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Blu has an ear infection

CrazyBirdChick

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Aw, he’s so cute! I hope they are just feathers and he gets all better. :fingerscrossed: Blu must know you’re just trying to help. :heart:
Thank you so much! I have wondered if he knows I'm trying to help. It's kind of funny because he knows our routine now and I swear it seems like he avoids me and acts really cranky up until I give him the meds and then it seems like he's relieved when it's done. Hard to explain exactly but I get the hunch either he's eager for it to all be done for the day, or maybe it actually makes him feel immediate relief. Either way, he acts differently right after.
 

CrazyBirdChick

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We had another check up this morning and I'm so relieved to say that Dr said she's very happy with his progress today. She wants us to continue all meds for two more weeks and come back again for another follow up appointment then. I'm so happy! :happydance:
 

Greylady1966

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That's very good news!
 

Tiel Feathers

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:yah: What great news!
 

Birdie Mama

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Did she say what those spots were? Very curious about it as i have no clue…

so happy to hear he us responding well.
 

CrazyBirdChick

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That's very good news!
Thank you!

:yah: What great news!
Thank you!


Did she say what those spots were? Very curious about it as i have no clue…

so happy to hear he us responding well.
Thank you!

She didn't say anything about that actually. I'm guessing they are probably teeny tiny feathers poking through otherwise I would think she'd say something. I hope she would anyway, lol.

They still look like dots (blueish/blackish) but when I massage his face I could feel stubble all around his cheek area so that's why I'm not as worried about those today. It's really hard to get a good picture of it but this is him today


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CrazyBirdChick

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I'm getting so discouraged :sad14:

This has been going on for so long and now his right ear looks like it's loosing feathers. The left ear doesn't look that great either. I emailed the Dr a little while ago so I am awaiting a response. We have another follow up scheduled for next Saturday and I asked if we should perhaps come in sooner if it's possible. Ugh, I'm so tired :sad10:

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Shezbug

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Hang in there :sadhug2:
 

CrazyBirdChick

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Hang in there :sadhug2:
Thank you so much, I'm trying my best.

The receptionist did call me back and said she got the email with pictures but said the Dr was gone for the day. So she told me to call back on Monday morning. She said it does look like it's not healing but said the only appt they have at the moment was one day earlier than our scheduled appt. So I'm guessing that's why she said to call back on Monday either to see if they'll have an earlier opening or maybe the Dr will have a better idea of what to do.

He did take a bath today and he's still very bald. I felt the right side ear, and it felt like a hard feather sheath so I'm not sure if maybe I spilled meds on that side by accident or if his right ear is infact leaking something.

He looked better after he dried after his bath so I'm hoping I'm just overreacting about that ear. His left still looks very bald though. He itches and he made 2 pins bleed so it's a long time coming till he gets feathers again. I have to admit, this is the most dignified after bath pose he's ever made though . Lol

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Milo

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So.... I'm coming into this super late.... (I saw that I was tagged a bit back but I'm not on super regularly so I'm sorry about that!) Unless I get an email alert about a pm I don't usually hang out here....

Has he had any imaging, biopsy, or a recheck cytology since the initial one? It could be something like a polyp that's growing in there and causing opportunistic infection. A referral or having your doc call a specialist would be a good next step at this point instead of rotating antibiotics. Ear infections in a psittacine is a little weird but not unheard of

I'm glad they're drawing blood from veins now instead of cutting toenails! It sounds scarier but it's really better for them and the sample.

Dairy for birds in general isn't something that's recommended. We like our bird friends to be as vegan as possible! I see this debated a lot here... but that's the recommendation from all my zoo and avian boarded docs.
 

CrazyBirdChick

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So.... I'm coming into this super late.... (I saw that I was tagged a bit back but I'm not on super regularly so I'm sorry about that!) Unless I get an email alert about a pm I don't usually hang out here....

Has he had any imaging, biopsy, or a recheck cytology since the initial one? It could be something like a polyp that's growing in there and causing opportunistic infection. A referral or having your doc call a specialist would be a good next step at this point instead of rotating antibiotics. Ear infections in a psittacine is a little weird but not unheard of

I'm glad they're drawing blood from veins now instead of cutting toenails! It sounds scarier but it's really better for them and the sample.

Dairy for birds in general isn't something that's recommended. We like our bird friends to be as vegan as possible! I see this debated a lot here... but that's the recommendation from all my zoo and avian boarded docs.
Thank you so much for replying Jenny! And no need to apologize ever!

He only had what I think the Dr refered to as a smear on our very first visit. Then he had a biopsy on our 4th or 6th visit. It's hard to keep track now since we've gone back so many times. That was done before she changed our antibiotic from enrofloxacin to septra. Since starting the septra he hasn't had any tests done, just a visual check up.

The Dr mentioned possibly trying an injectable antibiotic next if the septra doesn't work because she said sometimes when an ear infection is so deep it's hard to penetrate so I'm guessing that's what she would suggest next if he's not healing as well as he should be. I will definitely keep in mind what you said about a possible polyp and referring to a specialist. Thank you so much!

Also, I appreciate you letting me know that taking blood from the vein is better than taking it from the vein. I was a bit upset about that because Blu's foot was bruised for about a month afterwards. But if that's better than I can certainly understand the need.

And also good to know to keep away fdom dairy. We didn't end up using the almond milk yogurt .Something instinctively told me not to so I'm glad I didn't give it to him. I really appreciate all the information @Milo!


Btw, I think I was overreacting about his other ear looking like it's starting to go bald. It looks totally fine after his bath and a preening session.

His infected ear actually seems to me to finally start looking better too. He is getting more pins now and not scratching quite as much. Our next follow up appt is this coming Saturday so I really hope the Dr will agree and that we're finally coming out of this.
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Keetie!

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The ear looks better to me and a healthier color. I know how frustrating it can to treat a sick feathered one! You went above and beyond your due diligence! Health and wellness to you both!:mykid:
 

CrazyBirdChick

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The ear looks better to me and a healthier color. I know how frustrating it can to treat a sick feathered one! You went above and beyond your due diligence! Health and wellness to you both!:mykid:
Thank you so much Joanne :heart:
 

sunnysmom

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So sorry that it doesn't seem to be healing. I hope you get some answers soon.
 

CrazyBirdChick

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I'm freaking out a little bit. We had our last follow up exam on 7/24th and the vet said she's seeing continued improvement but still sees a little swelling so she said we could continue taking the meds we have been on fo so long for 2 more weeks, and to come back for another follow up. We have our next appt on 8/9.

What I'm freaking out about is that Blu started molting a few days ago and it's the heaviest molt I've ever seen him have. The feather sheaths look fine but it's just the fact he's lost 3 tail feathers, 2 of the small wing feathers (not flight feathers but I can't think of the name of those) mutiple body feathers. They're all just falling off. I thought if you lose tail feathers, other feathers don't really fall at the same time? Could it be possible maybe he has pbfd? I just started freaking out about it yesterday because of his unexplained baldness on his head and back of neck. He was tested for pbfd when I first got him and he does not have any contact with other birds so the only chance of it being possible is if it was latent or if he caught it at the vet. I just worry that his ear thing might be secondary to something else.


I did email the vet the other day asking about what Milo said, but haven't heard back yet. I don't know what our next plan of action will be yet but really use some reassurance or really anything, even if it's bad news. I'm just tired. It's been about 3 months now and even though he's regaining a little bit of feathers by the ear, his neck and head are still bald when wet and his ear looks like a wrestler with cauliflower ear.

This was him after his bath the other day. It almost looks like his eye is a little swollen too when wet. I told the vet that too. All that plus now he has a big belly. It's getting stressful


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Here's a video of how his looks like it's expanding when he does the yawning motion. Sorry it's a little long. If you fast forward to about 1:24 you can just watch a few seconds

 

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Mizzely

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My birds have always lost tail feathers amongst wing and body feathers.

My guess is when he yawns it is opening up the eustachian tube, same as when we yawn to make our ears pop.
 
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