bigsister
Checking out the neighborhood
- Joined
- 6/9/14
- Messages
- 4
- Real Name
- Carolyn
Subject: Zebra Finch Mystery Illness
Hi. I dont know if anyone can answer this question and i do realize that this is not a place for me to expect a spot on diagnosis but I am desperately seeking any information on my zebra finch, Chico and what his symptoms may mean.
He is 8 or 9 years old I've had him since he was 2. The last few months hes been sleeping alot...still active, just more tired. I assumed old age was kicking in. Now two weeks ago, he started hanging around the bottom of the cage...still eating, not puffed up but having a bit more trouble getting up to his perches... off balance a little, if you will. A week later, staying at bottom of cage and puffed up. At this point I moved his brother who is healthy and only 6 years old to another cage to be safe. Then for two days...eating less, drinking less...so, time to the vet. Especially because the night before he looked SO bad i thought he was dying, i never expected for him to make it through the night. His symptoms also included not being able to hold his head up...as though he was falling forward and being very wobbly while walking...almost as though he was drunk.
Next day took him to vet and of course that morning he looked better, I ALMOST reconsidered taking him but you know how birds are...may be trying to hide his sickness.
Great avian vet. Said that he doesnt get many finches but enjoys it when he can try to help the little ones. He explains that his plumage was excellent, his droppings were okay considering he hadnt been eating as much and looked relatively alert. He gave Chico some crushed up Doxycycline for his water but its been three days now and he is back to being wobbly and wanting to sleep all day in the heat of the lamp. Appetite is less than normal...no change but still comes out of his bed to eat a tiny bit as well as take a sip of water...which i have been helping him have a few drops of with the help of a dropper...he lets me too...hes such a good boy but im afraid this may not be helping him.
My question is this...if he was going to die, wouldnt he have passed by now?
Also, could he not be ill in the viral/bacterial infection sense but rather have suffered some kind of stroke or something heart related?
I dont want him to suffer if in fact thats the case...
I would appreciate any insight any of you could give me.
I just had to put down my 17 year old dog two weeks ago in my home here and I still have such a heavy heart.
PLEASE HELP US.
Carolyn
Hi. I dont know if anyone can answer this question and i do realize that this is not a place for me to expect a spot on diagnosis but I am desperately seeking any information on my zebra finch, Chico and what his symptoms may mean.
He is 8 or 9 years old I've had him since he was 2. The last few months hes been sleeping alot...still active, just more tired. I assumed old age was kicking in. Now two weeks ago, he started hanging around the bottom of the cage...still eating, not puffed up but having a bit more trouble getting up to his perches... off balance a little, if you will. A week later, staying at bottom of cage and puffed up. At this point I moved his brother who is healthy and only 6 years old to another cage to be safe. Then for two days...eating less, drinking less...so, time to the vet. Especially because the night before he looked SO bad i thought he was dying, i never expected for him to make it through the night. His symptoms also included not being able to hold his head up...as though he was falling forward and being very wobbly while walking...almost as though he was drunk.
Next day took him to vet and of course that morning he looked better, I ALMOST reconsidered taking him but you know how birds are...may be trying to hide his sickness.
Great avian vet. Said that he doesnt get many finches but enjoys it when he can try to help the little ones. He explains that his plumage was excellent, his droppings were okay considering he hadnt been eating as much and looked relatively alert. He gave Chico some crushed up Doxycycline for his water but its been three days now and he is back to being wobbly and wanting to sleep all day in the heat of the lamp. Appetite is less than normal...no change but still comes out of his bed to eat a tiny bit as well as take a sip of water...which i have been helping him have a few drops of with the help of a dropper...he lets me too...hes such a good boy but im afraid this may not be helping him.
My question is this...if he was going to die, wouldnt he have passed by now?
Also, could he not be ill in the viral/bacterial infection sense but rather have suffered some kind of stroke or something heart related?
I dont want him to suffer if in fact thats the case...
I would appreciate any insight any of you could give me.
I just had to put down my 17 year old dog two weeks ago in my home here and I still have such a heavy heart.
PLEASE HELP US.
Carolyn
and his mom
