Blind too Quickly

[Kodigirl210]

For those who know about Sif & I - she is a CAG whom I expected to become blind over the next few months. Unfortunately that is not what’s happened. She has gone blind in her good eye in just a week. Sif was examined at the vet’s office last Monday & this morning over half of her eyed was covered with white film. It bisected the eye so not only can she not see clearly, she can barely see at all.

My question is for those who have dealt with blindness. Sif can’t see anything out of her right eye at all. Her left eye is so compromised that she only sees shadows & is incredibly frightened. I talk & sing to her so she knows I’m there but it doesn’t help with the food situation. She’s all but frozen on her perches. She barely touches her food. What do you recommend I do to encourage eating? Should I go back to handfeeding? Sif is only 5 months old & she is now losing weight because she can’t see her food to eat it. It is still in the same place in her cage & on the perch stand in the same formations. Pellets on the right and fruit/veggies on the left.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank You

 

[sunnysmom]

I'm so sorry about her loss of sight. If she's losing weight, I think I would hand feed her until she becomes accustomed to where things are in her cage.

 

[Birdbabe]

May have to handfeed , you'll have to never ever change where her food and water are..tap her bowls with your fingers,,saying food! Water! I have a blind bird, he knows where his stuff is, just cant move it even an inch. Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[Fia Baby]

I'm so sorry. I hope she adjusts. I think she will, but the suddenness of it is certainly hard for her. I'd hand feed her if I were you. I'd also set her on her perch next to her bowl and put bites to her beak, all the while giving her auditory cues by tapping her bowl as you reach into it. Whatever sound her bowl will make when she touches it, I'd try to emulate as I helped her learn to feed herself.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Very sorry. Hand feeding her will help. Placing food and water dishes low and also on the bottom of the cage would probably be beneficial. You will have to direct her to the food and water dishes several times using tactile and auditory cues so that she can get accustomed to where they are placed.

 

[geff]

Oh dear poor Sif.
As said, yes handfeed, I imagine in time that when the poor bird gets accustomed to her new stage in life, and workout how to deal with her sight loss.

 

[Odin]

Oh no, sending prayers!

 

[Kodigirl210]

Thanks all for the advice. I will start hand feeding her again this afternoon and work with her on audio cues on where to find food and water.

As I said it just happened so much more quickly than expected. She is using her beak to explore a little but mostly she is doing reassuring touches on me to maintain herself. Sif has never bitten and if her current behavior is any indication-she never will.

Thanks all again

 

[Imogena]

Sif sounds like a wonderful bird with a big soul. I'm so very sorry about her eyes but I do believe she will adapt and live a good fulfilled life.

 

[ncGreyBirdLady]

 

[Nikomania]

This makes me very sad to hear. She will adjust and find her way within her newly minted sightless world. For now I also concur that hand feeding is a solid option until she acclimates to her new normal.

 

[Fuzzy]

Awwwwwww I'm so sorry.

Perhaps reassure her by being near to her to start with and talking lots. Chico is almost blind. He manages very well climbing about in his cage. I don't change the layout ever. When I put in fresh bowls I tap them to tell him they are there. He sometimes walks in the opposite direction though. With Chico his perches are all near enough together so that he can easily feel his way from one to the next (no bar climbing necessary although Sif might enjoy bar climbing). I also have parallel rope perches so he holds on to one as he makes his way on the other. Chico has arthritis so it might be different for a fully able bodied bird. I place toys at the ends of some of the shorter perches so that he doesn't travel too far and fall off them. Have you raised the bottom of the cage so that she doesn't have far to fall? Again, might not be necessary for her. Even if you have to hand feed her to start with, try also to encourage her to eat on her own so that she is able to be independent and not scared all the time. Just watch her and see where you could make adjustments to help her. Lara Joseph has a blind Amazon and he loves ringing a bell she gave him. She has developed a way of gently blowing on him as a cue to follow her which she reinforces with a treat.

 

[Lady Jane]

Is it cataracts? I read some avian eye specialist are removing them.

I also read about how important sound becomes to a blind animal or human. So use your voice alot.
Not sure about toys. Perhaps with your guidance and help foot toys may work.

 

[Kodigirl210]

Cataract surgery is available but it is only for removal & pain relief. Also at this time, it is basically for macaw-sized parrots or larger birds (ie horned owls.) Everything that I read said that surgery on a regular CAG is not a good ideal & Sif is on the small side to begin with. Currently she is only about 400g. She’s lost about 10-grams over the weekend.

When I spoke to our vet he confirmed what I had found. Not ideal candidate to survive & not a necessary surgery.

 

[Lady Jane]

I just contacted Pam Clark on FB. I will copy and paste her reply tomorrow for you. She asked if the bird can see any light. If so you can target train to a small light. Use ss bells to train or play.

 

[Kodigirl210]

Hi LJ, she can see a little light right now. The occlusion is bisecting eye so she no longer see clearly. This is causing her extreme fear and freezing her. Judging by how much of the pupil was lost within a week it may only be a week before the rest is gone. I remember it didn’t take long for the right side to go. It’s not Da Vinci but here’s a crude drawing of the eye.

 

[Lady Jane]

I wish there was a way it could be sucked out. Poor baby.

 

[KatelynDeanne]

This makes me sad to hear I also agree to hand feed Sif for now until she learns how to get around to her food. Hopefully you and the vet can come up with a good plan for her personally. Sending prayers for you and precious little Sif. Yall are both tough cookies !!

 

[Just-passn-thru]

Sorry to hear this, i know you were expecting this to happen, unfortunately the acute progression of Sifs' condition was something you weren't prepared for. You have a wonderful support team here on Avian Avenue. So many caring and knowledgeable people to help you and Sif overcome the challenges.

 

[Lady Jane]

Here is the reply from P. Clark:
Pamela Clark, I know of nothing in print. I have had some experience with blind birds. Set up the cage so that everything stays the same always. Provide enrichment that makes sound, like high quality SS bells. She will need to be taught where everything is. A shaping plan for the location of food dishes would be best. Try to identify if she can see light at all. If so, she could be taught to target to a light and be moved around that way. The owner an always join one of my Q&A Sessions if she doesn't want to do a consult.