yesterday she actually tried to.. err.. "mate" with me. So I got straight to the discouraging that behaviour by returning her to her stand and letting her shred her toys instead.

Now here's the confusing part. She lives with my YSGCC, Loki, and he's DNA'd male. And when they, err, "play" she does the displays and acts the role of a male.(She isn't DNA'd. I just called her a girl because her previous owner had.) but when she's with ME she displays and acts as a female.. the raised rear, wing flicking, backing up onto my hand, cooing, etc.
So as much as I didn't want to start calling her a "him" I feel like she's already pretty gender confused herself.. or just has no interest in Loki because she's "claimed" me.
Now I want to get her DNA'd more than ever just so I can know.