VOMITING..What is going ON?!

[BirdyMomma]

Hi.

Does anyone know any reason why Wingnut, our Military Macaw would be frequently vomiting? Sometimes he will actually bring up food, but often it is just retching, with nothing coming up. This happens pretty much daily, and often, more than once.

Both Loki and Wingnut were at the vet LAST WEEK, and had every test suggested performed, and were given clean bills of health. We are only waiting for the results of the bacterial test.

He is not losing weight, and his appetite is the same. He is happy and plays, but vomiting can't be OK. What is really troubling, is that Loki did it once like a week ago, and just today, our Cockatoo, knuckles did it too.

Do they sometimes puke when they are excited, or over stimulated?

Either way, I'm calling the vet tomorrow, I'm really concerned. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Sassy]

Are you sure they are not regurgitating for you as a sign of affection?

 

[BirdyMomma]

I really doubt it. I will snuggle Wingnut, and then put him down, and he will start retching. It lasts for a pretty long time

This morning I heard him retching in his cage before we even uncovered him.

 

[kq_fan]

There's a difference in the way they throw up and regurgitate. When they vomit, they will swing there head side to side and it will fling everywhere. But when they regurgitate, They will bob there head and the stuff will only go in one place. My vet told me that.

 

[BirdyMomma]

Its not side to side, and anything that ever comes out is mushed food. His whole body heaves. I feel so bad. What can I do?

 

[kq_fan]

Oh hmm so its not just head bobbing? I'm so sorry this is happening! Maybe he's hungry? Sometimes when Lilo is trying to tell me she's hungry, she will vomit so then I rush off and get her some food. But it might be mating season. Its Lilos time and she will bring everything up!

 

[MikeyTN]

He may be in mating mode! Both of my macaws been doing it lately as it is about their season to mate right now. They do it in their cage, on me, doesn't matter where really....

 

[Kalidasa]

That's hormones. He's happy, horny, and letting you know about it

 

[BirdyMomma]

Really? He's only 5 months old. Isn't that too young?

 

[RavensGryf]

I've found vomit around my birds' cages before, but rarely. But for a few days at most, then no more. If it keeps going on and everyone's doing it, I'd make an appt to see the vet (hopefully you have a good one) at least to get an answer. No weight loss is a good sign though. Hang in there, and keep us posted

 

[MikeyTN]

They can still regurgitate to show that they love you or towards something or on something even if they're at 5 months old. But it doesn't hurt to ask your vet if your really worried.

 

[noblemacaw]

My RFM Valentino will be two years old in August. I have noticed lately he has started the head bobbing thing, brings up food, kind of freaks out the food is in his mouth then will shake his head violently flinging it everywhere. Once a hard piece of regurgies hit my eye and I could not see for a few moments. It was just gross.

I think at Valentino's age he is "practicing" regurgitating and feeding. When he does this I take him to his Java tree and perch him to get him away from me so he will calm down and stop the regurgies. I try not to encourage the behavior but I guess they need to practice parenting skills when they are teenagers. LOL

Wingnuts vomiting does not sound like normal baby spitup or "practicing". He is too young to be vomiting as much as he is. The confusing part is he just went into vets with no problems found. How very odd. I would be concerned myself and would call your vet to bounce off of them what he is doing, times and places he vomits and how he is vomiting (head jerking, or just bringing it up, actions included with vomiting) Does the regurgitated food smell bad? Does Wingnut seem in distress?

The largest macaw I ever had is my RFM. I am sure larger macaws are very different when raising them. I am concerned with the vomiting this young myself.

Also does your cockatoo Knuckles live in the same space as the macaws? I have learned that the dust from the cockatoo can irritate macaw sinuses. I remember having issues with my Illiger's macaw Diego's sinuses and had to treat him for the irritations. I didn't/don't have cockatoo or cockatiels so I believe his issue was from dust as I have bad problems with the dust in my home.

 

[Birdman666]

He's regurging... bringing food up from his crop. It's normal for a big mac.

 

[BirdyMomma]

Thanks everyone.

Noble Macaw, the vomit doesn't ever smell. He wretches uncontrollably, but makes no other signs of distress.

The macaws live in the same room with the cockatoo, but the vomiting was going on before she was ever home with us.

I was wondering if it could be an obstruction, but now that each of the girls has done it (once each) I don't think that's it.

He hasn't done it so far today, so that's a good sign, I guess.

 

[BeakFace]

I think I would bring them to another Avian vet for a second opinion.

 

[MikeyTN]

I hope everything is all right though, that's it's just a regurgitating thing they're doing....Have you called the vet today to ask about it????

 

[BirdyMomma]

Hi. Just so no one has the wrong idea, the vet we took our birds to is the #1 recommended exotics vet on Long Island. They only do exotics. It is highly unlikely that we could find a better facility, or a more qualified team of professionals. I am going to call her this evening.

I dont know. Wingnut didn't barf all day today (it's my day off, I was home) and I was carrying him around, holding him like a baby for a little while, and when I put him back on his cage, I showed him a new toy, and Retch,retch, BLARF. The tiniest bit of solid food came out, like stuck to his mouth. Then he just went about his business.

 

[Terry57]

I have no idea if this is even a possibility, but I wonder if he has a nervous stomach. I have a cat who retches every time she gets excited about anything, and that is what the vet finally concluded.
I hope everything is okay with Wingnut

 

[BirdyMomma]

Terry, I've been wondering the same thing. He seems to do it at times when something's going on. If he's happy or angry.

Could he have something stuck inside?

 

[Kalidasa]

Actually, my conure does the exact same thing after I've been carrying him around or cuddling/scratching. As soon as he finds some pleasant object (or the surface he's sitting in) he'll start hammering it with his beak and slowly regurg but not where it comes all the way out. Then he chews it up and swallows back down. It's often big chunks of stuff, and I'm glad he's chopping it up fine and swallowing it again, as it will be more digestible. I interpret it as a gush of affection transferred to the first available object. He started doing again as soon as the days started getting longer.