Sick budgie help!

[ChristinaTFSI]

Hey guys! My female budgie is sick! The past few weeks she was all puffed up and she was sleeping a lot. I'm addition, something is wrong with her feet, beacause she is standing all the time on one foot. Also something is wrong with her beak (if you want I can upload a picture). Lastly, I have noticed that when she breathes she moves her tail up and down. There is not vegetarian in my area. What can I do to help my little birdie ?? Please help!

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[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family.

Since predators tend to target weaker individuals from flocks/herds/packs etc, birds as prey animals instinctively try their best to hide their illnesses. So by the time their lethargy becomes easily visible to you, chances are it has evolved into something serious. Now, if this has been happening for the past few weeks, she's probably very sick indeed.

Being on one foot all the time is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with her foot. (Unless it's always the same foot.) That's how they sleep. But the fact that she's always puffed up is a problem. Puffing up like that is an attempt to hold in as much heat as they can.

Moving her tail up and down when she breathes could be a sign that she is having difficulty breathing. Or that she's straining. Has there been any change in her poop? Take a look at this thread for an idea what I'm talking about in terms of her droppings part way down the page): http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/48146-photo-informative-collages.html

Egg-binding could also be a possibility with the straining, but I'm leaning away from that since you say she's been this way for the past few weeks.

Yes, you should probably send in a pic of her beak. But your first priority should be to keep trying to find a vet. In all likelihood, her situation has progressed beyond what anyone here could help with remotely. She might be in a critical stage here, and time is of the essence.

In the meantime, you should endeavor to keep her room very warm. 85 degrees Fahrenheit might be good. And watch her eating. Has her appetite diminished? Is she drinking any water?

But I can't stress enough that you need to try your best to find a vet! It's likely the difference between her life and death at this point. Is there a pet store nearby? They may have a vet that they can recommend. Also, we are an international community here. Give us an idea of what city and country you live in. There is always the chance that someone from your area might know of a local certified avian vet. (Or failing that, any vet. Avian or otherwise.)

I'm really hoping you're able to get some help for your budgie.

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family.

Since predators tend to target weaker individuals from flocks/herds/packs etc, birds as prey animals instinctively try their best to hide their illnesses. So by the time their lethargy becomes easily visible to you, chances are it has evolved into something serious. Now, if this has been happening for the past few weeks, she's probably very sick indeed.

Being on one foot all the time is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with her foot. (Unless it's always the same foot.) That's how they sleep. But the fact that she's always puffed up is a problem. Puffing up like that is an attempt to hold in as much heat as they can.

Moving her tail up and down when she breathes could be a sign that she is having difficulty breathing. Or that she's straining. Has there been any change in her poop? Take a look at this thread for an idea what I'm talking about in terms of her droppings part way down the page): http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/48146-photo-informative-collages.html

Egg-binding could also be a possibility with the straining, but I'm leaning away from that since you say she's been this way for the past few weeks.

Yes, you should probably send in a pic of her beak. But your first priority should be to keep trying to find a vet. In all likelihood, her situation has progressed beyond what anyone here could help with remotely. She might be in a critical stage here, and time is of the essence.

In the meantime, you should endeavor to keep her room very warm. 85 degrees Fahrenheit might be good. And watch her eating. Has her appetite diminished? Is she drinking any water?

But I can't stress enough that you need to try your best to find a vet! It's likely the difference between her life and death at this point. Is there a pet store nearby? They may have a vet that they can recommend. Also, we are an international community here. Give us an idea of what city and country you live in. There is always the chance that someone from your area might know of a local certified avian vet. (Or failing that, any vet. Avian or otherwise.)

I'm really hoping you're able to get some help for your budgie.

Thank you for your respond ! No, there is not a change in her droppings, they seem normal! She is still drinking water but she doesn't want to eat. I am still trying to find a vet. I think she is worse now, since the only thing she does is sleeping and sometimes she eats some seeds ! I am very worried! I will include a picture of her beak and her foot.

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[ChristinaTFSI]

Also she sneezes A LOT. Like 20 times in a row ! What does that mean ??

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[noodles123]

You really really need to get her to the vet ASAP. Birds hide illness so the fact that she is showing signs and has been showing signs means that she is likely quite sick..
You could try cooking some plain oatmeal without sugar-just some boiled fruit (bananas, apples)cooked with oats and water...just to get her to eat for a VERY temporary fix--let it cool first...BUT....this isn't something you can wait on.
Sneezing + other symptoms could be any number of problems...infection (bacterial), viral, fungal, internal/physiological....you really need to find a vet...even if you have to drive her a few hours to get to one...


You aren't using cleaning products or other scented things around her are you? Scented anything (unless avian safe) can really mess with a bird's sensitive respiratory system...even perfume and non-scented candles...

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

You really really need to get her to the vet ASAP. Birds hide illness so the fact that she is showing signs and has been showing signs means that she is likely quite sick..
You could try cooking some plain oatmeal without sugar (just some fruit, oats and water)to get her to eat...BUT....this isn't something you can wait on.
Sneezing + other symptoms could be any number of problems...infection (bacterial), viral, fungal....you really need to find a vet...even if you have to drive her a few hours to get to one...

I will try to find a vet. What about her beak ? Do have any idea what that is ?

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[Anansi]

I'm not sure about her beak. But Noodles is right about the sheer range of things that could be wrong with her at this point. In which city and country do you live?

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

I'm not sure about her beak. But Noodles is right about the sheer range of things that could be wrong with her at this point. In which city and country do you live?

I live in Greece but in the city where I live there's no avian vets.

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[ChristinaTFSI]

Also I managed to give her food (to be specific I gave her carrots -it's her favorite)

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[noodles123]

That looks bit like scaly face mites but I am not certain as I have never seen it in person...It could be any number of things (I am no vet)...Seriously, don't try to treat yourself. Drive drive drive to the nearest vet and keep your bird as calm as possible...Do not expose to extreme temperatures and take any air fresheners out of your car before transporting bird (then air-out).


https://pets.thenest.com/scaly-beak-parakeet-10143.html


http://www.thebudgiecage.com/budgie_health/budgie_foot_problems.php#.W9Xgx-JRfIU

"There are initially crusty plaques in the corners of the beak and on the beak itself. In the early stages, they have the appearance of a bright white deposit that becomes thicker and crustier over time."

http://xautoman.com/40108-whydoesmybudgiehaveacrustybeak.html

 

[Anansi]

Okay, hoping that some members from Greece will chime in. But in the meantime, you should look for avian vets outside of your city if need be. Time is critical. And like I said, if you have to, go to a regular vet. Given the urgency, don't wait to find a certified avian vet.

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

I will try. Thank you for your help ! I hope everything will be okay.

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[Anansi]

Me too! Keeping your little one in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

Oh and I forgot to say that I am not using any cleaning products when my bird is around. I usually put her cage and playstand in another room and close the door, when I use cleaning products.

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[noodles123]

I would suggest that you switch to natural products or at least avian-safe ones. A closed door doesn't help very much, so you could be causing damage without knowing it. Obviously there is more going on here than just that, but I am saying this for future reference (and because you don't to further stress a sick bird)

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

I would suggest that you switch to natural products or at least avian-safe ones. A closed door doesn't help very much, so you could be causing damage without knowing it. Obviously there is more going on here than just that, but I am saying this for future reference (and because you don't to further stress a sick bird)

Ok then, I will try to find some natural products. Also I did some research and I found an avian vet! I will call him tomorrow.

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[noodles123]

Ok GREAT!- if he has an emergency number--- call today!!! Explain that this has been going on for a long time so that he knows time is of the essence!

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

Unfortunately, he doesn't have an emergency number so I have to wait utill tommorow. I hope she will be fine untill then.

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[EllenD]

I'm sorry but your Budgie is seriously ill and needs to see an Avian Vet immediately, as she has been sick for months now most-likely, and she is not going to last much longer without professional help. I'd rather not sugar-coat this for you, because there is nothing that you can do at home to help your bird. She needs to have an Upper Respiratory Culture done, a Fecal culture done, and a scraping taken from her beak to be looked at under a microscope.

I'm glad you found an Avian Vet, but please do not hesitate in taking her there at the very first moment that you can. Explain to the Vet that she has been like this for weeks now, that she's sleeping all the time, very lethargic, and also has something that appears to be a Scaly-Face Mite infection. They need to see her as an emergency case.

The beak issue does look like it could be Scaly-Face Mites, which requires a single injection of Ivermectin from the Vet. Applying it topically is dangerous and not nearly as effective, and is not advised because you'd have to apply it multiple times, and it's a very strong poison that can kill the bird too, so Avian Vets typically give a single injection of an exact dose of it based on the bird's weight, and that typically clears it up quickly...However, it may not be Scaly-Face Mites based on your birds other symptoms, which to me sound like she has been suffering from an Upper Respiratory Infection of some kind for a very long time, either bacterial, fungal, or both, and that's why they need to do a culture of her throat and of a sinus-flush to diagnose exactly what microbe is causing the infection so that they can give her the correct medication. The stuff around her beak could be due to the URI/sinus infection as well, or it could be Scaly-Face mites in addition to the infection. She may also have a GI Tract infection, that's why she also needs a Fecal Culture. So she may have multiple infections/infestations going on, either way she is very sick...And she's probably standing on one-foot not because there is anything wrong with her foot, but because she's sleeping all the time due to the illness, and they sleep with one foot tucked-up like that...That's how much she's been sleeping, so much that her foot is constantly tucked...

In the meantime all you can do is keep her very warm and quiet, and make sure that you are seeing her drinking and eating, because if she stops doing that then she's going to go downhill fast. She needs the hydration and the nutrition. If you have an electric heating pad it might be good to either put her cage on top of it and then cover 3 sides of her cage with a towel/blanket, leaving only the front open, or even better to attach the heating pad to the side of the cage closest to where she usually sleeps and then cover up the 3 sides of the cage to keep her both warm and quiet...The less stress the better...Good luck, and keep us posted...

 

[ChristinaTFSI]

I'm sorry but your Budgie is seriously ill and needs to see an Avian Vet immediately, as she has been sick for months now most-likely, and she is not going to last much longer without professional help. I'd rather not sugar-coat this for you, because there is nothing that you can do at home to help your bird. She needs to have an Upper Respiratory Culture done, a Fecal culture done, and a scraping taken from her beak to be looked at under a microscope.

I'm glad you found an Avian Vet, but please do not hesitate in taking her there at the very first moment that you can. Explain to the Vet that she has been like this for weeks now, that she's sleeping all the time, very lethargic, and also has something that appears to be a Scaly-Face Mite infection. They need to see her as an emergency case.

The beak issue does look like it could be Scaly-Face Mites, which requires a single injection of Ivermectin from the Vet. Applying it topically is dangerous and not nearly as effective, and is not advised because you'd have to apply it multiple times, and it's a very strong poison that can kill the bird too, so Avian Vets typically give a single injection of an exact dose of it based on the bird's weight, and that typically clears it up quickly...However, it may not be Scaly-Face Mites based on your birds other symptoms, which to me sound like she has been suffering from an Upper Respiratory Infection of some kind for a very long time, either bacterial, fungal, or both, and that's why they need to do a culture of her throat and of a sinus-flush to diagnose exactly what microbe is causing the infection so that they can give her the correct medication. The stuff around her beak could be due to the URI/sinus infection as well, or it could be Scaly-Face mites in addition to the infection. She may also have a GI Tract infection, that's why she also needs a Fecal Culture. So she may have multiple infections/infestations going on, either way she is very sick...And she's probably standing on one-foot not because there is anything wrong with her foot, but because she's sleeping all the time due to the illness, and they sleep with one foot tucked-up like that...That's how much she's been sleeping, so much that her foot is constantly tucked...

In the meantime all you can do is keep her very warm and quiet, and make sure that you are seeing her drinking and eating, because if she stops doing that then she's going to go downhill fast. She needs the hydration and the nutrition. If you have an electric heating pad it might be good to either put her cage on top of it and then cover 3 sides of her cage with a towel/blanket, leaving only the front open, or even better to attach the heating pad to the side of the cage closest to where she usually sleeps and then cover up the 3 sides of the cage to keep her both warm and quiet...The less stress the better...Good luck, and keep us posted...

Thank you so much for responding! I am going to call (and hopefully visit) the vet tommorow and untill then I will try to keep her cage as warm as possible.

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