Bird Emergency Highway 911

[WingedVictory]

Hi, hope your bird is doing better. We have a blue and Gold 15 years old here that has just laid 4 eggs, it was her first time at laying also. What I did for ours is give her an additional calcium supplement in her water and some on her food, so far so good. Savanah is in with her buddy a 15-17 year old Scarlet, they have not mated just buddies at this time. I check her cage several times a day and she has been fine. You can get a calcium supplement online or at one of the bigger pet chains or maybe your bet gave her a shot? Keep here away from the other birds and calm. Our is in the middle of our macaws but is doing OK, Here is a link: CalciBoost - Liquid Calcium For Birds gary

[shybirdiegirl]

I am so sad to hear your little girl is having problems and doesn't feel well!
I agree with the folks who have suggested you seperate her totally from the flock, and keep her warmer as well, We have a small room here we use as a 'hospital' room if someone is not feeling well, we have a portable space heater that can send the temperature up to 85-90 degrees in there. Also make sure you offer her alot of water in that warm an environment. I have had to dose a couple of large birds, my B&G having to take baytril (yuck!) he was not very cooperative with the syringe, so I tried several different things, He loved toast so I would toast bread, cut it into a few small croutons and drop the baytril on the pcs of toast...then spread peanut butter on it, he would then eat breakfast with me, and eat the toast and peanut pcs, so I knew he had taken his medicine.
Make sure you give her alot of comforting, and quietness as well.
Much good luck with your girl, hope she feels better soon!

[suncoast]

How is she today. I have always mixed my meds in either handfeeding formula or light soy milk and given either with a syringe or from a spoon. Is there any kind of liquid she likes? OJ? Cranberry, etc?

I don't like how she's doing either, if she's not better this morning I would take her straight back to the vets.

Ginger

[waterfaller1]

Sending positive healing energy. Hope she is better soon.

[srtiels]

If you talk to the vet you might want to ask him it the egg was normal...meaning a normal density shell or soft shelled. Also ask specifically what the antibiotics were for. If suspected peritonitis the current meds are not going to be enough. I have found that the only real effective meds with peritonitis has been pipercillin, which is an injectable.

[daria]

I appreciate so much everyone's help and suggestions. My avian vet is well respected but you don't get the practical advice that bird owners with experience can provide. For example, when I told him Littlebird was impossible to give meds , his suggestion was to mix it in handfeeding formula and feed once a day so she was hungry. Quite frankly, when a bird is doing so poorly it's my instinct to get her to eat and figure another way to get the meds in. There is improvement in that Littlebird ate well and is pooping. I was able to get some Cipro in mixed with spagetti baby food warmed which she loves. My daughter is calling in more Cipro as I wasted a ton trying things. She is too smart for her own good and rejected the peanut butter sandwiches and her fav- fortune cookie (soaked with Cipro). I know the vet gave her IV calcium but I'll get the supplement . Meanwhile I gave her cooled micro waved egg shell which I think she ate. The greenwings in the video are like my greenwings -easy and sweet. I should make a video on how not to give meds staring Littlebird- chasing Littlebird when she spots the towell, trying the lights out technique which she also knows and starts flapping her wings like crazy, getting bitten thru vet handlers gloves, having her shake the Cipro all over you, etc. I'm going to keep her in the indoor aviary today by herself. The vet prescribed Cipro because her white blood cell count was very high and her overies looked inflamed (infected) from the egg retention. I know it must be painful still for her to poop as she tries and stops then, tries again sucessfully. The vet extracted (aspirated) the egg and removed it completely.

[Hope Riddle]

I am wondering also if probiotics would help? May help boost her immune system as well. I am not a vet, but I don't think they would hurt any either.

[daria]

Think the probiotics are agreat idea as the Cipro interfers with the bird's normal flora in the intestine. I'm an R.N, and when ever anyone I know gets put on antibiotics I tell them to push Activa yogurt or Kifer unless the antibotic contraindicates like Dorax.

[srtiels]

Normal oviaries would look like the 2nd pix and an infection in the oviaries would look like the 3rd pix. And the oviaries are way up in the body above the funnel shaped entrance to the oviduct. Could he have meant that the inflamation/infection was in the uterus where the egg was stuck?

Did he also notice ascites (First pix) in the abdomin area? And if so draw some out to see if it was septic or not.

On the egg extracted, did he comment on the shell quality/thickness?

From my own personal experience (cockatiels) you might want to ask about pipercillin in addition to the cipro/baytril. And the full-spectrum lighting will be a big benefit now.

Another thought, if it is painful for her to poop you might want to feel if another egg has traveled to the uterus and lodged there. If so, the egg can put pressure on the intestines and restrict passage, and it also can put pressure on the kidenys and affect function. or on a nerve ans cause lameness or lack of use of the feet/legs.

[suncoast]

I PM'd ML who has a ton of experience getting meds into her Macaws. Hopefully she'll respond and give you some ideas.

Ginger