winterbird
Checking out the neighborhood
- Joined
- 10/1/24
- Messages
- 3
Hello everyone, I've lurked on this website before but I finally decided to make an account, hopefully I'm posting in the right place.
Last week I took my cockatiel (around 19-20 years old, I'm not his original owner so I don't know his exact age but I've had him for at minimum 15 years) to a vet since I noticed some things off. He was prescribed an antibiotic (for abnormal bacteria found from the fecal gram stain), and was doing fine for a few days until Sunday morning when he was laying completely flat on his perch. I took him to an ER vet, and they performed x-rays and blood examination on him for the first time. Most of the tests came back normal with few concerns, however the x-ray did show a small object in his stomach that appeared very bright -- their radiologist was concerned that this was potential metal toxicity.
The only reason we are not 100% sure that it is metal toxicity is because they didn't have enough blood samples to do a full panel on metal toxicity -- and they did not want to push my bird too far. He is quite on the smaller side as well (usually weighs around 75 grams). However we agreed it was best to not assume that it isn't metal and are currently treating him with medication and antibiotics used to treat metal toxicity. He stayed overnight at the hospital on Sunday, and today (Tuesday) is his first full day home.
They said for the first few days he may not be 100% himself, which is understandable as for the years I've had him he has never had any health concerns, so getting blood taken, sedated for x-rays, staying at a hospital -- this was all his first time experiencing that. He's spent most of the day sleeping, he has eaten little bits of his usual food here and there (a mixture of TOPs brand seeds/pellets, Harrison's pellets, and Roudybush pellets), drank some water, he is able to navigate and climb around their cage.
However I am concerned about his appetite. When I brought him home Monday night he weighed about 74 grams. This morning, around 70 grams. I weighed him this afternoon and he only went up to about 71 grams. As mentioned by the doctors, it's not reasonable to expect for him to be himself yet, but I do want to be mindful that he doesn't lose too much...
I should mention -- he also has a cage/flockmate. He is around the same age or possibly older, their original owner found him lost outside... but they have been together since, and do not like being separated. He is not ill, and doing fine.
Other questions/concerns I have:
- Best ways to keep him warm? I have turned on the heat in my home but I do not live alone, and worried someone may eventually turn it off. I do have a K&H brand small bird heater that I bought a few years ago, but when I tried it out a few weeks ago I found that it was wayyyy too hot when it would previously not do that. I was thinking of repurchasing one for the time being.
- Cage suggestions? I showed the vet pictures of the cage I have (unfortunately, i do not remember what brand and i cannot find any email receipts), which they've been in for at least 3 years, but she thinks it's of minimal concern considering they've been in it for so long and nothing has occurred before. I have taken out other metal objects in the cage (which were few -- but it was a toy bell, a calcium block that was attached via twist ties - which she mentioned as one of the potential hazards, and a plastic clip i used to hang treats or greens from, but it is metal wiring covered in plastic). Since it doesn't seem necessary according to the vet for a new cage, I'll still take suggestions to look into for the future.
- Anything specific to feed, or how to try to increase his appetite? I have offered some millet before but of course I can't offer millet all day (I'm sure he would love it though haha). They are very picky birds, I'm usually unsuccessful with most vegetables/fruits. I also do not have any experience in syringe feeding if it came to that, it already takes a bit of effort and help from my parents to help me administer his medication.
- In general, any advice is welcome. This is my first time since I've gotten them as a kid dealing with any serious kind of illness. I want to do the best I can for him!
Sorry this got long, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could.
Last week I took my cockatiel (around 19-20 years old, I'm not his original owner so I don't know his exact age but I've had him for at minimum 15 years) to a vet since I noticed some things off. He was prescribed an antibiotic (for abnormal bacteria found from the fecal gram stain), and was doing fine for a few days until Sunday morning when he was laying completely flat on his perch. I took him to an ER vet, and they performed x-rays and blood examination on him for the first time. Most of the tests came back normal with few concerns, however the x-ray did show a small object in his stomach that appeared very bright -- their radiologist was concerned that this was potential metal toxicity.
The only reason we are not 100% sure that it is metal toxicity is because they didn't have enough blood samples to do a full panel on metal toxicity -- and they did not want to push my bird too far. He is quite on the smaller side as well (usually weighs around 75 grams). However we agreed it was best to not assume that it isn't metal and are currently treating him with medication and antibiotics used to treat metal toxicity. He stayed overnight at the hospital on Sunday, and today (Tuesday) is his first full day home.
They said for the first few days he may not be 100% himself, which is understandable as for the years I've had him he has never had any health concerns, so getting blood taken, sedated for x-rays, staying at a hospital -- this was all his first time experiencing that. He's spent most of the day sleeping, he has eaten little bits of his usual food here and there (a mixture of TOPs brand seeds/pellets, Harrison's pellets, and Roudybush pellets), drank some water, he is able to navigate and climb around their cage.
However I am concerned about his appetite. When I brought him home Monday night he weighed about 74 grams. This morning, around 70 grams. I weighed him this afternoon and he only went up to about 71 grams. As mentioned by the doctors, it's not reasonable to expect for him to be himself yet, but I do want to be mindful that he doesn't lose too much...
I should mention -- he also has a cage/flockmate. He is around the same age or possibly older, their original owner found him lost outside... but they have been together since, and do not like being separated. He is not ill, and doing fine.
Other questions/concerns I have:
- Best ways to keep him warm? I have turned on the heat in my home but I do not live alone, and worried someone may eventually turn it off. I do have a K&H brand small bird heater that I bought a few years ago, but when I tried it out a few weeks ago I found that it was wayyyy too hot when it would previously not do that. I was thinking of repurchasing one for the time being.
- Cage suggestions? I showed the vet pictures of the cage I have (unfortunately, i do not remember what brand and i cannot find any email receipts), which they've been in for at least 3 years, but she thinks it's of minimal concern considering they've been in it for so long and nothing has occurred before. I have taken out other metal objects in the cage (which were few -- but it was a toy bell, a calcium block that was attached via twist ties - which she mentioned as one of the potential hazards, and a plastic clip i used to hang treats or greens from, but it is metal wiring covered in plastic). Since it doesn't seem necessary according to the vet for a new cage, I'll still take suggestions to look into for the future.
- Anything specific to feed, or how to try to increase his appetite? I have offered some millet before but of course I can't offer millet all day (I'm sure he would love it though haha). They are very picky birds, I'm usually unsuccessful with most vegetables/fruits. I also do not have any experience in syringe feeding if it came to that, it already takes a bit of effort and help from my parents to help me administer his medication.
- In general, any advice is welcome. This is my first time since I've gotten them as a kid dealing with any serious kind of illness. I want to do the best I can for him!
Sorry this got long, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could.
so sorry to hear your baby is sick ..best of luck to both of you 
