Michelle, DVM asking Dr. C question

[ouccmich]

Well, how do I say...Long long long time no post. I'm so sorry guys, but it's been crazy. I realize that's absolutely no excuse, but there's nothing else I can say. I am no longer a DVMSTUDENT now, but a small animal DVM, looking at being able to do birds someday. I would like to ask Dr. C question, however, because I am not quite there yet on my bird medicine and I recently acquired a male eclectus that sneezed five times today in the past 30 min. I have had him for 5 days now and have no noticed this before nor am I hearing it much currently, but I am afraid that this seems significant. I did just feed him a bunch of veggies and fruit (fresh) with a newly cooked boiled egg that i read they like (he loved it)...perhaps he's allergic or my house is too dry (I have a humidifier on the furnace that I can turn up). He's eating, drinking, playing and m Meyer parrot I think is sneezing as well (so maybe it's the dry air?). I wish I could change my user name but don't know how to do that and I do miss everyone here (especially Shirley and Dr. C!). Please lmk what I can do to access the areas of the site and see if Dr. C gets my message....

Marley (my eclectus) did have a clean bill of health from the vet previously but if I want an exam I have to go within 10 days and it's a 2 1/2 hour drive (in the freezing cold of Michigan) to the clinic that examined him before.

Michelle :)

[Shirley]

Hi Michelle! Great to see you here again! Are you practicing in Michigan?

I'm going to move your post to Dr. C's Expertise... where she'll see it. This forum is for those having "problems with the site".

So glad to see you again!

[Shirley]

I changed your title from "Help! It won't let me post" to the current title.

[Shirley]

PM me regarding your username... I might be able to help you with that. ;)

[CocosMomma]

Welcome, or should I say, welcome back! And, congratulations!

I'm sure/hope Dr. C and/or Shirley will be checking in soon, or maybe in the morning. Have you noticed anything else off about Marley?

[Shirley]

For some reason, Michelle can't "post here"??? We'll get this straightened out... now or in the early a.m. Meanwhile... night night.

:)

[CocosMomma]

There's must be something temporarily amiss because I'm logged in but got a message asking me if I had forgotten my user name and password. Well, it IS a legitimate question, but I was logged in. Otherwise, I most likely would have fallen for it and answered yes....

My guess is sun-spots.. (Oh, wait - it is dark). Ok, my guess would be... moon spots.

Night-night!

[Shirley]

I believe you're right Robin :agree:... It's moon spots. :nuts: I saw 'em last night driving home... nasty things! :cool:

Greg, our genius/magician/guru, fixed everything and now Michelle can post here! :emot-danc

[Ellen K. Cook, DVM]

Hi Doc-

Congrats on your DVM degree! First a couple of questions:

1. When did you get Marley? How old is he? Where did you get him?

2. Any nasal or ocular discharge-do the feathers around the nares/eyes look any different??

3. Appetite OK? What does Marley eat? Give me percentages and a 24 hour food diary.

4. Any other symptoms? How are his droppings? What kind of cage bedding?

5. Most sneezing in birds is due to some type of air pollutant. It can be very subtle-any type of aerosol used in the same room, room deodorizers, scented candles, smoke of any kind, teflon goes without saying, but teflon can be found in hair dryers, toasters, anything that heats up with a non-stick surface.

[Ellen K. Cook, DVM]

woops, Michelle, just noted Marley's age in your sig line...found your posts in another thread and sometimes birds will sneeze when preening.

[ouccmich]

Hi Doc-

Congrats on your DVM degree! First a couple of questions:

1. When did you get Marley? How old is he? Where did you get him?

1 week ago. 1 yrs old. A large (very nicely maintained, stand alone) pet shop in Michigan. Look up Preuss Pets and you should find their website.

2. Any nasal or ocular discharge-do the feathers around the nares/eyes look any different??

No discharge. Feathers look fine!

3. Appetite OK? What does Marley eat? Give me percentages and a 24 hour food diary.

eating great. He gets Pretty Bird Eclectus pellets mixed with Zupreem large parrot pellets (no dye in those) during the day and when I come home at night I give him vegetables, fruit (apples, corn, okra, green pepper, broccoli. He eats ALL the colored pellets throughout the day (2 tbsps) and some of the non dyed pellets (1 tbsp maybe) and eats all the veggies and fruit I give him when I get home at night.

4. Any other symptoms? How are his droppings? What kind of cage bedding?

Cage bedding is dried corn that they were using at the pet shop (they sold it in the reptile section). He doesn't have access to it though, there's a grate above it, but I suppose he could get any dust that it may make.
No other symptoms and on a side note I haven't heard him sneeze since. I do notice that he has a few bald spots on his back (notice when he's soaking wet) but haven't seen ANY feathers anywhere and you can't tell when he's dry...assuming he pulled those out previously or is molting?

5. Most sneezing in birds is due to some type of air pollutant. It can be very subtle-any type of aerosol used in the same room, room deodorizers, scented candles, smoke of any kind, teflon goes without saying, but teflon can be found in hair dryers, toasters, anything that heats up with a non-stick surface.

I use no scented candles, do not smoke, have a very pricy state of the art air purifier because my husband is so allergic (it's built into the furnace, as well as the air humidifier...humidifier was set to 5, I upped it to 7), no room deodorizers are used. I do use a hair dryer but it's on the second floor and in the bathroom only. I am pretty cautious about any smells in the house.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

[ouccmich]

woops, Michelle, just noted Marley's age in your sig line...found your posts in another thread and sometimes birds will sneeze when preening.
That's what I'm thinking! On a side note, what is your thought on the Eclectus? Everyone I have talked to says they are impossible, but so far so good on mine (one whole week). Eating good, playing, talking SOME (not much but doing more each day)....

Also, I'm interested in getting into bird medicine, any good contacts or advice for me (contacts in MI)?