- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,248
- 225
- Parrots
- Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
My 3 year old budgie Twigs was acting just a little more tired in the past day or so. Not lethargic, not overtly sick, but a little something was off about him. I thought I'd better take him in just in case. I was fortunate to get an appointment the next day (today).
The vet ruled out anything respiratory, she took a good long listen with a stethoscope. She thinks he may have a little bacterial infection, so they did swabs and wide spectrum antibiotic injection that should last a week. I will get results of the swabs next week.
So get this... not only did poor little Twigs go through plenty today, including handling, crop and vent swabs, and an injection, but when the kennel attendant guy brought him from the back he didn't make sure I had a good grip on the carrier handle before he let go. I tried to break his fall the best I could, but I wasn't expecting it, so he still got pretty banged up with the carrier banging between the counter and my body on the way down. Man I felt so bad for Twigs! That was right after his trauma too. Then to add to that, my left knee has been acting up lately, and it was healing, but I sort of twisted it wrong trying to catch the carrier! It's not too bad thankfully, but I sure didn't need that either. I checked on him in the passenger seat several times on the way home. Although now he was on the floor of the cage instead of on the perch like he was on the way there, he was alert, and when I talked to him you could tell he was paying attention.
He has been eating less, but was about 30 grams which is still a good weight. I saw him eating just a little while ago so I'm relieved. He didn't eat much though. He still looks a little under the weather, but he's moving around. Every time I look he's in a different spot.
He bit the vet, but he didn't bite me at any point today. I think he knows my hands, and although he is not a handleable budgie, maybe he knows to an extent that it is "me" and I won't hurt him. He sort of stepped up and let me go slow and enclose my hand to get him out of the carrier. He is super wild to strangers. He will step up for me when he feels like it.
Thinking about it, it seems like a higher percentage of budgies might be a little more 'delicate' and susceptible to little things, whereas the bigger birds are a little more hardy. Of course that's not always the case, this has been my experience. I love budgies regardless.
The vet ruled out anything respiratory, she took a good long listen with a stethoscope. She thinks he may have a little bacterial infection, so they did swabs and wide spectrum antibiotic injection that should last a week. I will get results of the swabs next week.
So get this... not only did poor little Twigs go through plenty today, including handling, crop and vent swabs, and an injection, but when the kennel attendant guy brought him from the back he didn't make sure I had a good grip on the carrier handle before he let go. I tried to break his fall the best I could, but I wasn't expecting it, so he still got pretty banged up with the carrier banging between the counter and my body on the way down. Man I felt so bad for Twigs! That was right after his trauma too. Then to add to that, my left knee has been acting up lately, and it was healing, but I sort of twisted it wrong trying to catch the carrier! It's not too bad thankfully, but I sure didn't need that either. I checked on him in the passenger seat several times on the way home. Although now he was on the floor of the cage instead of on the perch like he was on the way there, he was alert, and when I talked to him you could tell he was paying attention.
He has been eating less, but was about 30 grams which is still a good weight. I saw him eating just a little while ago so I'm relieved. He didn't eat much though. He still looks a little under the weather, but he's moving around. Every time I look he's in a different spot.
He bit the vet, but he didn't bite me at any point today. I think he knows my hands, and although he is not a handleable budgie, maybe he knows to an extent that it is "me" and I won't hurt him. He sort of stepped up and let me go slow and enclose my hand to get him out of the carrier. He is super wild to strangers. He will step up for me when he feels like it.
Thinking about it, it seems like a higher percentage of budgies might be a little more 'delicate' and susceptible to little things, whereas the bigger birds are a little more hardy. Of course that's not always the case, this has been my experience. I love budgies regardless.
. 
). I know he likes that. When I used to let him fly out with the parrots, he'd stand next to them and puff out his chest all proud to be one of the guys 
