Urgent Egg Help Needed (Possible Egg Yolk Peritonitis)

[love4birds]

Leyla's abdomen is swollen by her vent area. It's not an egg, at least not a whole one, there is no hard shell. It feels spongy. The skin around the area was normal pinkish yesterday, tonight it is slightly yellowish. From reading, I'm pretty sure she has egg yolk peritonitis.

Her breathing is a bit laboured and she has her belly/bum feathers fluffed up. Right now she is sleeping on her belly on her platform perch. Usually she sleeps more upright, against Nin or her mirror. This evening she was still very active and shredding lots of toys, flying around too.

My regular vet is away until next Thursday, and my back-up vet can't see her until Tuesday. I will try a third vet first thing tomorrow morning, or see if I can get in with vet #2 as an emergency tomorrow.

I need to know if there's anything I can do at home for her in the meanwhile.

She has been unusually nesty/hormonal/aggressive/shreddy lately, and I thought it was just a difficult hormone season for her. I'm kicking myself thinking I should have suspected something was wrong and taken her to the vet earlier. I am panicking here

 

[rikkitikki]

Eek, I'm sorry, these things always come up at the most inconvenient times. Good luck with everything, I'll be keeping Leyla in my thoughts

 

[itzmered]

all I am finding do a search is to keep her warm give and her plenty of fluids. Are there any emergency vets that you could take her to to get some antibiotics?

 

[Annamacaw]

I am afraid she really needs an Avian Vet immediately (of course that is usually what I do if there is any doubt) here is some info:

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Avian Reproduction - Egg Binding In Breeding and Pet Birds

 

[love4birds]

None that have any experience with birds

She is drinking and eating fine. I checked on her a couple minutes ago and she was snuggled up to her mirror instead of on her belly, so I hope that is a good sign. I guess the plan for now is keep her warm, let her rest, and get her to a vet ASAP. I think vet #2 opens at 8am tomorrow, so I will call then and see if they'll see her as an emergency, if they can't I'll try #3.

 

[itzmered]

Good luck Megan I hope that is not what is wrong with her

 

[Annamacaw]

Here is another article... from both articles, it sounds like getting her into a warm humid environment is recommended and it couldn't do any harm

Egg Laying & Possible Problems

 

[love4birds]

It's not egg binding. I don't *think* the egg was whole and then broke inside before she could lay it (when I gently felt the area it was all spongy, no hard pieces like a shell). EYP can also happen if the yolk misses the oviduct and is deposited instead in the abdominal cavity. I think that is what I'm seeing with Leyla, but of course I can't know for sure without getting her to a vet.

 

[ashbirdlady]

Yep, keep her nice and toasty. Humidity is key. When I had a bird with egg issues I set her up in an unused bathroom. I would run the shower and keep the door mostly closed. I found one of those radiant heaters(the kind you use under a desk). It worked well
Christa

 

[love4birds]

Thanks Diane, it is warm (not sure of exact temp) in my room where she is, and humidity is about 50-55%. She's still snuggled up to her mirror, I think she's annoyed that I keep checking on her.

 

[love4birds]

Bathroom with a shower running is a great idea, but unfortunately won't work as we recently had a problem with mold in our bathroom.

 

[Annamacaw]

If you are like me, she probably is annoyed at you for checking on her.... hopefully she is fine and you can get her in to the Vet 1st thing in the morning to get things checked out....

The whole egg laying thing is so nerve-wracking.... sending up special prayers for you two to have a good night and vet check in the morning.........

 

[kcbee]

I'm so sorry. I'm not of any help, but I just wanted to say I understand how scared you are, and we're all here for you! I hope everything goes well at the vet tomorrow morning.

 

[WingedVictory]

Hi, your bird needs to be seen by an avian vet right away if all the conditions are as you describe. I have attached a link for review: Egg Yolk Peritonitis

Gary

 

[love4birds]

Thanks you guys. Dianne, it is so nerve wracking! She's never laid an egg before, figures she would have issues with it now when our vet is away! Gary, thanks for the article, I will make sure to ask the vet about some of the things mentioned in it.

If my vet wasn't away I might be able to get her to see Leyla after hours, but I can't get a hold of anyone who could help now, except the emerg. vet clinic who don't have bird experience.

 

[Annamacaw]

Great article Gary.... you are right... the clinical signs fit, especially the "spongy" thing....
I am sorry Megan... this is always the way these things seem to go.... at the worst possible time.... sending you big HUGS!!!!!!

 

[KimKimWilliamson]

Which emerg clinic is turning you away? I work for an Emerg clinic (sadly far from you, otherwise Id say drive in adn I'll use my employee discount) who doesnt have any board certified avian vets, but we still accept birds and other exotics to manage them/stabalize them until the exotics open up. Vets have a basic knowledge of avian care, and can reffer to books and other resources in a bind. Unless they have acually asked you not to come, Id go to an Emerg vet as soon as you can, as they can give her fluids, and begin treatments until the avian vet opens in the am.

 

[itzmered]

I agree if you can get her to an emergency vet they can keep her stable and possibly start her on some anitbiotics

 

[suileeka]

Oh, Megan, I pray that you can find a vet who will agree to see her ASAP.

 

[chompie_puppy]

I've taken my birds to the emergency vet before. They don't specialise in birds either, but they did keep my birds stable until they could be seen by my avian vet the next morning.

I really think you should rush her to the emergency vet. They might not know everything about bird medicine, but they know enough to keep birds alive for the few hours that's needed until a specialist can see them!