One of the babies are sick

[harleybaby]

One of the babies are sick:( I took them to the vet yesterday and it appears that the oldest one may have aspirated some food at a feeding(they are parentfed) and now has an upper respiratory infection. They found some yeast and some gram negative bacteria in her gram stain. The other one is fine. I'm also pondering taking the pine bedding(it's natural) out, I've read that it can cause respiratory problems from the dust but mama is so finicky the last time I tried to put paper towels in there she wouldn't go back in, any other suggestions?


He was a new vet and seemed really nice, the baby is on baytril and another antibiotic for the yeast until the culture comes back. He said if she(yes she LOL, 2 more girls here) is not better by Monday to bring her back in and that if anything should happen he's available 24 hours a day and can call him anytime of night if needed but just not to ask questions LOL.

I was very unhappy with my last vet, I took Dixie there a month ago and still haven;t gotten her test results back even after I've called 4 times. So, have to see how this vet turns out it's so hard to find a good vet!!!!!!

[Rebecca628]

I'm so sorry :( to hear you have a sick one! Hope the medicine does the trick!

:confused:Did the vet determine she's a she by DNA testing? I am hearing that is the only surefire way for my cockatiel.

[harleybaby]

HI Rebecca and thank you!! Just have to wait and see what happens when the meds kick in I guess. He said she's not in any respiratory distress or she'd still be with the vet so fingers crossed.

You are right about the sexing especially in a pied or pearl tiel and captain jack looks like a pied from what I could tell. My vet used this method that I'm gonna leave a link to for sexing, I am judging more by genetics being that they are both pearls the male and female have totally different coloring. Papa has an all grey tail and mamma has a pure yellow tail and the babies both have yellow tails. So I figured since we both thin they are girls they probably are but I'm not 100%.

The link is good though, hope you enjoy!

http://community-2.webtv.net/Rainey97/CockatielWingSpot/index.html

[harleybaby]

Oh and I put paper towels in there and she's going back in the box YAY!!!! Hopefully this will help too.

[Jim]

Hi Leah, sorry to here the little one is having problems. Glad you found a vet you feel comfortable with, sounds like a good one. It's nice knowing a vet takes 24 hr emergency calls, ours does and it gives you peace of mind.

I see you said she is going in with the paper towels now so that's good. Hoping all turns out Okay. Keep us posted if you can.

[parrotgirl]

I'm so sorry that your baby is ill, we are all praying that she gets on good, and makes a speedy recovery. Keep us informed. Happy that Mama went back in the box with paper towels in there.


Thanks for the link, it was really interesting.

Also glad that you found a vet that you are happy with, it makes a big difference. Our vet will also come out 24 hours a day and always makes house calls to Errol and Flynn as they would get to stressed out if we had to take them to him.

[Jean]

Leah, I am so sorry you have a sick baby. (((hugs))) It's good you found a vet on call.
Please keep us posted how it is doing.

[harleybaby]

Thank you everyone!

[Shirley]

Hi Leah,
I'm really sorry to hear you have a sick baby!

Now, for my 2 cents... I've not heard of a baby aspirating when it is parent fed. They just don't get the liquids we give them when they are hand fed... what is there to aspirate on? I doubt it's from aspirating the food... and I doubt aspiration would cause infection.

Ours use VERY LITTLE bedding... especially the parrotlets... almost none. They do not build a nest. Neither do the Bourke's. They only tolerate what we put in there - a bit of aspen or pine shavings.

What tests are you waiting on for Dixie? I must have missed something...

I'd do some research and even call for another opinion, but the Baytril in the meantime will take care of any bacterial infections. I just hope it doesn't spread to the others... is he having you treat everyone? I'd be weighing them all first thing each a.m. and taking notes on their weights.

Keep us posted, and our thoughts and prayers are with you,
Shirley

[harleybaby]

Thanks Shirley. I thought it was a bit odd too. I did some researching today and also found out that it is very rare for a parentfed bird to aspirate. The vet did say that it is only upper respiratory but I am still concerned about the bedding. I noticed with the papertowels it gets dirty very fast! so I did end up putting a small amount of bedding back in. Someone also recommended using hemp bedding because it has no dust or odor to it. So, I sent hubby up to the store and he came home with corncob:rolleyes: So, tomorrow I'm going to make a trip out to get some just to see if that helps.

I ma having a really hard time with vets. I only like taking my birds to the other vet that I took Dixie too because he breeds birds himself and I feel has more knowedge in dealing with baby birds but is so slacking with the test results. He's also the one I too Mickey to when he was sick and didn't get the CBC back for a week and a half I believe. It should have been the next day but I gave him the benefit of the doubt but then this too. My original vet who I love only works on Saturday and Tuesday so it's hard to deal with him also.:angryfire It's just sooooooo frustrating.

I have no idea whats going on with the babies, I change the box every day, the parents on a good diet, nobody else is sick. Honestly, I can't take much more of this, I take good care of my birds I just don't get it.

[harleybaby]

Oh and I have been weighing them, they both weigh 100 grams, more than the parents who are on the small side(in the 80's) but I expect they should start losing soon anyway to get ready to fledge? The vet was extremely impressed by their size for their age

[Jean]

Oh Leah, I feel so sorry you are having to go through this. :tighthug: We know you are a very good mother..:wub:

[Shirley]

Leah, don't beat yourself up over this.. you're doing the best you can... do the parents mess in the box? That would be very unusual. We never clean the nest box until the babies are about 3 weeks old... and then it hardly needs it. And they back right up to the corners and do their business there, never in the middle of the box or where they get it on themselves. The parents never mess in the box.

Tucker was 3-1/2 weeks when we got him. He is large now, but was only 78 grams then. How old are your babies? Tucker is only 85 or 90 grams now and he's over a year old.

I don't know what to say about your vet situation... that's a real shame!
I feel at a loss to be of any real help...

:tighthug:

[harleybaby]

Thanks Jean and Shirley.


The oldest is 4 weeks today and the other is 2 days behind. The parents rarely go in the box anymore, they hop in to feed them and hop right out. They do back up into the corners but it seems lately that that is where they are staying so they are going in the box in other places. One was sticking his head out of the box yesterday so Im hoping they will come out on their own soon.

The only thing I have noticed on the one baby is that at times he has had (what appears to be) poop stuck in his lower beak that I have had to clean out.

I'll let everyone now how he sounds today when I take him out to give him his medicine. He did seem a little better last night but I'm not absolutely sure. So, fingers crossed.

Thanks for your support, I really appreciate it!! Leah

[tielgal]

:( Oh Leah Im so sorry to hear about your babe. :tighthug: Hows she doing now? I hope she gets better soon. :grouphug2

Keep us posted if you can.

[harleybaby]

Just a litte update, got the culture back and they have a staph infection. I hadnt posted because they didnt seem to be getting better even with the meds but this morning they seem a lot better, I hope I will see the same results tonight whne we give the second dose. I believe it was from the poop that the oldest one kept accumalating in his lower beak that I'd have to scrape out. At first I thought it was just food :rolleyes: Vet said there's really nothing I could do to prevent it except wash hands really good with antibacterial soap before and after handling but I always wash my hands before handling any of my birds, just don't use the antibacterial normally but guess I will now.;) At least we know what is wrong which is a definite plus!!! Leah

[Shirley]

Good luck! What's the prognosis with treatment?

[Jean]

Good, you got the test results back. I am glkad they are feling a little better. hopefully, the medicine will get them over this soon. Please keep us posted.

[Jim]

Glad the results came back, you know what it is. I've only heard of one other staph infection with a bird, it was an adult Scarlet Macaw. The thoughts were the SM got it when boarded at the vets. Do you think maybe it was on your hands from visiting some where?

Oh and FWIW I saw on one of those medical shows a few weeks ago that with proper washing of the hands there was little to no difference between antibacterial and regular soap. Also went on to say something about shouldn't be advertized as a better antibacterial product. Those are my words but it was along those lines.

Anyway glad you know what the problem is. Nothing worse to me than not knowing and just trying different things. As Shirley ask, what's the prognosis with treatment?

[Jean]

Jim, I saw that on the news too. They tested regular soap against antibiotic soap. Test results proved if you scrub them thorough enough to get them really clean there is very little difference.

[Jim]

I bet it was the same show Jean. I'm thinking 20/20 or something like that. Anyway they tested a public restroom for germs and I was shocked. The toilet seat was cleaner than most things. The paper you can put on the seat had a LOT of germs, the air hand drier put out a lot of germs (sucked in the nasty air) and on and on. The door handle was one of the cleanest :) and the floor was the worst. We drag the germs home and around on our shoes and you gals on your purse you sit down.:eek:

Thinking out loud...... I'm going to supply paper shoes for like a nickel and make a million. Ha Ha right..... I wish.:funny:

[harleybaby]

LOL Jim and thanks everyone. The prognosis is very good! In fact, all the congestion is completely gone as far as I can tell. It just so happens that Baytril was one of the antibiotics that came up on the sensitivity. Guess it just took a few days to kick in!


I don't know about this staph thing, I can find little information and most pertains to the skin or wounds. My vet told me that its a very common thing people carry around on their skin and in their noses and from I've read they say about 30% of people do. So, I guess maybe me or hubby may have it? Ewwww cooties! LOL Don't know why Dixie ddn't get though or any of the other birds.:confused: Don't know much about the staph thing. My vet says its not contagious, but then I ask myself, how did it go to our skin to the bird if it's not:confused: LOL I'm not even going to try to understand this one.

I think I watched that show too, I stopped using the antibacterial when I herd it could do more harm than good and create more resiliant germs.

Babies are doing great!:D

[Sue]

Great news Leah, sorry I missed the post earlier:)

[Greyman]

I'm also pondering taking the pine bedding(it's natural) out, I've read that it can cause respiratory problems from the dust but mama is so finicky the last time I tried to put paper towels in there she wouldn't go back in, any other suggestions?

Aspen shavings are a good substitute and completely safe.

[parrotgirl]

Leah that is really great news, I am so happy for you and them.

[tielgal]

Oh Im so glad! Hows the prognoses? But Im glad their all doing good!

[Jean]

Leah, I am so glad to hear the good news! (((big hug)))

Greyman, Have you tried shredding plain paper towels or laying them flat? I know someone that shredded them and their bird accepted them that way.

Jim, love your remark about sanitary surgical shoe covers...Now, that's an ingenious idea. Maybe, sell a spray disinfectant along with them.. I never air dry my hands with those nasty germ making machines. I don't put my purse on the floor either...Maybe, that helps a tiny bit.. It is scary to think about all the filthy germs we encounter not even knowing it.

We have friends in California that have an avocado orchard. Avocado's are very sensitive to contacting germs that can destroy an orchard in no time at all. In their driveway they have a installed tire disinfectant dip to cleanse germs as you drive through upon entering their property.

[Jim]

I know a lady that uses shredded paper, news print and the like and as far as I know it's fine. We have a paper sheared and the boys love to nest in sheared paper when I but some in their boxes. Makes a mess of course but heck I'm so used to messes it's no biggy if they have fun.

Jean, WOW a tire wash! :eek: Never knew that about avocado orchards. I learned something new.

Also -- Ya know sometimes silly ideas like that turn into million $$$ ventures. Remember the 'Pet Rock'. Ghesss... wish I could have sold ROCKS for $$$$.:doh: Wouldn't that be about 99% profit????:)

[harleybaby]

That is interesting about the tire dip!!MMMMMM I love Guacamole!




The babies are doing great! You wouldn't even know they were sick. I moved the box to the bottom of the cage today and they have just been flapping their wings and the older one actually came out of the box for a few seconds LOL I'm so happy they are doing better!

[Jean]

I know a lady that uses shredded paper, news print and the like and as far as I know it's fine. We have a paper sheared and the boys love to nest in sheared paper when I but some in their boxes. Makes a mess of course but heck I'm so used to messes it's no biggy if they have fun.

Jean, WOW a tire wash! :eek: Never knew that about avocado orchards. I learned something new.

Also -- Ya know sometimes silly ideas like that turn into million $$$ ventures. Remember the 'Pet Rock'. Ghesss... wish I could have sold ROCKS for $$$$.:doh: Wouldn't that be about 99% profit????:)

Yes, avocado orchards are often more sensitive to contacting germs that can infest their trees. I didn't know that either until our friends purchased their orchard.

You are right on with the pet rocks!!! :emot-danc Call collecting them a hike and they are 100% free.. LOL

[Jean]

That is interesting about the tire dip!!MMMMMM I love Guacamole!

Me too!




The babies are doing great! You wouldn't even know they were sick. I moved the box to the bottom of the cage today and they have just been flapping their wings and the older one actually came out of the box for a few seconds LOL I'm so happy they are doing better!

This is so encouraging news. :emot-danc I am so glad they are feeling better.:tighthug:

[parrotgirl]

Leah, I'm really glad that your babies are doing really well. Please keep us posted, sending them big :grouphug:

[Jim]

The babies are doing great! You wouldn't even know they were sick. I moved the box to the bottom of the cage today and they have just been flapping their wings and the older one actually came out of the box for a few seconds LOL I'm so happy they are doing better!:woot: :dance: :woot: Great Leah!!!

[harleybaby]

The babies! They are learning to use their outdoor voices:funny: They started their first real chirps last night and it seems mamma is encouraging them to chirp as much as possible.:)


This morning after I gave them their medicine I decided to put them on the perches when I put them back in the cage instead of the box because when I woke up this morning the older one was out of the box and kept trying to fly up to a perch where momma and daddy were. They loved it! Stretch, stretch, stretch, stretch, it was the cutest thing. It's amazing how fast they learn. Then daddy was hopping back and forth form perch to perch(I think he was trying to show off):funny: and the little one decided to give it a go and made it. Unbeliveable, first try and all, well the others after that didn't go as well but boy do they learn fast! Now we just have to get them eating on their own, I took the pine out because they were strating to nibble on it.:D I have to say, I didn't really want any more birds but it has been really neat watching them grow day by day.

[Jean]

I love hearing you describe their progress. Watching them from an egg must be exciting to say the least. I look forward to you sharing their progress as they mature.
Thanks!

[harleybaby]

Awwwww thank you Jean!! I could just sit and watch them for hours!:emot-danc

[amazing greys]

awwww Leah, that is so great they are about and exploring and the one is doing well :thumbup:


It sounds so cute how the daddy was teaching them how to hop from branch to branch and happy to hear they are good parents.

Like Jean said, it must have been neat to watch the whole progress from the beginning!! That is wonderful experience and something you will remember, expecially when the teils grow up ;)

:goodjob: Leah, you have done very well!!


BTW, how is Einstein doing....and yourself too?

[Majj]

Are you also giving nystantin (sp) or something for the yeast ?? as antibiotics usually make that worse..???
Thinking of you good luck...

[harleybaby]

Thank you Majj! Yep they are on some kind of yeast antibiotic but I can't think of the name(I think it starts with an I) and Benebac too, they are soooo much better!


Barb I am still sick Yuck! but Einstein is back to his normal self thank goodness(he's sitting here with me right now:D ), he slept all day yesterday and started eating again last night. He must have been in so much pain. It's just amazing that he still wanted to be with me, even just to sleep on me and whenever I would go near him he would pick his head up and say hi or whistle and tuck his head back again. It's really touching how much they love us.

I didn't post about this but I had my floor worked on Wednesday and when they were bringing the plywood in they scared Einstein and he started flopping around in his cage. I didn't realize it at the time but he had broken his beak . I noticed yesterday that he was not eating and sleeping all day and he had me worried sick. During the vet exam he started to struggle and blood started dripping from his beak so they had to cut the tip off and caulderize(sp)it also got a pain shot and ran a CBC which came back normal. Today he's back to his normal old self.:clap:

[Sue]

Leah, so glad Einstein is OK and good news about the babies:heart:

[Rebecca628]

That's great:emot-danc to hear that all your flock is doing better. Poor Einstein!

I am learning SOOOOO much from everyone's posts. (I didn't know beaks could bleed!)Thanks for writing about the good and the sad. I appreciate this being such a sharing group!
Rebecca

[parrotgirl]

Leah, sending :tighthug: for Einstein, sure hope he gets to feeling better real soon.


I'm really glad them babies are doing so well, that must be so cute seeing them trying to do things for the very first time.

I wouldn't managed to get anything done here, I would end up watching them all day.

[Jim]

Ohhhhh Leah, sorry to hear Einstein cracked his beak. Scary when one of this little ones gets hurt isn't it. Glad he is better and all turned out Okay.
Give him an extra snuggle from me.:wub:

Those babies sure have you beaming. Nice of you to share their growing with us. Keep the updates coming.

[Jean]

Poor little Einstein. That must of been very painful when he hurt his beak. He's so lucky yo have a good mama to comfort him and get him to the vet and on his way to recovery. It's good to hear he's feeling better.

[harleybaby]

Awwwww thank you everyone!! You are all just so sweet!!!!:tighthug: