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Last Sunday it was time to give him his morning medicine. My mom grabbed him with a small hand towel and my sister gave him his meds orally with the syringe. After they put him back in the cage that's when we noticed a problem. He can't walk now. He must have had another stroke from all the stress of grabbing him (him running around and dodging like a pro). So we didn't give him his night dosage hoping he would recover after a rest but he hasn't. We haven't given him his meds since. We've tried giving it to him through the bars but he just doesn't like the syringe. I've been putting water in it but he still won't go for it.
I want him to take his medication but I don't know what to do. My mom wants to try putting it in his water/dish but I don't know if that will work. One is oily and the other is thick and gooey.
We had to change his water and food dish to something much smaller. Luckily we found two soy sauce bowls that has a diameter of 3in & is 1in high. We put them next to him so it's easier to reach. Sometimes we hold it up to him because he tends to fall over and make a mess.
He can get around by grabbing the base edge and bars with his beak and kind of shimmy over. If he wants to get a better view of us. We try to change his paper once or so a week but layer paper towels on the soiled areas to keep him from sitting in his own poop to long. We try to do so every other day. Any foot adjusting he needs is done on his own. He just grabs a bar and lifts himself up and tries to move his legs so his toes splay out correctly. Sometimes one toe ends up under the other or squished together but he tries. He can't groom himself properly because he falls over and we can't put him in a water dish to wash the poop off because the house isn't warm enough (heater is broken).
Before this we were going to put him in a plastic storage container and I was working on drilling holes in it but it was so difficult to do and tiring. So it was taking me longer than I intended but then that Sunday happened and I haven't bothered finishing it since.
I know we have to call the vet but my mom is worried what she will say. If we have to take him back then she's worried the stress will cause Coco more harm. Not to mention the cost. His medical fees for our last visit was $600 plus $30 for Antibiotics and $50 for his artery meds and then another $50 for his gout meds. Both are for life and renewed every 3 months, so $100 every 3 months. Not to mention the extra stuff we got him newer thicker perches, Zupreem Fruity & Naturals and a fuzzy tent for warmth (which has become redundant except for his food)
I need advice. I don't know what to do.
So this was my birds situation from my last thread. Since then the situation has changed.Everything that I know:
So his blood work came in today. Originally he was taking an antibiotic for any potential infections but his blood showed no infections. Unfortunately, he now has gout which shocked and confused us. Apparently it works differently in birds and instead effects the organs like his kidneys. So now we have to pick up that medication tomorrow. For how long, I don't know. The medication for his clogged arteries has to be taken 2x a day for life. So we unfortunately have been towel holding him (haven't done that in years) to give him his meds. He has to drink a lot of water and watery fruits/veggies for his kidneys. He also has to eat Zupreem's FruitBlend Flavor & Natural pellets for a while. Not sure for how long. He seems to like it though so that's good.
- Had 4 mini strokes
- Has clogged arteries (not a clot)
- Ex-Ray showed that he has arthritis in his right knee
- He has gout which caused kidney problems
- Has a weak grip from stroke
We will be moving him to a large plastic storage container with a bunch of airholes tomorrow. It's to keep him from climbing. We still have to set it up and make it as comfortable as possible. He will not be a happy camper but we will do our best.
Thank You everyone, you've been so kind and helpful. Have a lovely day.
Edit: Found this: Gout In Pet Birds - Avian Kidney Disease - So kidney problems caused Gout. Sigh....
Last Sunday it was time to give him his morning medicine. My mom grabbed him with a small hand towel and my sister gave him his meds orally with the syringe. After they put him back in the cage that's when we noticed a problem. He can't walk now. He must have had another stroke from all the stress of grabbing him (him running around and dodging like a pro). So we didn't give him his night dosage hoping he would recover after a rest but he hasn't. We haven't given him his meds since. We've tried giving it to him through the bars but he just doesn't like the syringe. I've been putting water in it but he still won't go for it.
I want him to take his medication but I don't know what to do. My mom wants to try putting it in his water/dish but I don't know if that will work. One is oily and the other is thick and gooey.
We had to change his water and food dish to something much smaller. Luckily we found two soy sauce bowls that has a diameter of 3in & is 1in high. We put them next to him so it's easier to reach. Sometimes we hold it up to him because he tends to fall over and make a mess.
He can get around by grabbing the base edge and bars with his beak and kind of shimmy over. If he wants to get a better view of us. We try to change his paper once or so a week but layer paper towels on the soiled areas to keep him from sitting in his own poop to long. We try to do so every other day. Any foot adjusting he needs is done on his own. He just grabs a bar and lifts himself up and tries to move his legs so his toes splay out correctly. Sometimes one toe ends up under the other or squished together but he tries. He can't groom himself properly because he falls over and we can't put him in a water dish to wash the poop off because the house isn't warm enough (heater is broken).
Before this we were going to put him in a plastic storage container and I was working on drilling holes in it but it was so difficult to do and tiring. So it was taking me longer than I intended but then that Sunday happened and I haven't bothered finishing it since.
I know we have to call the vet but my mom is worried what she will say. If we have to take him back then she's worried the stress will cause Coco more harm. Not to mention the cost. His medical fees for our last visit was $600 plus $30 for Antibiotics and $50 for his artery meds and then another $50 for his gout meds. Both are for life and renewed every 3 months, so $100 every 3 months. Not to mention the extra stuff we got him newer thicker perches, Zupreem Fruity & Naturals and a fuzzy tent for warmth (which has become redundant except for his food)
I need advice. I don't know what to do.
- How do I give him his medicine without grabbing him?
- What can I do to keep him descently poop free?
- Should we still call the vet and explain the situation?