Should I give electrolyte solution to my budgie in this situation?

[MoonBirdie]

Hi all,

Very long story short (it’s in my other posts if you want to see) but my budgie is not in the most greatest of happy health these days… and yes, he has been to a vet.

He hasn’t had much of an appetite for like three weeks now. He barely drinks water (which I’ve mixed with apple cider vinegar). He only eats millet - which yes I know is bad if consumed too much - but it’s the only thing he accepts. He very occasionally takes a few bites of seed and slight nibbles of apple or rice, but nothing else.

I weighed him yesterday and he was 27-28 grams. I don’t know his baseline weight because this was the first time I ever did it. But based on a typical budgie weight (30-40g), he is a bit low. I can feel it too.

But today… I weighed him and he went down to 25g (27g at night thankfully). His behavior is also very strange - he BEGS to come out of his cage (a separate isolated one with plenty of warmth). When I let him out, he starts scavenging all over my floor for food. But the thing is, he doesn’t actually eat any food I give him - he specifically looks for poo droppings and other dirty corners and eats whatever of those he can find. I stopped him instantly and immediately cleaned every stray spot of droppings I could find. He has done this a few times before, but none as extreme as today. He doesn’t even want his favorite millet! He takes a few bites and stops. He normally gobbles it up instantly, even during this sick phase. But not today. At the same time, he threw up a couple of times today. It has mostly been head-bobbing nausea with two instances of actual seed getting flung out, but no white gooey liquid dripping around or anything (as much as I observed).

Summary: So basically he is throwing up (not heavily, but it’s definitely there) and not eating proper food at the same time. He’s 27g as of writing this and he still has energy, but he seriously needs more. He’s puffy and uninterested in almost anything except looking for poo droppings in corners of the cage and my room. His attention is solely on that today and nothing else, all his energy is going there.

Main question: Should I give him an electrolyte solution? I couldn’t find the Pedialyte brand one with an unflavored version (there is, but it’s a huge bottle). I eventually found this on Amazon, branded by Amazon (attached a picture here). I ordered it as it said it’ll be delivered overnight. Do you think this is okay? Is there anything generally not okay that I should know when dealing with this situation? Also, how much should I give him? I’m thinking about using a syringe to give it to him, but have no idea how much.

 

[Toy]

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

1 cup bottled non-chlorine water
3/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Mix well. You can keep it refrigerated for 48 hours, then toss. Warm a little to room temp before giving it to him.

A few drops at a time in the side of his beak. I think around 1 teaspoon (5ml) a day. Do not squirt down his throat. Your bird really needs to be seen again by the vet. If he's not eating he's basically starving to death.

 

[MoonBirdie]

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

1 cup bottled non-chlorine water
3/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Mix well. You can keep it refrigerated for 48 hours, then toss. Warm a little to room temp before giving it to him.

A few drops at a time in the side of his beak. I think around 1 teaspoon (5ml) a day. Do not squirt down his throat. Your bird really needs to be seen again by the vet. If he's not eating he's basically starving to death.

Thank you for the dosing and info! Btw is there an official source on this? I’d like to read it if there is. Have you done this to your birds with great success too?

I will take him to the vet but unfortunately they’re all booked until next week at the earliest… and all other vets in my area not avian specialists. I asked my usual place if I can give an electrolyte solution in the meantime to him and they said no. But that was the receptionist, and I don’t want to put my full trust in that so I’d rather give this to him now (I mean so many people have said it is good, so it can’t hurt - at least I hope). I’ve noticed since after I posted this that Blue is starting to eat more, but not an ideal amount. At least it’s better than before though, so that gives me hope. I ordered that Amazon one and I’ll keep the homemade one in mind too.

One last question, do I HAVE to use it only within 48 hours? The smallest bottle I could buy (33.8oz) is pretty big and I feel bad to waste all that after opening it. Obviously there’s no way I will give him all that in two days. I actually haven’t had pedialyte or an electrolyte solution myself since I was a little kid so I can’t remember how it works exactly. Can it still have a decent amount of efficacy after 48 hours?

 

[Pixiebeak]

I support sick birds with baby bird formula. I use kaytee baby bird formula, I make it up a little thicker like Greek yogurt thickness. It still need to be nice and warm they don't like it cold . Should be made fresh each time right before you give it.

I have done this with my sick Budgies. They took about 1ml no more than 2 ml at a time . I did 3 times a day while sick. This helps them gain back weight and maintain weight . As my budgies are not tame. I was wrapped them in a wash cloth, little bird burrito, only head out. No pressure on body. I held them upright. Used a tuberculin or 1 ml syringe that I bought at pharmacy after explaining to them why I needed it. You can buy on Amazon too. I sort of encourage at beak tip , one little drop at time and wait til swallow. If you go slow , and because it is thick , they should not choke . You can also give 1/2 ml of plain Greek yogurt to his way,. In my experience, Greek yogurt is helpful in balancing gut flora .

Because baby bird formula made up has moisturizer, it also helps keep them hydrated . And food will balance electrolytes too. Kaytee baby bird formula as also has probiotics in it. It is calorie dense and easy to digest.

That is what I would do instead of electrolytes. I myself would probably not do applecider in water

 

[MoonBirdie]

I support sick birds with baby bird formula. I use kaytee baby bird formula, I make it up a little thicker like Greek yogurt thickness. It still need to be nice and warm they don't like it cold . Should be made fresh each time right before you give it.

I have done this with my sick Budgies. They took about 1ml no more than 2 ml at a time . I did 3 times a day while sick. This helps them gain back weight and maintain weight . As my budgies are not tame. I was wrapped them in a wash cloth, little bird burrito, only head out. No pressure on body. I held them upright. Used a tuberculin or 1 ml syringe that I bought at pharmacy after explaining to them why I needed it. You can buy on Amazon too. I sort of encourage at beak tip , one little drop at time and wait til swallow. If you go slow , and because it is thick , they should not choke . You can also give 1/2 ml of plain Greek yogurt to his way,. In my experience, Greek yogurt is helpful in balancing gut flora .

Because baby bird formula made up has moisturizer, it also helps keep them hydrated . And food will balance electrolytes too. Kaytee baby bird formula as also has probiotics in it. It is calorie dense and easy to digest.

That is what I would do instead of electrolytes. I myself would probably not do applecider in water

My vet recommended the apple cider vinegar in water to me so I want to continue doing that. But I never thought of baby bird formula. I don’t have any experience using it but it seems worth learning about. Thank you for the insight and suggestion!

 

[Shezbug]

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

1 cup bottled non-chlorine water
3/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Mix well. You can keep it refrigerated for 48 hours, then toss. Warm a little to room temp before giving it to him.

A few drops at a time in the side of his beak. I think around 1 teaspoon (5ml) a day. Do not squirt down his throat. Your bird really needs to be seen again by the vet. If he's not eating he's basically starving to death.

No baking soda? I am led to believe it is best to add baking soda or bi carb.

 

[Pixiebeak]

My vet recommended the apple cider vinegar in water to me so I want to continue doing that. But I never thought of baby bird formula. I don’t have any experience using it but it seems worth learning about. Thank you for the insight and suggestion!

Definitely follow your vets advice.

I think nutritional support is important. Sick birds burn a lot of calories . Baby bird formula has nutrients and it's a safe way to get a little extra fluid in them via the food .

you can talk to your vet about weight loss and support feeding and see if they will demonstrate.

 

[Toy]

Thank you for the dosing and info! Btw is there an official source on this? I’d like to read it if there is. Have you done this to your birds with great success too?

I got the dosing info from a bird rehabber. I had a Purple Martin colony & this is the dose they used when rehabbing Purple Martins, which are about the same size as budgies.

I will take him to the vet but unfortunately they’re all booked until next week at the earliest… and all other vets in my area not avian specialists. I asked my usual place if I can give an electrolyte solution in the meantime to him and they said no. But that was the receptionist, and I don’t want to put my full trust in that so I’d rather give this to him now (I mean so many people have said it is good, so it can’t hurt - at least I hope). I’ve noticed since after I posted this that Blue is starting to eat more, but not an ideal amount. At least it’s better than before though, so that gives me hope. I ordered that Amazon one and I’ll keep the homemade one in mind too.

The point of giving electrolytes is to hydrate the bird if it is dehydrated.

One last question, do I HAVE to use it only within 48 hours? The smallest bottle I could buy (33.8oz) is pretty big and I feel bad to waste all that after opening it. Obviously there’s no way I will give him all that in two days. I actually haven’t had pedialyte or an electrolyte solution myself since I was a little kid so I can’t remember how it works exactly. Can it still have a decent amount of efficacy after 48 hours?

Sadly yes. It has to be remade in 48 hours.

 

[MoonBirdie]

@Toy

Okay noted, thank you! And yes the point is to rehydrate the bird so I don’t know why they told me not to do it, despite them knowing the entire situation of him not eating/drinking. She said “no don’t, we can’t authorize that.” I’m gonna guess she said it out of formality to be on the safe side, since she isn’t the vet.

Update: I gave him a few doses of the solution I bought tonight. I don’t know if this is just a coincidence or not, but he immediately started having energy! He isn’t puffy anymore and he’s eating tons more than before. He still isn’t perfect, but the difference after less than an hour is massive. I’ve been giving him once an hour for 4 hours (we started late tonight). I don’t want my words to backfire but I’m so happy to see him with energy. He also gained two grams (up to 27g tonight)

I’ll use the homemade version when this one finishes.

I’m still going to go to the vet to pinpoint exactly what his issue is and how to solve it of course. Since it’ll be at least a week until then, I hope his energy is maintained

 

[Toy]

If he stops eating again try @Pixiebeak advice & use baby bird formula, as he needs nutrients as well. A bird that is dehydrated can not digest food; so offer the electrolytes if needed. Best wishes.

 

[Shezbug]

Your vet may have told you not to administer electrolytes due to the fact that it can actually be over done and be just as dangerous as dehydration.
You have a budgie, they are small, they don’t drink a great amount ever, it would be extremely easy to overdo the sodium and given you’ll be making a very simple solution with only one kind of salt I really urge you to call your vet and re discuss your concerns before doing kidney damage with too much sodium.