Teasha
Rollerblading along the road
- Joined
- 4/24/11
- Messages
- 1,105
My post was lost with the transfer of the forum. I took Rocket in because he was limping on his right foot. She did a physical and he was a bit under weight and she thought he had a metabolic problem or a couple other things. We decided I would come back and have some tests done. In that time Rockets feet started showing obvious signs of gout so I called and asked the tophi be tested which she agreed to.
So I went back yesterday and the vet had the day off a vet tech was there to do the tests. Except the vet never told her about checking for uric acid in the tophi so she didn't do it and I didn't insist. I should have but I didn't. So she took his blood and did laser therapy. She ran the test on the blood which was normal and showed no unusual levels of uric acid. He did show to be a bit dehydrated. She talked to the vet who then mentioned the testing of the tophi so we now have an appointment for Thursday to test to verify it is gout. I have a long list of questions to ask too.
This is why I worried and took him in.
This is what his feet look like now and show obvious signs of gout. The red is where the tophi are and the blue is where new ones are developing.
From everything I read the outcome doesn't sound so good. He will need a special cage for disabled birds and will likely end up in lots of pain and may have to be euthanized. I have read about a few different meds to try and holistic things to use to. I've read many different things about how it is caused and treatments etc. I'm just researching now to know what I have to deal with. Thursday I will see what meds etc I should use. None or very little of the uric acid appears to be leaving his body property as there is no urine in his poops.
I am quite sad about it, little man has come so far and it makes me sad to think what may happen. I KNOW to take it a day at a time, but when I read how painful it is it makes me wonder if letting him live is the right thing to do. There have been a few case where it has disappeared and although that is rare I am so hopeful.
Things I have been doing to help him is trying to get more water in him, I am gradually changing him from Kaytee to Harrisons Mash the vet gave me and I am trying to actually wean him lol. He REFUSES to try seeds or millet on the floor or in the bowl. The closest I have come is he will take it from my fingers so it's a start. I do compresses and physical therapy on his feet as well. I feel it doesn't help much but it does loosen his feet so hopefully it will eventually. It must make his sore feet feel so good...
I have also made him a safe place to exercise, it's just a low tote that you can put under your bed but it's a smaller one. With the lid off lol. I'm trying to make easy places for him to climb up onto without hurting himself. Exercise is key what the sites are saying but he doesn't more around a whole lot. I can't be around him all the time how am I suppose to get him to move around when he is sore and stiff and doesn't want to?
Have you had a bird with gout? Thoughts? Suggestions?
So I went back yesterday and the vet had the day off a vet tech was there to do the tests. Except the vet never told her about checking for uric acid in the tophi so she didn't do it and I didn't insist. I should have but I didn't. So she took his blood and did laser therapy. She ran the test on the blood which was normal and showed no unusual levels of uric acid. He did show to be a bit dehydrated. She talked to the vet who then mentioned the testing of the tophi so we now have an appointment for Thursday to test to verify it is gout. I have a long list of questions to ask too.
This is why I worried and took him in.
This is what his feet look like now and show obvious signs of gout. The red is where the tophi are and the blue is where new ones are developing.
From everything I read the outcome doesn't sound so good. He will need a special cage for disabled birds and will likely end up in lots of pain and may have to be euthanized. I have read about a few different meds to try and holistic things to use to. I've read many different things about how it is caused and treatments etc. I'm just researching now to know what I have to deal with. Thursday I will see what meds etc I should use. None or very little of the uric acid appears to be leaving his body property as there is no urine in his poops.
I am quite sad about it, little man has come so far and it makes me sad to think what may happen. I KNOW to take it a day at a time, but when I read how painful it is it makes me wonder if letting him live is the right thing to do. There have been a few case where it has disappeared and although that is rare I am so hopeful.
Things I have been doing to help him is trying to get more water in him, I am gradually changing him from Kaytee to Harrisons Mash the vet gave me and I am trying to actually wean him lol. He REFUSES to try seeds or millet on the floor or in the bowl. The closest I have come is he will take it from my fingers so it's a start. I do compresses and physical therapy on his feet as well. I feel it doesn't help much but it does loosen his feet so hopefully it will eventually. It must make his sore feet feel so good...
I have also made him a safe place to exercise, it's just a low tote that you can put under your bed but it's a smaller one. With the lid off lol. I'm trying to make easy places for him to climb up onto without hurting himself. Exercise is key what the sites are saying but he doesn't more around a whole lot. I can't be around him all the time how am I suppose to get him to move around when he is sore and stiff and doesn't want to?
Have you had a bird with gout? Thoughts? Suggestions?