PDD Diagnosis

[AubreyKiryn]

Hello all,
I am looking for advice and to find out what more I can do for my girl who has recently been diagnosed with PDD. She is a 15 year old eclectus parrot. I am open to any notes, comments, stories, or if you think I should be doing something different. My goal is to make sure I am doing everything in my power to help her though this. A lot of the research I have found mentions how fatal this disease can be ….

Medical History:
- 8/1/26 through 8/2/26 I noticed she was not eating, drinking, or pooping
- 8/3/26 she was admitted to the Exotic ER in my area (Chicagoland) through 8/9/26 for a crop infection. They did radiographs, bloodwork, gram stain, fluids, antibiotics, pain management, syringe feeding, and digestive medications. She was also given the Suprelorin F Implant during her stay due to her history of frequent egg laying. We were sent hope with Milk Thistle and Gabapentin to give twice a day.
- When we brought her home, she stopped eating and pooping again as well as making inconsolable squealing noises. She went back to the ER 8/12/26. No infection, but bloodwork showed anemia and she had a lot of yeast in her crop. We were sent home with Meloxicam and an anti-fungal, discontinued Gabapentin, and waiting on yeast infection results. This is when PDD was discussed based on clinical signs, radiographs, bloodwork, and weight loss.
- Went back for a recheck 8/22/26 to find out that she has no crop or yeast infections, but still not doing much better on Meloxicam and anti-fungal. She was given Onsior Injection for PDD and we go back to recheck this Saturday, 8/2926.
- I started providing EmerAid Omnivore on her food and that is what she has been eating a little bit of. Started pooping and gaining a tad bit of weight.
- She averages around 450 grams and as of this morning, 8/27/26, she weighed 398 grams. I weigh her twice a day to monitor.
- No squealing noises noted the past 2 days.

Diet:
AM:
- Pellet mix of Lafeber's Parrott Gourmet Tropical Fruit and Lafeber's Parrot Premium Daily equaling 1/4 cup
- 3 dried chilli peppers
- 1 cuttlebone piece (abt a quarter size)
- Veggie mix warmed/steamed in microwave mixed with chamomile tea
- Warmed puree mix of sweet potato, butternut squash, and pumpkin topped with about 10ml (3 parts powder 2 parts water) of EmerAid

PM:
- Veggie mix warmed/steamed in microwave mixed with chamomile tea
- Warmed puree mix of sweet potato, butternut squash, and pumpkin topped with about 10ml (3 parts powder 2 parts water) of EmerAid

Veggie mix includes finely chopped raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, and apples and cooked quinoa, lentils, and barley.

***I will begin switching her pellets to the RoudyBush Formula APD Proventricular once the prescription has been processed.

Environment:
- She has a large cage filled with different styles of toys, 3 water bowls, two pellet bowls, and her warmed food on the bottom of her cage.
- She shares a bedroom with my rabbit that is a separate wing in my apartment (closed off from living room with a door that leads to a hallway, bedroom with door, and bathroom)
- The bedroom has an air purifier year-round and also has a humidifier for the winter season
- I have ordered the K&H Snuggle-Up Bird Warmer to add to her cage as well as a Teflon free oil heater for her room

Health Maintenance:
- She gets a warm, steamy shower about every other day
- She gets her nails and beak trimmed about every 3 months by her primary veterinarian (as needed as they grow)
- She gets an annual vet visit with her primary veterinarian

 

[AubreyKiryn]

I also forgot to add that she was vomiting and pooping undigested food up until about a week ago. I also give her a few pieces of scrambled eggs in her veggie mix. The only thing she is eating are the scrambled eggs, EmerAid, and puree at this point.

 

[LaManuka87]

Welcome to the forums @AubreyKiryn, but I am so sorry to hear about Rosalie's condition. Thankfully here in Australia, bornavirus and PDD are not very well known, and I can only imagine how stressful and worrying this must be for you. A few of our members do have birds with bornavirus that has not yet developed into PDD, which it hopefully will not , so I hope that perhaps they may see your post and give you some advice. In the meantime though, I was able to locate a couple of articles online which may help.

https://amccorona.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Daily-Living-with-the-Avian-Bornaviral-PDD-affected-bird.pdf

Understanding Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis and Avian Ganglioneuritis

Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis (ABG) is an immune-mediated disease and isresponsible for what has been previously known as Proventricular Dilatation

beautyofbirds.com

 

[AubreyKiryn]

Welcome to the forums @AubreyKiryn, but I am so sorry to hear about Rosalie's condition. Thankfully here in Australia, bornavirus and PDD are not very well known, and I can only imagine how stressful and worrying this must be for you. A few of our members do have birds with bornavirus that has not yet developed into PDD, which it hopefully will not , so I hope that perhaps they may see your post and give you some advice. In the meantime though, I was able to locate a couple of articles online which may help.

https://amccorona.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Daily-Living-with-the-Avian-Bornaviral-PDD-affected-bird.pdf

Understanding Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis and Avian Ganglioneuritis

Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis (ABG) is an immune-mediated disease and isresponsible for what has been previously known as Proventricular Dilatation

beautyofbirds.com

Thank you so much!

 

[LaManuka87]

Thank you so much!

You're most welcome! I found another little nugget of info that might be helpful for you

I’m a Patron of The Green Bird Brigade on Patreon. I also follow Jen on Instagram. A lot of people know her bird that went viral, Auggie, the “bacon pancakes” Quaker. She has a parrot rescue in Texas, & has I think nine birds of her own. Her beloved Macaw, Aurora, has AG from ABV. There’s a highlight on her Instagram account that has some useful information regarding it. You could probably also try reaching out to her, if you’d like more info on how she manages the disease with her flock. I’ve spoken with her personally, & have done a consultation with her. She’s a very kind person & is focused on helping people & their parrots.

 

[kme3388]

I’m so sorry you and your little one are going through this. I lost my own parrot to PDD in January, so I know how frightening and heartbreaking this diagnosis can be. Please know that you’re not alone, and there are people here who understand what you’re feeling and are willing to listen and help however we can.

For now, try to take things one day at a time and cherish the time you have together. Follow your avian vet’s guidance, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out here when you need support. Sending so much love to you and your feathered friend.

 

[AubreyKiryn]

I’m so sorry you and your little one are going through this. I lost my own parrot to PDD in January, so I know how frightening and heartbreaking this diagnosis can be. Please know that you’re not alone, and there are people here who understand what you’re feeling and are willing to listen and help however we can.

For now, try to take things one day at a time and cherish the time you have together. Follow your avian vet’s guidance, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out here when you need support. Sending so much love to you and your feathered friend.

Thank you for your kind words. I’m so sorry to hear about your feathered baby. I’ve joined a PDD support group on Facebook as well as found lots of helpful research from a Dr. Susan Orosz that has been helping me stay informed.

 

[vsk101]

Hello all,
I am looking for advice and to find out what more I can do for my girl who has recently been diagnosed with PDD. She is a 15 year old eclectus parrot. I am open to any notes, comments, stories, or if you think I should be doing something different. My goal is to make sure I am doing everything in my power to help her though this. A lot of the research I have found mentions how fatal this disease can be ….

Medical History:
- 8/1/26 through 8/2/26 I noticed she was not eating, drinking, or pooping
- 8/3/26 she was admitted to the Exotic ER in my area (Chicagoland) through 8/9/26 for a crop infection. They did radiographs, bloodwork, gram stain, fluids, antibiotics, pain management, syringe feeding, and digestive medications. She was also given the Suprelorin F Implant during her stay due to her history of frequent egg laying. We were sent hope with Milk Thistle and Gabapentin to give twice a day.
- When we brought her home, she stopped eating and pooping again as well as making inconsolable squealing noises. She went back to the ER 8/12/26. No infection, but bloodwork showed anemia and she had a lot of yeast in her crop. We were sent home with Meloxicam and an anti-fungal, discontinued Gabapentin, and waiting on yeast infection results. This is when PDD was discussed based on clinical signs, radiographs, bloodwork, and weight loss.
- Went back for a recheck 8/22/26 to find out that she has no crop or yeast infections, but still not doing much better on Meloxicam and anti-fungal. She was given Onsior Injection for PDD and we go back to recheck this Saturday, 8/2926.
- I started providing EmerAid Omnivore on her food and that is what she has been eating a little bit of. Started pooping and gaining a tad bit of weight.
- She averages around 450 grams and as of this morning, 8/27/26, she weighed 398 grams. I weigh her twice a day to monitor.
- No squealing noises noted the past 2 days.

Diet:
AM:
- Pellet mix of Lafeber's Parrott Gourmet Tropical Fruit and Lafeber's Parrot Premium Daily equaling 1/4 cup
- 3 dried chilli peppers
- 1 cuttlebone piece (abt a quarter size)
- Veggie mix warmed/steamed in microwave mixed with chamomile tea
- Warmed puree mix of sweet potato, butternut squash, and pumpkin topped with about 10ml (3 parts powder 2 parts water) of EmerAid

PM:
- Veggie mix warmed/steamed in microwave mixed with chamomile tea
- Warmed puree mix of sweet potato, butternut squash, and pumpkin topped with about 10ml (3 parts powder 2 parts water) of EmerAid

Veggie mix includes finely chopped raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, and apples and cooked quinoa, lentils, and barley.

***I will begin switching her pellets to the RoudyBush Formula APD Proventricular once the prescription has been processed.

Environment:
- She has a large cage filled with different styles of toys, 3 water bowls, two pellet bowls, and her warmed food on the bottom of her cage.
- She shares a bedroom with my rabbit that is a separate wing in my apartment (closed off from living room with a door that leads to a hallway, bedroom with door, and bathroom)
- The bedroom has an air purifier year-round and also has a humidifier for the winter season
- I have ordered the K&H Snuggle-Up Bird Warmer to add to her cage as well as a Teflon free oil heater for her room

Health Maintenance:
- She gets a warm, steamy shower about every other day
- She gets her nails and beak trimmed about every 3 months by her primary veterinarian (as needed as they grow)
- She gets an annual vet visit with her primary veterinarian

How is your girl doing? I have a male who is 9 and was diagnosed 5-6 years ago. His symptoms are neurological, no gastrointestinal ones as far as I can tell. He has been on robenocoxib injections for the last few years and is doing great. He occasionally has little flares and at times his med has had to be adjusted a bit but overall other than looking pretty plucked, he is a happy little guy and is doing great. When he has had flares the symptoms are pretty subtle. they are worth noting so any health concerns can be identified quickly. For my bird he seems more afraid of shadows than usual and cries more. It is a particular cry that he makes. He will pluck more too.