My Birds Keep Getting Sick.

[Little one 0]

Hi all,

 

A few of my budgies have gotten sick and died shortly after and it always seems to be the same sickness ('coughing' regurgitating food). I think that maybe there could be something in my aviary, like a bug or something. I'm also thinking that maybe it's mice, even though I haven't seen any around. I am going to clean the cage, from any bugs, and try to make it mouse proof, which I'm unsure how to do. Does anyone know of something I can give to my birds to keep them healthy? Any advice would be so helpful.

 

Thank you.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Neat

[**KAZ** 0]

That could be anything from megabacteria to canker and you need to take s sick one to the vet for a diagnosis

[**Liv** 0]

I agree with Kaz

 

Vet trip ASAP or you could lose them all :fear

[Little one 0]

I have taken one to the vet and the vet gave me some medication to put in the birds water, it didn't seem to help.

[**Liv** 0]

what did they give you?

[Little one 0]

Ummm, pretty hard to remember as it was a while ago, but all I can remember was that you put in in the birds water and it was green?

The vet wasn't an avian vet.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Little one

[**Liv** 0]

If the vet wasn't an avian vet that i can bet they just gave basic antibiotics.

Your best bet is to get to an avian vet and they will do some tests and give you the appropriate medication. Mega and Canker can not be treated with antibiotics.

Edited October 25, 2008 by **Liv**

[Little one 0]

okay, I will try to find an avian vet, one of the birds died last night, do you think that they could do an autopsy, or is it best to take a sick bird?

[krosp 0]

I don't know much about this but I do think they can do an autopsy and it's probably the best way to diagnose really because they could do a more comprehensive exam without harming a live bird. Just my guess tho, others should know more.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Neat
autospy to autopsy

[Little one 0]

Thanks

[**Liv** 0]

put the dead bird in a number of sealed plastic bags and keep it in the fridge until you visit the vet. They may want to autopsy.

[Little one 0]

Okay, why does it have to be kept in the fridge?

 

Thanks .

[**Liv** 0]

Because it will start to decompose if you dont

[JimmyBanks 0]

really bad images in my head... but Liv is right keep it cool and take it to an Avian Vet as soon as you can. Good Luck in finding out what it is.

Edited October 25, 2008 by JimmyBanks

[splat 0]

I totally agree with Kaz and Liv, when the vet was going to do an autopsy on one of my dead birds he told me to do what Liv did vet put it down the bottom of the fridge till I was going over the next day. Good luck I hope you find the problem before it's too late.

[Neat 0]

Best way to keep them all healthy is to have them in a clean environment - Water containers and flooring as the main areas to maintain cleanliness - I am not saying that you don't have a clean aviary at all - Birds can pick anything up very easily especially if they are stressed or a little of weather ...

 

 

 

You were given an in water medication which would only "fix" what that medication is designed for ..

That is why it is very important to get a clear diagnosis ....

 

Did the vet tell you what he was treating for ? Did you do a clean out and wash down of the cage / aviary after finding the dead birds ...

 

Most illness and diseases are left in the cages / aviaries ..... Be it the flooring, Seed & Food along with the food holders - Water and water dishes some toys ...

 

You have been given great advise good luck with finding the answer ...

Edited October 25, 2008 by Neat
added more information

[Sailorwolf 0]

Sounds like they gave you doxycycline. That is an antibiotic which also has effects against some protozoa (which is what Trichomonas aka Canker is). It sounds like trichomonas in your birds. Doxycycline may not be affective against trichomonas in particular or they may be resistant to it. My pharmacology notes do not mention the specific protozoa it is effective against.

 

Get a sick bird into the vet. They will probably perform a crop wash on your bird. Take in the dead ones so that a necropsy can be done. These need to be relatively fresh or else the body begins to autolyse and diagnosis cannot be made from the necropsy very effectively.

 

If it is canker, then because it is spread by the birds feeding each other then they will probably all need ot be treated.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Sailorwolf

[Little one 0]

Thanks all for your advice.

 

I found an avian vet and brought in two of my sick birds. The vet did a fecal test and we will probably get results tomorrow. The vet believes that my birds have Psittacosis, and she gave me treatment to treat my entire flock for six weeks. She also told me that I need to improve my birds diet as they're not getting enough fruit and vegetables.

[JimmyBanks 0]

I hope it isn't Psittacosis... good luck with the treatment and getting more fruit and veg into your birds...

Edited October 26, 2008 by JimmyBanks

[**Liv** 0]

Thanks for the update. While they are on antibiotics you can not give them anything other than seed. So best to start their new diet after the 6 weeks is up. Good luck and i hope your flock will be on the mend now

[Little one 0]

Thank you . Thanks for all the advice everyone .

[**KAZ** 0]

Thanks all for your advice.

 

I found an avian vet and brought in two of my sick birds. The vet did a fecal test and we will probably get results tomorrow. The vet believes that my birds have Psittacosis, and she gave me treatment to treat my entire flock for six weeks. She also told me that I need to improve my birds diet as they're not getting enough fruit and vegetables.

You may have been given doxyvet or psittavet to treat your birds. A powder that goes in their water ? Its a six week treatment, but as Liv says not fruit and vegies or other water sources whilst on those meds. The water with meds in it has to be fresh daily too...it goes off very fast and cannot be in the sunlight.

[Neat 0]

Oh I hope it isn't as well .....

If it is YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL!! and wear a mask while cleaning in there ...

 

Let us know once you got the result

[maesie 0]

Oh no... good luck and hugs mate xoxo Please keep us updated!

[Little one 0]

Treatment is going pretty well, I haven't changed their diet, just seed and corn. All the birds are looking okay so far .

Thanks all for your advice.I found an avian vet and brought in two of my sick birds. The vet did a fecal test and we will probably get results tomorrow. The vet believes that my birds have Psittacosis, and she gave me treatment to treat my entire flock for six weeks. She also told me that I need to improve my birds diet as they're not getting enough fruit and vegetables.

You may have been given doxyvet or psittavet to treat your birds. A powder that goes in their water ? Its a six week treatment, but as Liv says not fruit and vegies or other water sources whilst on those meds. The water with meds in it has to be fresh daily too...it goes off very fast and cannot be in the sunlight.

Yep it is Psittavet, and I change it every morning, thanks .