Primor Facing Possible Air Sac Rupture, CT Scan Tuesday – Advice needed

[PrimorandMoxi]

Here is an update on Primor and could really use your insights, support, or similar experiences.


We first took him to our regular vet (who does have experience with birds), but the mass under Primor’s wing would come and go, and nothing was visible during that visit. We’ve been monitoring closely, and three days ago the swelling returned—this time significantly.


I brought him to Red Bank Animal Hospital’s emergency department. It’s an incredible facility, and they did full bloodwork. What they suspect is a rupture in an air sac.


He’s currently on an anti-inflammatory, but to get a definitive diagnosis, they’re recommending a CT scan, which of course requires anesthesia—something that terrifies us.

We’re scheduled for the scan this Tuesday, and I’m reaching out to ask:

• Has anyone here had experience with air sac ruptures?
• Has your bird undergone a CT scan under anesthesia?
• Anything you did to prepare or questions you wished you’d asked?

Thank you for being here.

 

[texsize]

Here is an update on Primor and could really use your insights, support, or similar experiences.


We first took him to our regular vet (who does have experience with birds), but the mass under Primor’s wing would come and go, and nothing was visible during that visit. We’ve been monitoring closely, and three days ago the swelling returned—this time significantly.


I brought him to Red Bank Animal Hospital’s emergency department. It’s an incredible facility, and they did full bloodwork. What they suspect is a rupture in an air sac.


He’s currently on an anti-inflammatory, but to get a definitive diagnosis, they’re recommending a CT scan, which of course requires anesthesia—something that terrifies us.

We’re scheduled for the scan this Tuesday, and I’m reaching out to ask:

• Has anyone here had experience with air sac ruptures?
• Has your bird undergone a CT scan under anesthesia?
• Anything you did to prepare or questions you wished you’d asked?

Thank you for being here.

Sorry you’re going through this and hope it come out ok.

My Bingo was anethesistissed for an x ray.
I don’t know if they do it the same way for a CT scan but my vet used drops on his nares that he said was like birdy Valium .

It’s short acting maybe 15 minutes or so and they can give him something to bring him out quickly if needed.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

A CT is very quick so the issue is how you feel about short anesthesia. My budgies have had x-rays and ultrasounds under sedation and they were fine. It's a very short acting anesthesia and I assume it's being administered by people who know what they're doing. I'd do it. There's always a risk with anesthesia but I'd rather know what's ailing my bird and try to do something about it than the alternative.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

As for questions for the vet- I approach things like this with my humans or my birds with the questions "What are you looking for?" and "What's the plan if you find it or something else?"

If there's nothing they can do for whatever it is they may find via imaging, then it's an academic exercise for an unnecessary risk to have the imaging. If they have a treatment in mind for ruptured air sacs or some other condition they may find that would help Primor it may be worth the risk.

 

[LaManuka]

Here is an update on Primor and could really use your insights, support, or similar experiences.


We first took him to our regular vet (who does have experience with birds), but the mass under Primor’s wing would come and go, and nothing was visible during that visit. We’ve been monitoring closely, and three days ago the swelling returned—this time significantly.


I brought him to Red Bank Animal Hospital’s emergency department. It’s an incredible facility, and they did full bloodwork. What they suspect is a rupture in an air sac.


He’s currently on an anti-inflammatory, but to get a definitive diagnosis, they’re recommending a CT scan, which of course requires anesthesia—something that terrifies us.

We’re scheduled for the scan this Tuesday, and I’m reaching out to ask:

• Has anyone here had experience with air sac ruptures?
• Has your bird undergone a CT scan under anesthesia?
• Anything you did to prepare or questions you wished you’d asked?

Thank you for being here.

I'm sorry you're going through this, @PrimorandMoxi. I've had birds go under anaesthesia many many times for various tests and surgical procedures, I wish I could tell you it's always been 100% successful but even with the most skilled and experienced of vets it hasn't, unexpected things crop up as I'm sure you will know and your clinic will tell you, and it has happened to me. My heart is with you and Primor, the best we can ever do is go with our gut as to what we think is best and I'm praying for a successful outcome for you

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Did the vet say there's any treatment for ruptured air sacs or do they eventually heal? I googled it and there's an AI explanation. Apparently it's not painful.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I've been reading about ruptured air sacs in parrots. They usually just heal on their own. If that's what it is, I probably wouldn't get a CT due to the small but real anesthesia risk. I saw a video of a vet aspirating the trapped air in a budgie with a needle. The budgie did fine and recovered well.
It's amazing what you can find online if you use Google.