sickbudgie

[budgiemom]

SAVE MY BIRD!!!! I just got back from university(I'm a first year vet student) and found that my birds were being fed a seed diet that should have been supplemented (no vitamins or minerals!) One of the 2 birds sits on the floor, puffed up, very weak, eyes closed most of the day, when the eyes are open they are flickering back and forth. The vet thinks its from deficiency and that if I start supplementing now I may be able to save him. I've been supplementing with ultra-blend food and nutrimin in the water for 1 day now. I'm not sure if he's eating or drinking enough because he can't balance well on the dishes. He's getting worse, he falls over on his back and chirps for a bit (panicky) before he rights himself. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I force-feed the liquid supplement to him, maybe with some electrolytes? Any help would be appreciated!!!!!:(

[birdgirl]

yes by all means hand feed the poor bird get as much food and water into him as you can with the supplement aded if he can't eat seed or pellets get him some hand feeding formula and feed him as you would a baby. this is all I can think of I know the other people on the board can be of more help then I can.
I really hope he lives

[Jenny]

First of all, welcome to this site!!! I'm glad you've found it! My first question is, was the vet you took your budgie to familiar with birds? Most vets don't study exotics all that much in vet school, and if you took your budgie to a regular dog/cat vet then I'd take him back to one who sees birds every week. It sounds like your budgie has gotten so sick that he's not eating/drinking, and that's only making him worse. I've been volunteering at an exotic animal clinic this past year, and there's been an extremely sick amazon and budgie who had quit eating which sound similar to yours, and once we started force-feeding them, they started getting strong enough to start their recovery. If he's definitely not eating, then you'll need to tube-feed your little baby. If the vet isn't an avian vet, don't bother asking them how to do it, and go find someone who can show you how. It's really not hard at all, you just have to towel him and stick the tube into his trachea on the left and slowly push the syringe. (it's still best to have someone show you how!) My vet uses hand-feeding formula (I think it's Kaytee), and sometimes supplements it with electrolytes, but not always. If you do this, you'll be guaranteed that he'll be receiving healthy food and water, since you mix the powder with that. Also, have you asked about having any bloodwork done, fecal cultures, etc.? I wouldn't think that feeding him only seed would cause something like this to happen, since in the wild they eat mostly seed. One last thing, it'd probably be good to get him under a heat lamp, so he doesnt' have to use so much energy keeping warm. Well, I hope this helps!

[birdygirl]

I'm sorry that they weren't being fed the right stuff. Take them to an avian vet and they will tell you what you need to do.

[Redstorm1721]

Well My keet has never had anything but seed. She hates anything else. I have tried all different things but she just will not take it. She is the most beautiful bird. she has very shiney feathers and sings up a storm. Her tail feather are so long they hit the sides of the large cage she has. They are blue feathers and her face has blue spots on either side. Her back is green and her head is yellow and she has stripes going along her head down to her back with yellow in the middle. Under her wings are all blue. I was in fear about her never eating anything but seed but she is so healthy and beautiful I never worry any more. I don't think that by not feeding them anything but seed will really hurt them. My keet is 5 years old and beautiful. Gail

[Mrs.Birdy]

I have been thinking about your troubled budgies......how is everything going with them?

[JSimko]

Get a small cyringe or an eye dropper and for the bird to drink the vitamins mixed with water.

[birdygirl]

How are your budgies?

[Redstorm1721]

Is everything okay with your birds? We are all concerned. I hope everything is okay,as Roseanne said I also have been thinking about you! Gail

[birdygirl]

Are they okay??

[JSimko]

We miss you. How are your birds?

[Redstorm1721]

Have you had any luck? w/b we all need to know?

[KeetsDaddY]

Well, I have a bird that is missing his longest toe on his right foot. I have had to hand feed him water since recieving him. The best advice that I can give you about the water situation is to purcahse one of those water feeders that look like they are for mice. They hook on the cage and don't bend the bars!!!! How are your birdies? I hope they are ok and I am sure everyone else does also. PLEASE KEEP US POSTED! WE ARE WORRIED!!!

KeetsDaddY