UPDATE:
Yesterday, Pineapple had some tests done:
1) X-Rays: Result is that her lungs are clear.
2) More poop and saliva analysis: Poop is clear. Saliva shows some infections and will be cultured for drug sensitivities. The vet said that there might not be enough bacteria to culture, in which case we just won't give her any more drugs.
3) Swollen mass cut open and cleaned out: Pineapple came through anesthesia perfectly fine. However, a *hole* was discovered in her skull! The bacteria from the pus had eaten through a spot in her skull in the middle right above the cere. As the flesh heals and feathers grow back, the hole may close up a little bit, but there's no way to fix it completely and the skull won't grow back. She now in effect has a permanent extra nostril, but without the filters and protections against foreign substances that her natural nostrils have. This will make her more susceptible to respiratory infections in the future, and she will probably sometimes sneeze on bodily fluids or liquids she drinks that make their way into places they shouldn't. The vet didn't seem to be saying that this was anything exactly devastating, but it is a danger to keep under observation in the future.
4) Blood-work cancelled: This wasn't strictly necessary, and since #3 was more traumatic than expected, the vet decided against doing it. We had already discussed possibly skipping this based on the situation.
Current Status: Waiting for cultures to come back in five days to know what, if any, additional medications are needed. Meanwhile, Ciprafloxacin + Terbinifine for one week. Disinfectant on the wound.
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I have to say, yesterday, I was seriously bummed out. I asked the vet how long the hole would have taken to form. Her answer: "It could have grown as quickly as two days, or taken as long as two weeks." TWO WEEKS? I took Pineapple to the first vet THREE WEEKS ago. I can't help thinking that if I'd been a more competent owner, I would have gotten her adequate care earlier that would have prevented this lifelong danger to her health. Also, I asked the vet to show me the right way to feed her the medication, and while Pineapple didn't like the taste, she had zero after-effects. The vet told me that the medicine she prescribed was chosen to be non-irritating to the bird's stomach. I still have no way of knowing if the Doxycycline, which caused Pineapple so much trauma and ill effects, was necessary, or if Baytril/Cipra might have done just as well without those ill effects. I do remember asking the second vet about it, and he said that if I insisted on giving her only one, it should be the Doxy. Now I wish I'd insisted on switching. I feel so bad for failing my bird.
But... after a night's sleep, I had to conclude that there is a good way to look at all this. First, that I found this vet at all. If we'd continued on as we were, Pineapple might no longer be with me in a few days. Instead, after an afternoon of enforced cage rest, she was raring to go. The swelling had really impeded her breathing, and after that was fixed, she was flying around and playing and singing almost like normal. Today, she's been very active, almost catching right up to her cagemate. The wound doesn't seem to bother her. She rubs her head sometimes, but she doesn't scratch at it, and when I put the disinfectant on she doesn't act like she's in terrible pain. I'm so happy. Giving her the Cipra is a breeze, too. She still hates it (and I can attest that it tastes bad, because I accidentally drank some from a cup), but it is nothing as bad as the Doxy, so right after it's in her, she can fly away and forget about it. Eating and drinking aren't impeded at all. I can also pretend that the Doxy, while horrible, did kill something, since the vet found an infection in her.
By the way, I was reluctant to give her the antibiotic before, but now that she has a huge wound and a hole in her head, obviously, she's getting it -- especially because it's not killing her appetite and wellness.
Another sign that Pineapple is probably feeling better is that Pineapple has been *crazy*. While Pineapple was sick, Biscuit was also stressed out and quiet a lot of the time. Now she's an absolute crazy thing, doing acrobats in her cage for me to let her out, flying around, and picking fights with Pineapple and reflective objects. I'd forgotten how much of a trouble-maker she used to be.
The weather is warm for the next couple of days, perfect healing weather. So, for now, the birds are happy and I'm happy. Hope the tests come out okay next week and that Pineapple remains infection-free for a long time.
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Storytime!:
Yesterday, the vet made a comment that I loved my bird very much and that Pineapple was a "lucky bird". I was too upset to answer, because I felt that she wasn't lucky at all to have such a stupid owner. Later that night, I thought back on that and just started *bawling*. Biscuit immediately came over to see what the noise was about. Pineapple didn't. After I finished, I went to find where Pineapple had gotten to. She was sitting on one of their favorite perches, calmly preening herself. I marched up to her and told her, "I was bawling my eyes out over you. Did you know that?" She didn't even flinch, just kept on with her preening like I wasn't even there.
Can I tell you? That made my day.
While she was sick, Pineapple basically had three modes: 1) hyperaware and running away from me because I might grab her, 2) clinging to me for comfort, or 3) sleeping.
Having her be her usual aloof bratty highness was the best thing this entire week.