Sick Baby

[finchly]

So, for several days Spirit Tiel, age 6 has been fluffed and sleeping. Aside from that I haven’t been able to tell what was wrong. I did see seed in the droppings 3 days ago but none after that. She seems to be eating like crazy. Poops are normal. Weight is down 10% as of today.

At this point a lot of people would diagnose her themselves or turn to some avian group, maybe this one, looking for answers. I know a little about diseases and I would have guessed avian gastric yeast. That guess would have been wrong so treatment for that illness would have wasted a lot of valuable time.

But I really wasn’t sure so I called the vet - who said they couldn’t see her until next week! This was on Wednesday! A bunch of frantic calls later we got her in with an avian vet close by for Friday.

The new vet assessed her and came outside (we’re still following covid precautions). He explained that she had indications of infection on her nares, eyes, and in her mouth. I mentioned my suspicions of AGY. He said it was possible.

Then the receptionist came out with the charges for various tests. $300 to $600! I chose which ones to do and rejected X-ray, thinking we can do that later. Plus I’m not sure how I feel about sedation for a cockatiel. I definitely wanted the full blood panel, $136.

He mentioned that if she had insurance they could just breeze through and do it all. Insurance would be very smart to have and would keep you from having to save up so much in the emergency fund!
After initial tests, tHe vet stressed that my guess of AGY was totally wrong. He said there was no sign of yeast at all.

We’re still waiting on test results so I don’t know anything yet. But. I forked over $539. They gave her an antibiotic to take 2x a day. She seems to like it. She adores hubby so he rides her on his shoulder awhile then big Meanie (that’s me) comes along with medication to squirt in her mouth.

She lost 2 grams since yesterday @iamwhoiam is that normal, considering a stressful visit to the vet and a restaurant? He said to hand feed her if she lost any more.

 

[Sodapop&Co.]

Aww poor love. Hoping for all the best! <3

 

[rockoko]

All my best wishes for Spirit Tiel to get better!

 

[camelotshadow]

Hope they will be OK

 

[Shezbug]

Best wishes for a total speedy recovery for Spirit Tiel.

 

[iamwhoiam]

2 grams is not that bad. If she does continue to lose then, yes, I would definitely hand feed.
It's good that she is willing to take the antibiotic. Hope you get the results back soon and that she will start to get better.
Sending positive thoughts for her.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

I’m so sorry that Spirit Tiel is sick, and I hope he will be okay!

 

[finchly]

Here’s the little rascal

 

[Sparkles99]

I'm very sorry to hear this & hope there's a full recovery!

 

[Sparkles!]

Awww. Poor baby.

I hope you get an answer soon. If it helps any, I’ve had good luck hand feeding adult sick tiels using chick formula or plain ground pellets that they’re used to eating mashed up with coconut oil and hard boiled egg to a thinner consistency. This recipe has put weight or kept weight on several terminal birds I’ve had.

As far as insurance, our Labradors are on a plan. However we have to pay cash up front, and then wait to see reimbursement from the plan. Often, they don’t cover what my vet considers necessary items (ex: IV fluids anytime they go under a surgical procedure) because they deem it non-essential to the diagnosis.

 

[Tiel Feathers]

I’m so sorry that Spirit Tiel is sick, and I hope he will be okay!

Sorry, I mean she, and what a cutie she is!

 

[Sylvi_]

Sending well wishes that she feels better soon. And many hugs!

 

[Kassiani]

I’m sorry little Spirit isn’t feeling well and has lost so much weight! I hope you will receive a definitive answer from your vet soon!

 

[saroj12]

 

[Fergus Mom]

Awww - hoping she will be on the mend very soon, and that you might know what is wrong to get her there... she's SO darn cute - too cute to be sick, poor baby.

 

[finchly]

Awww. Poor baby.

I hope you get an answer soon. If it helps any, I’ve had good luck hand feeding adult sick tiels using chick formula or plain ground pellets that they’re used to eating mashed up with coconut oil and hard boiled egg to a thinner consistency. This recipe has put weight or kept weight on several terminal birds I’ve had.

Ah, this is helpful. Do you moisten them, or only use the coconut oil?

As far as insurance, our Labradors are on a plan. However we have to pay cash up front, and then wait to see reimbursement from the plan. Often, they don’t cover what my vet considers necessary items (ex: IV fluids anytime they go under a surgical procedure) because they deem it non-essential to the diagnosis.

Good point. And this vet doesn’t know us - we generally do everything they want us to. Only one of our (many) pets has insurance.

Awww - hoping she will be on the mend very soon, and that you might know what is wrong to get her there... she's SO darn cute - too cute to be sick, poor baby.

Thank you! We think so!

 

[saroj12]

How is she this morning?

 

[Sparkles!]

Ah, this is helpful. Do you moisten them, or only use the coconut oil?

When we started out doing the crushed pellet route, it was out of necessity. Baby chick formula isn’t always deemed the tastiest by older, set in their ways adults. And so we used a well scrubbed coffee grinder to pulverize the pellets and added water to make gruel consistency. As the illness progressed, pellets were not enough to keep the weight up so we added a fat (the coconut oil) to increase calories. We found it improved taste as well! So we used that “recipe” for several birds over the years as they needed it. When one of my favorite Tiels was diagnosed with cancer, the specialist told us he needed extra protein. He approved of our homemade mixture and told us however we could get extra protein in our Tiel would help him feel better. So we would add 1/2 a hard boiled egg, yolk and white, to the pellet/water/oil mixture. Thin enough to spoon or syringe. Since then, this mixture has been used to feed probably 50 convalescing or terminal birds. We like it much better than handfeeding formula.

Hope Spirit is feeling a bit better.

 

[Lady Jane]

If a bird must be sick being in the care of @finchly is the best place to be. She will be OK my gut tells me.

 

[finchly]

How is she this morning?

pe Spirit is feeling a bit better

If a bird must be sick being in the care of @finchly is the best place to be. She will be OK my gut tells me.

Awww thank you! She’s hanging in there. Squeals every time I give her antibiotic, then grabs the syringe and licks it.

You can tell she’s still weak though. I overslept and she didn’t get weighed. Crossing fingers for tomorrow.