I can't function, all i think about is our potentially sick budgie.

[Voodoo]

I've been posting threads and forums the past couple of days about our parakeet with sudden tail bobbing and signs of respiratory illness.
My parents are practically impossible to talk into going to the vet. But I'm so stressed out by the idea of him struggling and us doing nothing to help him that I can't eat or sleep normally, this morning I actually woke up at 4:30 in the morning with an intense stomach ache I think was partially due to the stress. I'm a minor and can't do much but extensive research and keep my eye on him during the days. I've been calling vet offices and I'm waiting currently on a call back from Companion Animal Hospital whom had an Avian Vet in their facility. I'm nervous, I can't keep waiting like this. I can't just watch him struggle, suffer and be possibly very ill. I can't let him deteriorate in front of me, especially since I'm home 24/7 I can't get away from it. I've thought about everything, sneaking away and taking him to the vet with my friend. But I'd get caught with the bill in the mail. I'd get in huge trouble and have all these bills I possibly couldn't afford. I'd have to administer possible medicine to the still shy little birdy alone with no help. I just don't know what to do. My parents are both big smokers and recently sprayed febreze in the house. I think these could be causes, and I'm so sad because they're not doing anything. Please, if anyone knows any cheap but good avian vets around the Wichita Kansas area, I need to know. I would never ever forgive myself if he had passed away and I knew I could have done so much more.. Please I couldn't do it

 

[Shezbug]

Can you move your birds into a room where your parents do not smoke?? Like your bedroom?
Fabreeze is very dangerous (I believe it is actually deadly not just harmful) for birds so you really want and need to have the birds in an environment that you can have some element of control over so as to keep them (and you too, this stuff is not healthy for your lungs either) from breathing in toxic chemicals...... Can you put them in your room?

I do not believe there are ANY cheap AV's- they have to do much more specialized schooling than ordinary vets so they charge more and rightfully so I believe.

If the weather is warm I can only suggest some fresh clean safe air to help your bird get a break from the deadly toxic fumes and chemicals that are filling the air in your house.

 

[Shezbug]

I posted before I said every thing I wanted to say..... I am really sorry to hear you and your birds are dealing with this toxic air in your home, if you can link a video of your birds then hopefully some of the other members may be able to give you some of an idea of just how bad your bird is struggling and how desperate the vet is needed and that might help you to feel like you have more of an idea if this situation is as bad as you feel it is right now for your bird.

I have some similar issues at my home with my mother (and sometimes my son but mostly my mum) having absolutely no idea about toxic chemicals and just how bad they can be, this is even after she saw some chemical fumes obviously affect my bird to the point where he was having trouble focusing, breathing and moving properly- it was honestly one of the scariest times of my life and she still thinks it is ok to use certain chemicals and stinky personal care items (her reasoning is it is not in his room) - she always seems to think I am over reacting or being difficult if I ask her to do things different to how she wants to do them.
I am not a child (well, I can be childish lol) and I actually have children older than you and I still have to deal with parent problems regarding my birds right to fresh safe air.
I just have to feel sorry for people who are older than me/you and meant to be more responsible but are obviously so selfish or ignorant that they refuse to change their thinking- it is not fair to the people (and our birds) around them but you'd be hard pressed to convince them of how gross and negligent their behaviour is- I am sorry you are having such a rough trot in this instance.

 

[mak]

It sounds like smoke / chemicals are causing the problems. Do you have a friend who can take in your budgie where he won't be exposed to these things?

 

[Ali]

It sounds like smoke / chemicals are causing the problems. Do you have a friend who can take in your budgie where he won't be exposed to these things?

Or a friend to take on your parents so you can keep him with you?

 

[Mantis64]

I would say it would be a good idea to take him to a friends house in a place where he wont be exposed to see if he improves.

 

[Mantis64]

I used to have this issue I keep my bird in his own room with two walls and two doors stopping any spray getting to him. One of my siblings loved to spray deodorant before going to school but my bird was fine with 2 doors to stop anything getting to him. But with smoking I can only imagine that it affects the whole house. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

 

[Voodoo]

Can you move your birds into a room where your parents do not smoke?? Like your bedroom?
Fabreeze is very dangerous (I believe it is actually deadly not just harmful) for birds so you really want and need to have the birds in an environment that you can have some element of control over so as to keep them (and you too, this stuff is not healthy for your lungs either) from breathing in toxic chemicals...... Can you put them in your room?

I do not believe there are ANY cheap AV's- they have to do much more specialized schooling than ordinary vets so they charge more and rightfully so I believe.

If the weather is warm I can only suggest some fresh clean safe air to help your bird get a break from the deadly toxic fumes and chemicals that are filling the air in your house.

I would absolutely love to take the little baby into my room to protect him, but my room is pretty small and I already have 2 degus in a cage in my room that takes up a lot of space. Plus that would require me convincing my parents to let me take the birds into my room, which would probably never ever happen, and I'd need help moving such a big cage when they're gone during the day I'll air out the house sometimes, get some fans going and what not. I sometimes wear perfume but never play with the bird after putting it on. Their cages are right by the front door, so the most we do is walk past them but I guess that could be enough, huh? My mom is a heavy bath and body works user too. I just wish smoking didn't affect the whole house like it does. I even catch myself having cough attacks sometimes and as a person with a minor case but still a case asthma it's not very considerate to any of our babies.

 

[Voodoo]

I used to have this issue I keep my bird in his own room with two walls and two doors stopping any spray getting to him. One of my siblings loved to spray deodorant before going to school but my bird was fine with 2 doors to stop anything getting to him. But with smoking I can only imagine that it affects the whole house. I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

I want to start off by saying you seem like such a sweet pet owner. And as much as I would absolutely love to give him his own, entire safe room I live in a 3-room trailer home, and 4 people live here so we don't have any spare bedrooms and my parents would never let me take the birds out of the living room anyways.

 

[Ali]

I would absolutely love to take the little baby into my room to protect him, but my room is pretty small and I already have 2 degus in a cage in my room that takes up a lot of space. Plus that would require me convincing my parents to let me take the birds into my room, which would probably never ever happen, and I'd need help moving such a big cage when they're gone during the day I'll air out the house sometimes, get some fans going and what not. I sometimes wear perfume but never play with the bird after putting it on. Their cages are right by the front door, so the most we do is walk past them but I guess that could be enough, huh? My mom is a heavy bath and body works user too. I just wish smoking didn't affect the whole house like it does. I even catch myself having cough attacks sometimes and as a person with a minor case but still a case asthma it's not very considerate to any of our babies.

Could you get them to smoke outside? That would cut back on one thing at least

 

[Voodoo]

Or a friend to take on your parents so you can keep him with you?

haha no but I wish poor baby can't get away from the toxic fumes and there's not much I can do about it

 

[Voodoo]

I would absolutely love it if I could get him to a safer room in the house. But my parents would never let me move the birds as well as moving them away from the house.

 

[Ali]

I am sorry

 

[Voodoo]

Could you get them to smoke outside? That would cut back on one thing at least

I've tried telling them all these factors could literally kill the birds and animals alike, but they won't budge. I've tried to get them to go outside, or to even stop smoking all together. They claim they want to quit smoking but they don't. All this covid crap is making them smoke even more, especially since my step dad is a health coordinator of a department and my mom and step dad are high considered law enforcement they're under so much fire right now. I just wish they had better coping mechanisms

 

[Ali]

As for vets....
Companion Animal Hospital
All Creatures Veterinary Hospital

Alternative....
Do you have any online chat things with vets so you can explain to them? In the UK we have justanswer.co.uk they are all qualified vets

 

[Voodoo]

I posted before I said every thing I wanted to say..... I am really sorry to hear you and your birds are dealing with this toxic air in your home, if you can link a video of your birds then hopefully some of the other members may be able to give you some of an idea of just how bad your bird is struggling and how desperate the vet is needed and that might help you to feel like you have more of an idea if this situation is as bad as you feel it is right now for your bird.

I have some similar issues at my home with my mother (and sometimes my son but mostly my mum) having absolutely no idea about toxic chemicals and just how bad they can be, this is even after she saw some chemical fumes obviously affect my bird to the point where he was having trouble focusing, breathing and moving properly- it was honestly one of the scariest times of my life and she still thinks it is ok to use certain chemicals and stinky personal care items (her reasoning is it is not in his room) - she always seems to think I am over reacting or being difficult if I ask her to do things different to how she wants to do them.
I am not a child (well, I can be childish lol) and I actually have children older than you and I still have to deal with parent problems regarding my birds right to fresh safe air.
I just have to feel sorry for people who are older than me/you and meant to be more responsible but are obviously so selfish or ignorant that they refuse to change their thinking- it is not fair to the people (and our birds) around them but you'd be hard pressed to convince them of how gross and negligent their behaviour is- I am sorry you are having such a rough trot in this instance.

yes exactly, thank you so much. It's funny because when my mom first got a post parakeet back in December of 2018, she did a bunch of research but she has apparently never heard of illness and tail bobbing and how birds can hide their symptoms well until they are on their death beds, so any symptoms of illness in birds should be taken very very seriously. But she's talked about illness before. Idk what her issue is with going to the vet's to potentially save a life. She's one of those "the animal was $20 and the vet bill is $300" people who would just replace the pet rather than take care of this baby bird"s little life. You can't replace the souls of pets, receive a new one to work with. It's just so frustrating, especially irritating considering she knows the pain of losing a bird now but when I'm practically on my knees begging trying to get her to really listen to me and understand me.

 

[Voodoo]

As for vets....
Companion Animal Hospital
All Creatures Veterinary Hospital

Alternative....
Do you have any online chat things with vets so you can explain to them? In the UK we have justanswer.co.uk they are all qualified vets

I tried using just answer, and never got a response ;~; and I am currently waiting on a call back from Companion Animal Hospital to get an estimate on how much a vet visit and respiratory test would cost us.

 

[Ali]

I tried using just answer, and never got a response ;~; and I am currently waiting on a call back from Companion Animal Hospital to get an estimate on how much a vet visit and respiratory test would cost us.

That may be because it is UK based. Would you like me to see?

 

[Ali]

Is she still tail bobbing?

 

[Ali]

What other signs are there of a respiratory infection/ illness?

I have an answer from just answer and they have matched me with an avian vet to explain