GreenThing
Jogging around the block
About a month ago, I noticed very slight, here and then gone again signs of panting in one of my pair of society finches. I took them both to an avian vet, and based on the gradual onset of symptoms she treated both with Ivermectin (suspecting airsac mites) and said she would follow with broad-spectrum antibiotics if the little guy did not improve. After three/four days with no improvement, I called and was able to pick up Baytril. Gave it for eight days (it didn't last ten, I should have marked the bottle in increments) and little guy was still panting, but was very active and eating and the symptoms just didn't change. The only thing I noticed recently is that only one finch seemed to pass a huge morning dropping, the other had very slight droppings.
Yesterday the panting finch started to show signs of lethargy. Still able to fly, but puffed up with squinty eyes for most of the time. It is hard to tell with the puffed feathers, but there might be swelling one side of his throat. I called the vet right away, but the earliest I can get in is 10AM tomorrow. I bought a heating pad last night and woke up every two hours to switch it back on, but I don't think it was providing much warmth in their big cage. Little guy was still flying and eating, so I was afraid of adding the stress of pulling him out and putting him in a hospital cage alone.
I have three options (and we are short-staffed so I had to be at work until 9pm tonight)-- I can get a second warming pad and place it on top of the cage right where they perch at night, so they can snuggle right next to it, I can get him into the carrying cage with the warming pad, or I can take him to a non-avian 24 hour clinic that will set him up with oxygen and proper warmth until the vet appointment. I am dreading the stress of getting him into the carrying cage, but I know it will be easier in the morning (last time they were hungry and went right into the cage where they could see seed). What should I do? I am stopping for Pedialyte, as well.
My biggest mistake was not pushing for a gram stain on the first visit, and I'm really upset with myself. It could be fungal or protozoa (canker had similar symptoms, but there has been zero vomiting or seed in droppings). I feel like he told me early something was wrong, and I failed to get him the help he needed. It might be too late, now, but I am afraid of making another wrong choice.
Yesterday the panting finch started to show signs of lethargy. Still able to fly, but puffed up with squinty eyes for most of the time. It is hard to tell with the puffed feathers, but there might be swelling one side of his throat. I called the vet right away, but the earliest I can get in is 10AM tomorrow. I bought a heating pad last night and woke up every two hours to switch it back on, but I don't think it was providing much warmth in their big cage. Little guy was still flying and eating, so I was afraid of adding the stress of pulling him out and putting him in a hospital cage alone.
I have three options (and we are short-staffed so I had to be at work until 9pm tonight)-- I can get a second warming pad and place it on top of the cage right where they perch at night, so they can snuggle right next to it, I can get him into the carrying cage with the warming pad, or I can take him to a non-avian 24 hour clinic that will set him up with oxygen and proper warmth until the vet appointment. I am dreading the stress of getting him into the carrying cage, but I know it will be easier in the morning (last time they were hungry and went right into the cage where they could see seed). What should I do? I am stopping for Pedialyte, as well.
My biggest mistake was not pushing for a gram stain on the first visit, and I'm really upset with myself. It could be fungal or protozoa (canker had similar symptoms, but there has been zero vomiting or seed in droppings). I feel like he told me early something was wrong, and I failed to get him the help he needed. It might be too late, now, but I am afraid of making another wrong choice.