PBFD Sunny is showing symptoms

[wildheart]

I love this boy already soooo much I cant stop crying!

He is now 10 weeks old and he is dropping underdeveloped feathers and I took him to the vet. Dr. Russel gave the feathers one look and started disinfecting and moved us to a different room. He called his staff to disinfect the reception area and his room .... It felt as if my heart died, my daughter burst out in tears... Dr. Russel is convinced that it is PDBF and took blood and skin tissue, he also told me I dont even have to worry about testing the sex. Sunny is the cutest baby in the world, he responds when we talk to him with the cutest little sounds. He always wants to snuggle and receive love, he is the exact opposite of Sterretjie.

Quarantining is not even good enough to stop this highly contagious disease, the fact that they are in the same house, breathing the same air ..... He is with us in the car everyday because he comes to work with us, Sterretjie was with me in the car over the weekend - the car is contaminated correct???? My daughter borrowed Sterretjie's ladder for Sunny to play with - she did not know better. When she told me how Sunny climbed up the ladder I was shocked and freaked out .... they thought I was being stupid. It was something that was done a week ago already and they have put it exactly where they found it....

OMG I dont know how to stop crying. This has come at the worst time as well, my daughter was in a psychiatric hospital for a couple of weeks in December, she is 17. We went to see the psychiatrist yesterday (he went on holiday) and we heard that her diagnoses is Bipolar disorder and that she will be on chronic anti-depressants and anti-psychotic pills and needs ongoing psychiatric treatment. That was such a hard blow to all of us and now this. I need to be strong for my daughter but omg my heart is breaking, I dont know how to stop crying.

We will have the results on Friday, PLEASE pray with us that it is NOT PBFD.

 

[HRH Di]

Oh, Linky! I don't know what to say. I'm sending unending cyber hugs your way. Hopefully, Sunny's situation will be a false alarm, but if it isn't...please take some time to deal with both of these diagnoses. You need to take time to cry/rage/etc. Then you can face the next steps.

I don't believe in any of the usual social platitudes. I always hate when people say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". I've always wanted to say, "I'd rather be a shallow person if it means my son doesn't have to be autistic."

Please let us know if we can do anything for you.

 

[antoinette]

Linky OMG I am so sorry to hear this news, how were you to know, it's not any of your faults. You have been through so much already, please be strong, for Christie, Sunny, Sterretjie and Craig. I can just imagine how poor Christie is feeling right now, with all that is going on her end.
You are always in my prayers and thoughts, will light a candle right now.

 

[nofearengineer]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Linky. Sunny and Sterretjie will both be in my prayers, as well as you and your family. We can only hope for the best at this point.

 

[SharonC]

I'm sending good thoughts your way...Stay strong.

 

[Spiritbird]

Linky you know we are all here with you fighting with boxer gloves on. Your daughter's condition can be controlled very well with medication. There are many people all over the world with a Bi Polar diagnosis that live normal lives. I wish it were this simple for the bird. Lets keep positive energy all around you and say strong prayers for this to turn out ok for all. I know easy for me to say but the power of prayer and positive energy can be very effective.

 

[Von1983]

Oh my gosh Linky....

Dave and I are so upset for you all just now

Stay strong, we're with you all the way on this waiting for the results. If the worst case scenario is what it appears, it doesn't mean 100% that Sterretjie is going to have caught the same thing...there's always hope.

As for Christie, as Di says, many people suffer with bi-polar and live completely "normally" (I say "" because what the heck is "normal" anyway? ) with correct medication. It is like a broken leg, it will be fixed and does not define the person.

I will be crossing everything for you.

Take care my wonderful friend, you know we love you lots xxxxx

 

[Chris Winkler]

Oh my. Very upsetting and sad. Does the breeder know this? I know it's not your main consern but I would want to make sure they know they have sick birds..

{{{HUGS}}} I am so sorry that anyone ever has to deal with this.

 

[Printer bird]

Sorry to hear you are going through so much at once. When it rains it pours! Its good to hear that your daughter is on medication, I've had a few friends control their bipolar this way and I second the comments above that she can do very well with it. I hope that her medication continues to help her. I'm sure she understands how upset you are. And you are there for her but you also need to process your emotions/feelings for your birds. They are a big part of your life/family! I hope the test results don't show PBFD and that your other bird is safe. Everyone is sending good vibes your way!

 

[greycloud]

Linky, take a deep breath. I know things look horrible right now but lets take one thing at a time.
I will share with you. I am bi-polar. I have been on meds for 9 yrs. Lithium is my savior. This illness is very treatable along with therapy. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk.
As far as Sunny is concerned. You vet took proper precautions for his clinic. I know it was scary. The blood results will have your answers. If Sunny is positive that does not mean Sterretjie will contact this. Remember that the baby does not have immunities like Sterretjie does. I would was everything down at home with a bleach solution and let it dry well. Toss the ladder.
Sit tight until the results are back. We are all praying for you.

 

[Ratzy]

Recently, I bought the most beautiful little recessive pied **** budgie. I called him Cirrus because he was like a cloud with a patch of blue.
I had him tested for PBFD. It was the first time a budgie came back positive.

He was so sweet. I had already treated him for megabacteria and I had found him to be a real sweetie.
The vet confirmed that, although Cirrus might never develop the disease himself, he could not enter my flock. I asked the vet to have him euthanized. He said that would not be necessary if Cirrus were kept as a solitary bird so that he could not pass on the infection. That made me very sad because he was a social little bird who always perked up when he heard my budgies during his quarantine period.
The vet said that he would be able to find someone who would keep him as a solitary bird, so I surrendered Cirrus to the vet. He was there a week or so before something good happened. Cirrus went to live in an aviary where the owners keeps birds who are known to be carrying PBFD. He will be able to live out his life in company.

I think those people are very brave. Some of the birds will get sick and they have to deal with that.

This is somebody off another forum, not me!

Sending loads of *hugs* your way, *fingers crossed* it's not PBFD.

 

[nofearengineer]

Ratzy, that is beautiful. As a big tough guy, I still find myself touched by the thought of that sweet little guy being able to find his happiness. Good work.

 

[Ratzy]

Sorry if I did not make it clear, but that isn't me, it's somebody else's experience off another forum!

 

[JawzX]

oh my Linky! It never comes but in bunches... Bi-polar is quite treatable, as others have mentioned... It'll be a little tough, but it'll get better. A good friend of mine's mother has been successfully treating Bi-polar for many years now.

as for the birds, I hope Sunny's tests come back negative, but even if they don't I know you'll do everything right to keep your little star shining bright and healthy. It's not guaranteed that she's caught it, and you can do much to prevent it. Take some deep breaths, we're all pulling for you.

 

[Beilana]

I'm sending prayers and hugs your way. Please allow yourself to feel completely P.O.'d, Sad, confused, guilty and any other feelings that come your way. You deserve it.
I am really sorry to hear about your daughter. My mother has PTSD as well as Bi-polar and alcoholism. Some days are good, others not so much....just like most things in life.
Praying the diagnosis of PBFD is incorrect and results come back NEGATIVE.
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxo

 

[wildheart]

We will definitely get through the Bipolar, we just need to find the right meds because she is showing severe side-effects with the Risperdal. Thank you every one.

Sunny is next to me here at work and he is preening himself, I see feathers falling and each one is like a stab through my heart.

Sterretjie came to me in a terrible condition and I know that she does not have a strong immune system. She is a FIGHTER however and I am putting my hopes on that.

Sunny was in a nursery with several macaws, cockatoos, african greys and 2 other ringnecks. They all looked bright and healthy. Sunny looks bright and healthy, he is eating like a champ, poops 100% correct, plays and sleeps like a baby should. Apart from the falling feathers he is not showing any signs of illness.

Dr. Russel can be wrong, he was wrong about Sterretjie twice.

Thank you for your support, I knew I could rely on you, my bird family, others just do not understand the pain.

 

[wildheart]

I just read this and it is against everything else that I've read before. What do you think?

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, PBFD, Beak & Feather

"We worried about the possibility of the PBFD being contracted by our cockatiels. The veterinarian told us that research had showed that PBFD could be contracted only by young birds, generally less than one year old. He said that this research had found that it was impossible for a bird greater than three years old to contract PBFD. Since the tiels were each about eight years old at this time, the risk of their getting PBFD from Sweetpea seemed virtually nonexistent. We decided to take Sweetpea home, and give her the best life we could, keep her warm, and loved, as long as we could, until it was evident that we had to end her suffering. "

 

[greycloud]

I think it is a very positive out look for Sterretjie. If you look at the wild Galahs in Australia they have cases of PBFD amid their thousands of healthy birds. They have tested many birds and the results are negative. Keep a positive outlook Linky. We are all praying for you and your birds.

 

[SharonC]

I just read this and it is against everything else that I've read before. What do you think?

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, PBFD, Beak & Feather

"We worried about the possibility of the PBFD being contracted by our cockatiels. The veterinarian told us that research had showed that PBFD could be contracted only by young birds, generally less than one year old. He said that this research had found that it was impossible for a bird greater than three years old to contract PBFD. Since the tiels were each about eight years old at this time, the risk of their getting PBFD from Sweetpea seemed virtually nonexistent. We decided to take Sweetpea home, and give her the best life we could, keep her warm, and loved, as long as we could, until it was evident that we had to end her suffering. "

I've read that also, Linky....it might be worth a little more investigation.

 

[Von1983]

I read the link also Linky and I don't see any reason why there cannot be good reason behind the article.

I asked my AV about PBFD when I first became aware of it and although there are cases in this country, they aren't as high as in others.

He was of the opinion that it is not as easily passed on as it was once thought. He basis this on much reading and some experience. He said that it did not appear to spread like "wild fire" in some documented situations, for example, rescue centres which led him to believe that there are more specifics to disease than was first suspected. This is why I said I did not think it was set in stone that our Sterretjie was at risk.

I know a lot is known about PBFD, but judging from what I have learnt from my AV and the forum, there is still a lot left UNKNOWN which would explain why they are struggling to find a preventative vaccination for this horrible, horrible disease in Australia.

We are all with you in our household Links. Dave is hoping you are feeling better today and we both know you will get through this no matter what the outcome.

Much love xxx