I went to the vet but Cosmo is acting different

[Cosmobird]

My mom may find this normal, but after them putting anesthesia on him and taking out his blood, he has been more quiet and more calm. He has been like this today and the day after the anesthesia. I also heard that anesthesia shouldn’t be given unless if needed for like surgery or something. Is that normal for them to be more calm or no? I kind of miss him being expressive in a way.

 

[WillowQ]

I would call your vet and tell them that Cosmo is acting different and quiet. I think that’s concerning. Did the vet say that he was healthy? I hope he perks up soon.

 

[Cosmobird]

I would call your vet and tell them that Cosmo is acting different and quiet. I think that’s concerning. Did the vet say that he was healthy? I hope he perks up soon.

When they examine him, they thought that he was healthy, my mom thought the doctor was nice, I find the doctor alright but I don’t know if having to put anesthesia was needed, I pray nothing happens to him because of that or is more scared of not trusting us or something. The blood tests and the stool tests will come back soon hopefully.

 

[WillowQ]

And now I check your older posts and see that you don’t want to call the vet without mom’s permission. I can’t tell you what to do. Cosmo is pretty young and maybe the vet visit was really scary and stressful. Maybe losing some blood has wiped him out. BUT he should recover quickly if he is healthy.

Also I see Cosmo is a Quaker Parakeet. And he’s very pretty! There’s an organization called Quaker Parakeet Society that has lots of Quaker info, online, and we have a discussion group, too. Maybe you would like to check it out, or post questions in the Quaker forum here.

P.s. I see your reply to my first message. I suggest you keep an eye on him and I hope he’s recovered by Monday. If he’s still quiet, I guess your mom will have to decide what to do. But I would not change his stuff around a lot in his cage. Just let him settle in. Offer treats from your hand and don’t grab him to take him out, but press your finger to his tummy and ask him to step up. You still need to make friends with him.

 

[Cosmobird]

And now I check your older posts and see that you don’t want to call the vet without mom’s permission. I can’t tell you what to do. Cosmo is pretty young and maybe the vet visit was really scary and stressful. Maybe losing some blood has wiped him out. BUT he should recover quickly if he is healthy.

Also I see Cosmo is a Quaker Parakeet. And he’s very pretty! There’s an organization called Quaker Parakeet Society that has lots of Quaker info, online, and we have a discussion group, too. Maybe you would like to check it out, or post questions in the Quaker forum here.

Would probably be a good idea to do, but yeah maybe he is like that because he is stressed and not just that the nurse was holding him a bit tight compared to how we usually hold him. So I’m concerned about that as well now.

 

[Cosmobird]

He looks terrified or something here when she was holding him.

 

[Pixiebeak]

It's probably ok to be quiet the day after vet visits. My birds get pretty worn out with the stress.

I hope tomorrow he is improved. I hope his tests come back all clear. He is a cutie

 

[WillowQ]

Hi-I see your photo of the assistant holding Cosmo. It looks to me like she’s holding him appropriately. The first thing you learn about restraining birds is not to hold the chest tight. So I don’t think she could have hurt his chest (even though he is tiny). And Quakers are hard to take blood from, if blood is taken at the neck, it’s better to give anaesthesia rather than try multiple times and upset the bird.

I have Quakers who are used to being held in the hand. It helps them to be less scared at the vet. But I bet your baby WAS pretty scared. And he got very excited which is part of why he is so tired today. It was a very tough day for him.

I hope everything comes back normal. Pixiebeak has a good point—it’s pretty normal to be tired the day after a big trip and vet visit. Cosmo is barely used to your house yet, much less riding in a car and seeing traffic, and then seeing other animals and new humans at the vet.

I am happy to meet you and Cosmo. He is so pretty! What color is he, and do you know if he is a boy or girl? I have a blue Quaker named Willow. For 20 yrs before that, since I was in school, I had a green Quaker named Lucy.

Please ask any questions you might have and maybe check out QPS (Quaker parakeet society) because there are people there who love Quakers and can answer your questions.

 

[Xoetix]

I'm glad y'all were able to get to the vet! Did the doctor go over proper care for you and your mom?

Being quiet is pretty normal after vet visits. All of mine usually take a day or two to get back to normal. If they needed blood and Cosmo was particularly stressed or unable to be still enough to get the blood draw, sometimes vets will use anesthesia.

 

[Cosmobird]

Hi-I see your photo of the assistant holding Cosmo. It looks to me like she’s holding him appropriately. The first thing you learn about restraining birds is not to hold the chest tight. So I don’t think she could have hurt his chest (even though he is tiny). And Quakers are hard to take blood from, if blood is taken at the neck, it’s better to give anaesthesia rather than try multiple times and upset the bird.

I have Quakers who are used to being held in the hand. It helps them to be less scared at the vet. But I bet your baby WAS pretty scared. And he got very excited which is part of why he is so tired today. It was a very tough day for him.

I hope everything comes back normal. Pixiebeak has a good point—it’s pretty normal to be tired the day after a big trip and vet visit. Cosmo is barely used to your house yet, much less riding in a car and seeing traffic, and then seeing other animals and new humans at the vet.

I am happy to meet you and Cosmo. He is so pretty! What color is he, and do you know if he is a boy or girl? I have a blue Quaker named Willow. For 20 yrs before that, since I was in school, I had a green Quaker named Lucy.

Please ask any questions you might have and maybe check out QPS (Quaker parakeet society) because there are people there who love Quakers and can answer your questions.

Well I think he is a turquoise cross over but I’m not sure. But yeah I’m hoping the test come out ok because the way Cosmo is very quiet and shook up. Also we are gonna see in the blood test if he is a boy or a girl since we don’t know yet.

 

[Cosmobird]

I'm glad y'all were able to get to the vet! Did the doctor go over proper care for you and your mom?

Being quiet is pretty normal after vet visits. All of mine usually take a day or two to get back to normal. If they needed blood and Cosmo was particularly stressed or unable to be still enough to get the blood draw, sometimes vets will use anesthesia.

Yes definitely, my mom put a mirror in the cage, I told her no, the doctor told her no and said if it’s a female can produce babies on it’s own so yeah thank god for that. Also he said they should fly so hopefully my mom lets me at least bird proof my room somehow without her wanting to keep some stuff. I really want him to at least roam around in some way safely without trying to be in harms way, he has gotten better in landing by the way.

 

[WillowQ]

I'm glad y'all were able to get to the vet! Did the doctor go over proper care for you and your mom?

Being quiet is pretty normal after vet visits. All of mine usually take a day or two to get back to normal. If they needed blood and Cosmo was particularly stressed or unable to be still enough to get the blood draw, sometimes vets will use anesthesia.

Quakers are particularly hard to do a jugular blood draw on, so I think the vets very often use anaesthesia.

 

[Cosmobird]

Quakers are particularly hard to do a jugular blood draw on, so I think the vets very often use anaesthesia.

A small update on Cosmo he is back to normal, I showed him a video of other Quaker parrots and he was making his usual noises luckily. Thank god. Not much else other then he’s been eating more.

 

[Shezbug]

Yes definitely, my mom put a mirror in the cage, I told her no, the doctor told her no and said if it’s a female can produce babies on it’s own so yeah thank god for that. Also he said they should fly so hopefully my mom lets me at least bird proof my room somehow without her wanting to keep some stuff. I really want him to at least roam around in some way safely without trying to be in harms way, he has gotten better in landing by the way.

Your vet told you that a female bird can have babies on its own because of having access to a mirror? Is this correct?

 

[Pixiebeak]

Quakers are particularly hard to do a jugular blood draw on, so I think the vets very often use anaesthesia.

I've had one blood draw quaker Neptune no anesthesia was simple and fast

 

[Pixiebeak]

Yes definitely, my mom put a mirror in the cage, I told her no, the doctor told her no and said if it’s a female can produce babies on it’s own so yeah thank god for that. Also he said they should fly so hopefully my mom lets me at least bird proof my room somehow without her wanting to keep some stuff. I really want him to at least roam around in some way safely without trying to be in harms way, he has gotten better in landing by the way.

Maybe meant lay eggs? Females can lay infertile eggs without a male, at anytime, even without mirror

 

[WillowQ]

I've had one blood draw quaker Neptune no anesthesia was simple and fast

I’ve heard a number of times (through QPS) that Quakers are hard to do jugular blood draws on and I know of multiple people who’ve lost Quakers that way. They could never get Lucy unless she was out. I don’t think it’s a made up problem. I heard this starting 25 yrs ago, from my exotics/ avian vet.

 

[Pixiebeak]

I’ve heard a number of times (through QPS) that Quakers are hard to do jugular blood draws on and I know of multiple people who’ve lost Quakers that way. They could never get Lucy unless she was out. I don’t think it’s a made up problem. I heard this starting 25 yrs ago, from my exotics/ avian vet.

My Avian vet has lots of experience, don't know what to say , it went easy. I've not ever heard of this before. But I believe you. Tho we have a ton of quakers in Florida, Im surprised I haven't ever heard. I'll ask around to my vet friends

 

[WillowQ]

I could be wrong, too. But this is what I’ve heard over the years through Quaker circles, and it was certainly my experience with Lucy.

They also had an unusual problem with the casting on Lucy’s broken leg. The cast cut off the blood supply to her toes and she lost two toe tips. (Leg was broken at two years, very badly near the hip, and then at 21 yrs of age). I discovered her cold icky toes and she was recasted. What a terrible mess. The vet said this was a 1 in 1000 occurrence, but the same thing happened to another QPS member’s Quaker.

?? I don’t know if this difficulty with QP jugular sticks has been written about, I just know that’s what I’ve observed with my birds and what I’ve heard from Quaker owners over the years. Didn’t want to bring it up before because it’s unpleasant and this young person is upset already.

 

[WillowQ]

A tiny blood sample taken from a little bird that’s cockatiel-sized is comparable to a person donating blood to the Red Cross. Not dangerous for someone healthy but still tiring and taking energy to recover from.