911 PLEASE HELP!! SICK CONURE :(

[Laura1987]

I have had Kiwi, my little green cheeked conure for 6 years now, and was told she was 18months old when I got her (although you never know what to truly believe). She is definitely a she (haven't had her DNA tested but she laid a clutch of eggs about 3 years ago!!) and until very recently has been a very happy healthy little girl. She doesn't fly very much at all, only when startled she will do a lap of the room and land on someone's head so she hasn't flown into any windows etc
About 3 day ago she started to act 'drunk', and is very wobbly on her legs, falling off her perch and falling and rolling over when she is walking around her cage or when I let her out of her cage. As a typical conure she is very inquisitive and has to investigate everything. Although since falling ill he seems to have problems when she I concentrating on something and her head starts to shake slightly.
In herself she is the same as usual, happily tweeting and wanting a fuss, exploring and eating/drinking. It's just all while very wobbly and off balance! Her eyes are bright and there is no discharge or abnormality with her beak/nose.
She has been in the same cage for about 6 months (bought brand new) although she has never been a cage chewer as I wondered about the lead/zinc poisoning. I haven't introduced any ne toys lately... and she rarely chews them anyway, se has her favourite that she sleeps cuddled up next to with her wing wrapped around it!
She has never been like this before and I'm just very worried about her. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Macawnutz]

I think your little one needs to get to a vet ASAP. I would test for heavy metals and in the meantime pad the bottom of the cage in case she falls. Drop the perches lower and keep her warm.

Do you have a avian vet?

 

[roxynoodle]

She needs to see a vet ASAP.

It could be heavy metals, but it could also be an infection or a vitamin deficiency. Whatever it is, it's an emergency.

Thinking of you and sending best wishes!

 

[Clueless]

Echoing the others - get her to a vet, they are very small and hide their illnesses - once they are apparent like this it is very important to get them in as soon as possible.

 

[Anne & Gang]

off to an avian vet..it could be anything from heavy metal poisoning to possible egg binding

 

[rockybird]

Please take her to a vet as soon as possible. It would be awful to see her succumb to something progressive that is curable or treatable by a vet. I would get her in ASAP.

 

[Mizzely]

When you have instability like that, etc, it definitely warrants a vet visit. Do you have one that you go to already? If not, where are you located so someone can help find one for you?

 

[Laura1987]

I rang our ordinary vet today and they have given me the number for a specialist avian vet about 30/45mins away. I'm booking her an appointment asap. I visited a family friend who has owned and bred many types or parrots for years and he suggested a vitamin supplement. (Its a powder you sprinkle on her food). She's really fussy and won't eat the expensive conure foods... she just flicks it around and leaves 90% of it. So she has an ordinary parrot mix with the dried fruit and seed. Then she gets fresh fruit, nuts and treats on top of that. About 2 weeks ago i changed her food, she was not impressed and wouldnt eat it, just threw it around. So our friend thinks she might be missing some essential vitamins. Her cage has the same bars/coating as the cages he has so he doesnt think its her cage. (Along with her not being a bar/toy chewer).
She does seem a little better today, i've let her have a run around the floor and she doesnt seem to fall over as much... but she is still far from right!
Thankyou for all your concern and help! I just hope she will be ok!

 

[Saemma]

I have had Kiwi, my little green cheeked conure for 6 years now, and was told she was 18months old when I got her (although you never know what to truly believe). She is definitely a she (haven't had her DNA tested but she laid a clutch of eggs about 3 years ago!!) and until very recently has been a very happy healthy little girl. She doesn't fly very much at all, only when startled she will do a lap of the room and land on someone's head so she hasn't flown into any windows etc
About 3 day ago she started to act 'drunk', and is very wobbly on her legs, falling off her perch and falling and rolling over when she is walking around her cage or when I let her out of her cage. As a typical conure she is very inquisitive and has to investigate everything. Although since falling ill he seems to have problems when she I concentrating on something and her head starts to shake slightly.
In herself she is the same as usual, happily tweeting and wanting a fuss, exploring and eating/drinking. It's just all while very wobbly and off balance! Her eyes are bright and there is no discharge or abnormality with her beak/nose.
She has been in the same cage for about 6 months (bought brand new) although she has never been a cage chewer as I wondered about the lead/zinc poisoning. I haven't introduced any ne toys lately... and she rarely chews them anyway, se has her favourite that she sleeps cuddled up next to with her wing wrapped around it!
She has never been like this before and I'm just very worried about her. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

In all seriousness, after all she's gone through and everything you took the time to write about above, what would it take for you to actually take Kiwi to the avian vet?

 

[Hankmacaw]

Very wise of you to book her a vet visit. The symptoms you have described can be an indication of several very serious illnesses.

Keep us updated on what her vet says.

 

[rockybird]

Great! Please let us know what the vet says.

 

[Mizzely]

Birds that have been on an all seed diet their entire lives do not usually exhibit the symptoms you described. I have a feeling that this isn't a simple nutritional deficiency due to a food change 2 weeks ago. I hope the vet can determine the issue!

 

[CheekyBeaks]

I agree it sounds like something serious is going on, more than a vitamin deficiency, a vet visit is needed sooner rather than later.

 

[DQTimnehs]

How did the vet visit go?

Next time please don't wait 3 days with such serious symptoms. Egg binding is life threatening and can cause paralysis in the legs. Heavy metal toxicity is also deadly. You could very well have lost her in those 3 days.

I hope she's ok.

 

[roxynoodle]

A selenium/vitamin E deficiency can bring on a sudden onset of instability. It is something that takes time before you see that symptom though (meaning the deficiency itself did not happen overnight, but rather the symptom itself came on suddenly). However, the longer you wait to get her into a vet, the more likely she will be to die from whatever is causing the symptoms, or she could be permanently handicapped Whatever the cause it's not something it is not something you wait to treat.

 

[Laura1987]

UPDATE.......
Hi everyone, sorry about the delay in reply. I took kiwi to the vets and even they were a little puzzled. They don't think its any kind of poisoning/egg binding as she is still a very happy chirpy little girl and is still eating and acting normal. Apparently the above illnesses make them feel awful and they are lethargic, not eating food and usually sulking at the bottom of the cage.
They have given me some antibiotics to try, but they have said it might go as quickly as it came on or she may always be a little wobbly. But if she gets any worse i need to take her back. The vet asked about her cage and whether she could reach anything to chew outside her cage (which she can't). I'm still giving her some vitamin supplements and shes happily eating a small piece of apple with her antibiotics squited on.... have you ever tried giving it direct into a conures mouth??? Haha. Fingers crossed she's going to be ok!

 

[roxynoodle]

Glad for the update. Actually conures aren't too bad to medicate because you can hold them easily in one hand, which frees up your other for the syringe. Try a bander's grip where you use your middle finger and thumb in an O shape around her neck with her head being able to lean against the inside of your index finger. Obviously be careful not to squeeze her neck or choke her. If that doesn't work, try burritoing her up in a towel and sit her in your lap.

The syringe should go in the left side of the beak, aiming toward the right to keep her from aspirating. Tiny amounts at a time and let her swallow.

If you need to put it on food I recommend Nutriberries, mashed potatoes, oatmeal or toast.

 

[DQTimnehs]

I agree that you should try to give it directly. There are videos on YouTube that show how to do small and large birds. Small birds are easy although it is daunting at first. You can also towel her and hold her around the neck with your left hand with her facing you and with your thumb and forefinger or middle finger holding lightly on the sides of her beak so she can't turn her head away. Let her feet rest on your chest. Then use your right hand to slowly squirt some in her left side (the side closest to your right hand) as Audrey stated above, letting her swallow a little at a time.
With apple she may not eat it all or may shake her head letting the meds fly out or it may drip off.

 

[Clueless]

My amazons love toast and a tiny smear of peanut butter. I figure if I ever have to medicate them - the drug will be between the toast and the peanut butter! What they don't see will make 'em feel better!

Thanks for giving us the update.