Poorly feathered friend!

[ClockworkOrange]

I think we need another Forum, just for Pets?

I remember somebody made a comment who has a very poorly dog "Why is it so hard when our four legged friends are sick???"

That said, even two legged birds are a worry.........and no comments about four legged birds!

A few years ago, I adopted a budgie that somebody found in their garden, I had this little chap for quite a few years, while I was on holiday he unfortunately left to go to the big aviary in the sky!

My son thought it would be a good idea to replace him, so, I have yet another little feathered friend! My Bluey is now over 9 years old, not in very good health as he has ONLY ever eaten bird seed and occasionally millet as a treat. My previous two budgies would eat most things, would even roll about on lettuce that was soaking wet on the bottom of their cage, oh yes and loved grapes and crisps.

Consequently, he is seriously lacking in vitamins and nutrients, his body weight is is extremely low, he has a fatty lump in his chest, which makes him lean to the side causing his left foot not grip his perch properly.

A few weeks ago, his eye was extremely sore and inflamed, my lovely vet who happens to be a bird specialist, gave him some antibiotics and special liquid medicine to go into his water, that would make up for the lack of nutrients and vitamins. That cost $45 including the consultation.

He started making a really good recovery, even the feathers on top of his little head started sprouting, until one or two near his eye grew much too long and started him rubbing his eye. Christmas Day his eye had totally closed up, so today it was off to the vets.

Phew, thought the vet was going to tell me the worst but no, after just bathing it, he is much better. So, fingers crossed, he is on the mend.

Makes me feel so sad, when he is not well.

Yes, one tatty little budgie.

Excuse bad quality of pic, only taken a snip off a video clip.

Clock

[bmccasland]

It's always hard when our pets get to ailing. I just want to know how they manage to do it on a friday afternoon or a holiday?

How come Bluey won't eat other things? Silly boy, he's supposed to!

Hope he gets to feeling better.

[andtckrtoo]

Hope he's on the mend now!! He's a cutie!!

[Zen]

Poor little Bluey.

I've had a few birds through the years, even one who laid eggs! Of course nothing came of it.
It doesn't matter whether they're furred, feathered, or scaled, they all bring us comfort and calm just to be with them.

[bambu101]

Keep trying to offer him greens and veggies. Sometimes they can take a few months to try something new. Most budgies don't care for fruit, but like greens such as spinach, chunks of corn on the cob, celery, carrots, etc. Mine like cooked cous-cous and quinoa, and crumbled up corn muffin or bread.

Bless you for taking Bluey into your home, and hopefully he will be feeling better soon.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

This may seem like a silly question, but- is your bird getting any GRIT (bird gravel) and calcium in his diet?
If your bird does not have access to bird grit (sized correctly for parakeets and canaries) then he will not be able to properly digest his food in order to extract all the nutrients from it. Eventually, with no grit at all to help seed eating birds grind up the seeds in their gizzard, they will die of malnutrition despite having plenty of birdseed. Putting a cuttlefish bone in the cage will also give him calcium and other minerals he might need. But I trust you have been providing grit on the floor of his cage?
http://freespace.virgin.net/dr.joine...ments.htm#Grit
http://www.allsands.com/pets/parakeetcarepe_raz_gn.htm

[gnGracie]

Oh no, CWO! I'm sorry to hear that he's gotten worse again. Keeping my fingers crossed that he'll get better.

[badger]

geez, how insensitive of me. I'm sorry, I didn't see your very last post saying bluey's not well. I'm sorry, I hope can pull through.

[ClockworkOrange]

geez, how insensitive of me. I'm sorry, I didn't see your very last post saying bluey's not well. I'm sorry, I hope can pull through.

Hey badger, no need to apologise, I didn't even realise.

Poor little chap, things seem to be going from bad to worse. Yesterday afternoon his poo was runny, now this morning he is all puffed up and has constipation problems. It's something he occasionally suffers from, can't remember the word but it really is not helping him.

To the vets first thing tomorrow.

Clock

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh Clock I am so sorry! I still hope he can just turn around and all this stress will be for nothing.

[badger]

did you take him to the vet? how is he??