Advice- 3 month (15 week) old Macaw **Sad Update**

[ArcticFox]

Take a huge breath and know that what happens next is out of your hands. I can say that your baby will do the very best she can. Blue and golds are fighters even at that young age. My BG was hospitalized and near dead at about the same age from an uneducated home based breeder. He is chewing up my chair as I write this.

Your baby is in my thoughts.

Thanks. I really needed to hear that. It helped when the vet said she perked up. It helped when she said it wasn't us- that we did good, because that's the fear with a baby no matter how irrational, that you messed up.

Still waiting on an update. As much as I would like to sit and cry, we have guests coming and a 3 year old who'should life goes on no matter what happens with koko. And it's Halloween, dressing up has to happen and candy must be collected. I'll just be a pirate without her parrot tonight. maybe next year, if we are lucky, koko can join us.

 

[Hankmacaw]

I will send every good thought I have to your baby. She wasn't eating enough to keep a flea alive let alone a macaw baby. She is in the best of hands now and hopefully she will survive and thrive for her entire life. I'm glad you took in this baby.

There have been several people on the forum lately who have been talked into taking home unweaned macaws and getting into trouble almost immediately. I don't know if there are more and more irresponsible breeders, or more buyers who are not doing their research before buying. Whatever, there are a lot of baby macaws out there who are suffering and dying.

I hope your baby comes home.

 

[TWR]

Following this thread and praying for baby Koko. I hope things turn out well. Thank you for helping this baby.

 

[Macawnutz]

I don't know if there are more and more irresponsible breeders, or more buyers who are not doing their research before buying. Whatever, there are a lot of baby macaws out there who are suffering and dying.

I hope your baby comes home.

It's the time of year. Another round right after Xmas than again in February.

 

[ArcticFox]

Update: She has taken 2 feedings and they are prepping the 3rd right now. She has perked up some more though I'm sure it will take more time. Store she came from has authorized all charges through tomorrow- so that is one stress off of our shoulders as we haven't even lived in this state a month yet.

Plan is to cram as many tests in during this time frame as they can just because we can and it will give us a baseline for health since we know nothing but a history of underfeeding. We go by the vet's tomorrow at 8am to check in. Looks like we may aim for 5 feedings a day if we can, until her weight gets up.

While she is by no means out of the woods yet, there has been improvement and that speaks for itself. Positive thinking while we get ready for Halloween night.

 

[macawpower58]

Praying for your little baby, and very glad you asked your questions here at AA where the members really care about each other and every parrot needing help.

I so hope your little one makes it, just knowing how much you already love her makes me so sad, I can hardly imagine your pain and worry.

 

[rocky'smom]

I have read thru this, it saddens me that somebody would underfeed a baby macaw like that. that store even though they are paying the vet bills should have AHS or SPCA called on them.
prayers here also.

 

[LunaLovebird]

Update: She has taken 2 feedings and they are prepping the 3rd right now. She has perked up some more though I'm sure it will take more time. Store she came from has authorized all charges through tomorrow- so that is one stress off of our shoulders as we haven't even lived in this state a month yet.

Plan is to cram as many tests in during this time frame as they can just because we can and it will give us a baseline for health since we know nothing but a history of underfeeding. We go by the vet's tomorrow at 8am to check in. Looks like we may aim for 5 feedings a day if we can, until her weight gets up.

While she is by no means out of the woods yet, there has been improvement and that speaks for itself. Positive thinking while we get ready for Halloween night.

You are right, neglect out of ignorance / poor advice is a better description. It is good for them and their birds that they are willing to own their mistake and hopefully learn from it. You are doing so well dealing with this. As is she by the sounds of it. Looking forward to some more positive news soon!

 

[ArcticFox]

It helps in a way that we have guests coming, it's a Halloween and I have a 3 year old. If i could, I would be crying and feeling guilty

 

[janicedyh]

The specialist actually is making a trip to the store personally to check the weight of their other birds unofficially. She did say if she finds the scarlet (hes 6 month's old) in similar condition she will be making some calls.

I'm impressed that the specialist is going to check the other birds

 

[ArcticFox]

No new updates on Koko, but knowing how you all love birds as much as we do I did want to let you know that the specialist did visit the store after finishing for the night and found all the birds to be healthy by her observation and the scarlet bit her good (lol he's so cranky all the time). After talking with the employees and the manager some her report is that Koko came from a new breeder they hadn't worked with before and will not be working with again. She was fed according to the breeder's direction as the breeder said Koko was ready to wean. A few employees cried- some of the girls are very attached to Koko as she is such a friendly people bird- even while starving to death slowly she always perked up if it meant she could be the star attraction.

3 meals down night. She very well could still pass during the night as she was very very weak and on death's door when she made it to the specialist's office- but with each feeding she perked up just a little more and is lifting her head, gripping with her talons and trying to stand some.

 

[SpecialistElbru]

Glad to hear that there is some improvement, Still keeping my fingers crossed that your little fella gets through this ok.

 

[WendyN]

Saying a prayer and sending a hug.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Somehow missed this thread but very sorry to read about Koko and hoping that she makes a full recovery. It's good that you got her to the vet and that she is getting fed and seems to be improving. Sending positive thoughts her way!

 

[allie136]

Hoping your bird is doing better, must be such a difficult time. Maybe Halloween was a good distraction...

 

[mstomcat65]

I too have been watching this thread, sending prayer and positive thought your way for koko.

 

[Macawnutz]

Hang in there sweetie...

 

[ArcticFox]

Morning Vet update:
She survived the night- so that's a start. They have approval for care through today from the store. She is up and walking around some, so that's a win.

BUT she is regurgitating her feedings. This is likely something that has been going on I'd bet at least since Tuesday- store said she was just being messy due to our lack of experience when we fed her while she was still housed at the store however she was also 'being messy' for the employee's when they attempted. Her lab work is still all very low. Current plan is to try and get approval from the store to keep her for a few more nights, observe and try and get her labs and weight up some.

If approval isn't granted the store will be met with some very angry parents should they not continue to foot the bill beyond that we will have to go from there, talking cost and option's with the vet as well as her thought's and preferences. As she is up and walking she could come home for the night's to save cost but to be honest- if they can keep her overnight that is my preference until she is strong enough to enjoy car rides again.

Regardless, the immediate goal is to find the reason behind the regurgitation.

 

[greys4u]

She is trying so hard, this is a very good vet, very compassionate, hope they find the cause for the regurgitation

 

[Hankmacaw]

Her lab work is still all very low.

What do you mean by this? Did she have a CBC and Chem panel? Did they do a fecal and throat swab? Did they do a crop wash and culture? Just what lab work was done?