Heart disease

[SeharK]

Hi. This is my first time posting.

I need help.

I've had my senegal since I was 10 years old. She'll be 20 in a few weeks. We grew up together. She means the world to me. She's never been sick except for once back in September of this year she ate a mini pumpkin and she did a 2 week course of antibiotics because it made her sick. She's never laid an egg. She's the sweetest bird.

Two days ago I took my flock to the vet for a wellness exam. I had mentioned that I noticed that I could feel her heart beat and it didn't feel normal to me. The vet agreed and said her heart sounded muffled. She did an x-ray. She found that she has an enlarged heart and secondary atherosclerosis. She put her on two medications twice a day for the remainder of her life. She said she maybe has a year or two left. She doesn't have any symptoms and is otherwise healthy. She does sleep more than my other birds but that's about it. She's still active. Eats well. Isn't losing weight.

I am a wreck. I haven't stopped crying. Can someone please tell me what's worked for their parrot to help prolong their life after their heart disease diagnosis? I'm willing to try anything.

Thank you.

 

[SeharK]

@Hankmacaw I read that one of your birds has lived with heart disease for many years. Could you please help me?

 

[April]

I saw you on the Senegal page yes? I was so sorry to hear about your baby. I lost my own Green Cheek Conure who was my heart and soul to heart disease so please believe me when I say I really feel for your situation.
Unfortunately in Nala's case I had no advanced warning she had an xray within a year at a Board Certified Avian Vet with over 20 years experience and there was no evidence of heart disease at that time she had the rads because of her known and managed Fatty Liver disease.
One morning after her bath she tipped over and I caught her and rushed her to our vet and she rallied initially and was fine and her heart sounded normal but then about 5 mins into the exam she flew back to me and snuggled under my hair and I snuggled and kissed her and handed her back to the vet to continue the exam and within about 5 secs she lost consciousness and they rushed her into oxygen and life saving measures but after about 15 mins I knew she wasn't coming back and had them stop.
Luckily since you have advanced knowledge you have a much better chance of having her live longer with this disease.
We are all here for you

 

[Hankmacaw]

I can't actually help you. All I can do is tell you what happened with my Jasper and what I learned during the process of caring for her. Your vet is who can help you.

I knew something was not right right with Jasper within three weeks of getting her. I took her to another Dr. because my Dr. Driggers was out of town. This other vet examined her and took an xray and told me nothing was wrong. After about three weeks I absolutely knew there was something wrong and took her back to Dr. Driggers. I told him the other Dr. had taken an xray and he went to get it. When he came back in with the xray he was furious. It turned out that the vet (who was the only heart specialist in AZ at the time) head written right on the xray "severe cardiomyopathy". He later said during an inquiry (no I didn't let it go) that he didn't know what to do with cardiomyopathy, so didn't say anything to me. I tell you this so you will realize that all vets aren't the same and it is your responsibility to question the vet, get answers, know exactly what and why medications are prescribed and what are the expected results. Most of all read all you can about the disease and the medications. The bird is yours (not the vet's) and you are 100% responsible for your bird.

Jasper's diet was change to eliminate all bad fats and sugar (very important). She was put on Harrison's pellets and vegetable (no fruit, too much sugar). She got treats now and then, because what is life without a treat now and then. She was to get as much exercise as she could tolerate and as much rest as she wanted.

Her first heart medication was Enalipril, then Benazapril and finally Sildenafil, because she had developed severe high blood pressue These meds were given over a 21 year period until she died. Lasix (fourosomide) was critical to her survival and was given twice a day for the rest of her life, Lasix removes the excess fluid that people/animals with heart disease and atherosclerosis tend to accumulate in theri tissues

 

[Hankmacaw]

I can't actually help you. All I can do is tell you what happened with my Jasper and what I learned during the process of caring for her. Your vet is who can help you.

I knew something was not right right with Jasper within three weeks of getting her. I took her to another Dr. because my Dr. Driggers was out of town. This other vet examined her and took an xray and told me nothing was wrong. After about three weeks I absolutely knew there was something wrong and took her back to Dr. Driggers. I told him the other Dr. had taken an xray and he went to get it. When he came back in with the xray he was furious. It turned out that the vet who read the xray (who was the only heart specialist in AZ at the time) had written right on the xray "severe cardiomyopathy". The idiot I had taken her to later said during an inquiry (no I didn't let it go) that he didn't know what to do with cardiomyopathy, so didn't say anything to me. I tell you this so you will realize that all vets aren't the same and it is your responsibility to question the vet, get answers, know exactly what and why medications are prescribed and what are the expected results. Most of all read all you can about the disease and the medications. The bird is yours (not the vet's) and you are 100% responsible for your bird.

Jasper's diet was change to eliminate all bad fats and sugar (very important). She was put on Harrison's pellets and vegetable (no fruit, too much sugar). She got treats now and then, because what is life without a treat now and then. She was to get as much exercise as she could tolerate and as much rest as she wanted.

Her first heart medication was Enalapril, then Benazepril and finally Sildenafil, because she had developed severe high blood pressure These meds were given over a 21 year period until she died. Lasix (furosemide) was critical to her survival and was given twice a day for the rest of her life, Lasix removes the excess fluid that people/animals with heart disease and atherosclerosis tend to accumulate in their tissues. lungs and pericardium.

In addition she was given Milk Thistle daily, and DMG for several years. Her circulation being very poor caused her organs (liver, kidney, heart, pancreas. lungs) to not function properly due to lack of oxygenation from both the heart disease and atherosclerosis, so I purchased an oxygen concentrator and one hour of oxygen in the morning and one hour at night was part of her life.

Jasper had many, many opportunistic infections because she was never a well bird and her immune system was compromised. It was very scary at times, because sometimes the infections were as bad or worse than the heart disease and atherosclerosis. She had almost every bacterial infection (including MRSA) that you can think of plus she had aspergillosis twice.

It was a tough 21 years, but neither Jasper or I every gave up and we fought like banshees to the end.

She was, and still is my "babycakes".

 

[Hankmacaw]

Sorry folks I couldn't edit the incomplete first post - just read the second post.

 

[Hankmacaw]

@SeharK
The atherosclerosis is cumulative and will never get better - only worse, but the same things you are doing for her heart will help with that. During the last few years of Jasper's life she was give garlic extract. Garlic has an immediate effect of relaxing the walls of the veins/arteries that helps with the atherosclerosis.

Jasper actually died from aspergillosis. Because of her lowered immune system she contracted Asper one more time and her poor body just couldn't fight it again. She was a noble and loving bird - I miss her terribly.