classylady

Hi, an update on my budgie Percy. Took him back to the vet last night and he kept him in until 3 p m today. He has "heat sealed" his beak to stop it bleeding. Says that due to the liver condition, clotting factors don't work well... Percy has been chirpy since we brought him home but of course his beak is too short. Vet said to give him soft food for a few days but I don't really know what to give that he would eat. Is there anyone who could possibly tell me what I can give that is soft and bugies can eat please? I would be so grateful for any help, he is in a sorry state. Thanks for the advice re infection, hopefully he will escape but not going to be complacent about it. I appreciate all your help, thank you so much. Chrissie

Hi, Just in case some people don't know about my previous postings the gist of what's gone on is, budgie is 4 yrs old, has enlarged liver with associated problems.. ongoing since we had him as a youngster. He's chirpy and well in himself but is on and off antibiotics for dropping problem etc etc. With the liver his beak and claws grow really quickly and this is where at the moment I need the help. Periodically we have the vet cut his beak, took him today but the vet cut it so it bled.. the beak is very very short now. Vet stopped the bleeding, but it began again when we got home and budgie touching things in cage... took him as emergency to our local vet (our avian vet who cut his beak lives a distance). The local vet used a caustic stick on the beak and said all was well......... said he would be able to eat etc etc. Two hours later budgie scratching himself, beak bleeding again, tho not profusely......... PLEASE... what can I do? I bought a caustic stick from the vet but it really looks as tho this is going to happen for a while, I have to say it's not bleeding profusely but enough to make a blob on his beak and drop onto his feathers. I am at my wits end re this now and soooo upset..... is the budgie going to be able to eat now do you think? Is the bleeding going to need more treatment? I am sorry to ask all these questions, but I really am upset by this.... would it be possible someone could get back to me asap please, I would appreciate it so much. Thank you for your help. .. I really need some feedback. Thank you again. Chrissie

Hi, I wanted to update you about Percyas I took him to the vets yesterday because after a short course of Ornicure, he was no better with the infection/vent scratching etc etc, in fact just as he's always been. As we know through diagnositc xray Percy has an enlarged liver, so we know things aren't really great for him, however he is still as chirpy and happy as ever with only the occasional "whimper" as though something is wrong. With the vet visit yesterday, he said that he now felt the infection/scratching of the vent could well be Chlamydia and indeed could even be an infection in his liver. Reading between the lines I think the vet feels there's not an awful lot that can be done but isn't giving up yet. He has recommended we keep him on Ornicure for 42 days, with a sprinkle of Avi-pro (probiotics) on his food every other day. He said to see how that goes on and after 4 - 6 weeks he will evaluate the situation. I am DREADING that day, but then I am not going to look ahead. Percy is still the same as he's always been but to see him trying to scratch his vent is heartbreaking. I am trusting to luck that the Ornicure will help him this time, he's been on other antibiotics which help for a time... I know I'm expecting miracles really, but he's my darling, I must try everything though not to the cost of him suffering as I would never allow that to happen. I would just like to ask here, has anyone any experience of enlarged livers in budgies, infection of the liver, Chlamydia etc etc? If you have, could you possibly let me know of how you got through it with your bird please, I would be so appreciative if you could - many thanks. I will of course update as and when I can, thank you for listening and caring. love Chrissie x

Hi everyone, thanks for your concern over Percy. Yup still having problems. Last visit to vet 10 days ago, he gave me Ornicure for his water to try to help the gut problem. Percy was/is moulting at the time and wasn't too well with it, but the Ornicure has perked him up BUT..... not done much for the droppings prob... still mostly white at times, or grey, or runny... or green tinged... or.. or.. you name it he has always been like it. Trouble is I think sometimes when he's quite and just sits there staring at me, he makes this little whimper and I'm sure it's his gut playing up. Sadly I don't know but luckily for all of us he's chirpy most of the time. Just wish and wish I could get rid of this gut problem.... but I read with giardia that it's hit and miss and not always curable... sadly. Spose he and we will have to live with it..... just goes on and on tho. sigh Chrissie x

Hi, Percy is coming up to 4 yrs old, have had him since 6 weeks and although always lively, good chatter and very loving, has had poo problems since he first arrived. Eventually my avian vet diagnosed an enlarged liver - after x-ray. Percy's poo problems didn't get better until end of last year when the vet him a course of antibiotics and mentioned it "could" be a parasite in his intestines. The antibiotics worked brill and his poo back to normal, then gradually after a few months the poo prob returned. Took him to vets yesterday and he mentioned the parasite again... "gia.. " something, does anyone know of one sounding like that. Percy's now on antibiotics again once a day for one week, then one week off for three weeks (total administration of antibiotics). He's also given Percy vitimans to sprinkle on his food so I've started that today. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what this parasite is please and just to say that for a long long time now I've heard a clicking sound coming from his vent which I'm sure is to do with the parasite. Would be grateful for any help re this problem and if anyone knows if this can improve. Thank you so much xx Just an update of this posting I made in February: Percy wasn't too bad on the antibiotics and then after leaving them off he was scratching his vent more and more. Is now in a moult and is sleeping a lot, his pooh's no change and last week took him to vet and he has given him Ornicure to see if this will help the gut infection.... (anyone used this before?). A little improvement in him after three days but having read on the manufacturers site they say only give dose for 5 days.. my vet didn't state that!! Also they say change the water every day... my vet said every other day.... arghh.... but anyway I am hoping this Ornicure might help. Won't help the liver probs tho as we know. Any other suggestions would really be appreciated, this little lad has suffered this on and off for 4 yrs now.. sob.

Hi Cheeky..... yep sorry not to have got back sooner, but been busy with one thing and another. Took Percy off the probiotics as he didn't seem so good on them. Since then he's not been 100% - think he was going that way anyway. His poops are not like little pellets mostly, or water.... but hardish and grey.... no urates... Have just started giving him a little lactulose cos I think he is constipated. Will ring the vet to let him know how things are but this has been going on so long I really don't know what they can do next. With Percy's enlarged liver and the gut/poop problem that he's always had I am at my wits end as to know how to help him as I'm sure the vets are running out of ideas. Don't know if Giardia which the vet suspected he had, does this to budgies pooh.... just wish I knew how to go on from here. Apart from that he's chirpy mostly, sleeping a bit more of an evening now since the probiotics... so not as lively as he was. Wondered if anyone else had any ideas.... or what I can do next? Appreciate some comments please. Thanks Cheeky it's nice of you to keep in touch. xx

Was so pleased to hear that Blinkie is doing okay now. What I want to know though... do bugies really fart (Laughing out loud) or was that a joke..... ? My hubby reckons ours does, but is he just covering up for himself... hmmmm! Chrissie x

Hi Ali, he seems a little better today after a few days on the probiotics.. still worried about his droppings though as they are never the same each time poor little devil. He's still happy and chirping away, just that occasionally he stops and you know he's "not right".... never sure if he's in pain or not but it doesn't last long. Thanks for asking Ali.. it's really nice of you to keep in touch. Will post again when I've contacted the vet.... have a nice day.. take care Chrissie x

Hi Ali, please don't worry... I can well understand about u knowing what it's like and if you didn't say anything how you would feel, I'd be the same. Thank you SO much for your words of comfort...I am just taking each day as it comes with him, he is very lively though which belies his condition with the enlarged liver and the lump and whatever is wrong with him in his gut. He just keeps on keeping on for which I'm glad but I know he's not as he should be... so hopefully the vet will come up with something when I telephone him. Thanks again for your help and after reading all your problems my heart really goes out to you with what you went through - hoping of course Percy won't go down that same road, but with these little fellows you never know do you? Take care.. thank you again xx Chrissie x

Hi Cheeky, many thanks for letting me know about this.... I am really getting worried in case it is similar to what you experienced. I have to phone the vet in a week or so... will tell him about things and how the probiotics are helping (or not) Percy. Am dreading any bad scenario... but will take one day at a time. Thanks again for posting.. I will let you know how we get on in a week or so. Thanks xxx

Hi, an update on Percy. After the course of antibiotics I took him back to the vet and asked for probiotics which I'm now giving him. However after my pointing out that Percy had what appeared to be a lump on his tum and asking if that could be the enlarged liver, vet said it wasn't but felt like a fatty tumour..... scream. Can anyone tell me about this, I know budgies are prone to it but with all his other health probs he really doesn't need this does he (sob). Thanks for any help you can give me. xx

Hi Natalie, glad I could be of some help, good luck with trying the little darling tonight in the dark (budgie not the boyfriend - ahem!). Yes the budgies left side not your left side apparently. Yes my budgie has had a gut problem from 6 wks of age since we had him. He has an enlarged liver too, finally found that out from an xray the vet did so he doesn't get as much air into his air sacs as normal budgies as the liver encroaches on them which results in tail bobbing which is respiratory related. The antibiotics I'm giving him, the vet thinks Percy might have Giardia which is difficult to eradicate and this probably explains his trouble all this time. Not that the a/biotics are making much difference at the moment so I expect it's back to the vet very soon. As for taming your budgie it should be done with them as young as possible. I tamed Percy from early age to come on my hand/finger, head and shoulder but he will NOT let me touch him only scratch his beak. This is the sign I use for him to say all is well. When he gets stressed out at the vets he will say, "scratch your beak", I feel so sad cos he's asking to be left alone (sob). I tamed him by calling him over from his cage and not touching him at all. Had him on a cushion on my lap and played with a tissue dragging it around the cushion for him to run after. A few weeks of that and he would come on my hand. It takes a long time and from what I've read, not all budgies will be tamed. Just keep trying and keep him as calm as possible.. you could also try and just scratch his beak when he's in his cage, just to show you aren't going to hurt him. It's a matter of him trusting yo, so it can be a long process. At least Theo will take a bath, Percy only paddles and that's a struggle to get him to do that.. hmm. I do hope you succeed as they are all worth the trouble.. I don't know what I'd do without my "little baby"... he's wonderful and a brilliant talker too. Good luck Natalie x

Hi Natalie, I am (and have several times over the years) giving my budgie antibiotics and although he is tame to the extent of coming on me and playing around when he's on my hand, he will NOT let you catch him or stroke him etc. So I have had to work out how to give him medication as he has been on and off unwell for 4 yrs now. Best thing to do is leave the budgie in a closed cage in a darkened room - I try to do this evenings or early morning before it gets light. Put your hand in and pick him up because with it being dark they can't see very well.. this is the only way I can get hold of "Percy". Otherwise, like you it's chasing him round the room and him panting and almost collapsing which stresses us both out. To hold him I use a square of kitchen towel or you could use a napkin etc. Wrap this round him and lay him almost flat on his back in your hand. Try to open his beak a little and put the syringe to the left side of his beak (this is supposed to be the best side to give them liquid) and squeeze the syringe gently. I find this works okay even if it takes several minutes. Just be careful not to get the liquid into his cere holes or eyes. I do hope you will find this useful.. good luck with it as I know just how near impossible this task is. Let us know how you get on please. xx

Always finish the dosing of medicine, it is important to do this. I am sure it is still active, most medication have an expiration date because of the laws. The best thing you can do right now is call the vet back and get him back in if he is not improving. Did he suggest any type of diet change, to ease his stomach? Hi lovey, thanks for replying. I will continue the last week of Flagyl for him as you say it's important. I will ring the vet next week and ask him what to do next. As for change of diet, he didn't really say but last time gave me pellets for the bird which of course he wouldn't eat even when I crushed them up and put them on top of his food.. nor in a dish other than that - grrr. I am wondering if the problem is this Giardia as I know they give the Flagyl for that.. will have to see what the vet says. Thanks again x

Hi, as promised an update on Percy's condition. I have given him Flagyl (4 units per day) one week on, then a week off and same again and this week it's his last week on Flagyl so that's over a period of 6 weeks. One thing I don't understand, the vet said no need to keep the antibiotic in the fridge but in a dark cupboard, is it still "active" by doing this over a period of 6 weeks.. I'm not sure? I am also in a quandry whether to give him this last weeks dose as he really hasn't shown a lot of improvement with his droppings and still seems to be in discomfort at times and of course he gets stressed out at me catching him and putting the antibiotics down his throat poor soul. I also keep wondering about the "clicking" I hear coming from the lower half of his body - I assume the vent..... he's always had this and yet the vet says nothing about it. Percy's still lively most of the time but I know the gut problem bothers him which I hate because I feel helpless. Anyone have any ideas as to whether I should give him the last weeks dose and if the Flagyl is still okay after being kept in the cupboard for 5 weeks now? Thanks everyone, will look to see if any suggestions coming my way. xx

Hi Pixie, many thanks for the very useful link (and concerning article..uhmm) to the site re Giardia. Having read it, all becomes clear as to why no one has diagnosed Percy before even with a fecal test.. and now I see that it's very difficult to eradicate and can come back after treatment. I'm sure all his gut problems from when I had him at 6 weeks was due to this but not been treated until now, even with him going mad trying to itch his vent with his little feet, now it's clear why that was going on. What a WONDERFUL site this is and all my thanks to you and others like you who give advice, links, help, empathy and just plain friendliness to those who post on here. I feel so much better actually knowing more about this condition and I now wonder if (as it says there re liver) Percy's liver condition could have been brought on by this awful parasite! Thank you again, I will keep you posted from time to time to let you know how he goes on. xx

Hi, Percy is coming up to 4 yrs old, have had him since 6 weeks and although always lively, good chatter and very loving, has had poo problems since he first arrived. Eventually my avian vet diagnosed an enlarged liver - after x-ray. Percy's poo problems didn't get better until end of last year when the vet him a course of antibiotics and mentioned it "could" be a parasite in his intestines. The antibiotics worked brill and his poo back to normal, then gradually after a few months the poo prob returned. Took him to vets yesterday and he mentioned the parasite again... "gia.. " something, does anyone know of one sounding like that. Percy's now on antibiotics again once a day for one week, then one week off for three weeks (total administration of antibiotics). He's also given Percy vitimans to sprinkle on his food so I've started that today. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what this parasite is please and just to say that for a long long time now I've heard a clicking sound coming from his vent which I'm sure is to do with the parasite. Would be grateful for any help re this problem and if anyone knows if this can improve. Thank you so much xx

Hi, saw your posting about budgie itching her botty with her feet..... mine does that and has done for a few years now on and off. He has a few health probs, mainly enlarged liver (had him xrayed) but his poo has always been "different", sometimes loose... hard, stringy... all white, sometimes green, sometimes grey. Had him under the vet from early age, no one seems to be able to do anything, but when he itches I just wash his vent off and dab him dry and he's okay for a while then. I think it's cos at times his poo is wet and must irritate him... I did think about worms but he's never "ill", doesn't show signs of illness only just the occasional wet poo and sometimes sleeps a lot. I keep wondering what the itching indicates but never found out, even here reading the postings.. sigh. Guess we just have to do what we can and keep them going okay. Take care and I hope ur little girl goes along okay. x

Hi, just had x-ray done of my little budgie (3.5 yrs old) and he has an enlarged liver. Vet said to use antibiotics at the moment and try to get him on reduced fat food. I know seed is fatty for them but he will hardly eat greens and veg even if offered every day. I just read that millet is lower in fat than seed is this true and if so can you buy it other than on the stalks? Vet gave me parrot pellets to crush and mix with his seed but knowing how fussy he is I don't think he will eat it alone if I reduced seed and increased that... sigh, any help would be great if anyone else has had budgie with similar ailment. Thanks very much for any comments/advice.

I'm sorry to hear about your budgie pixie, that's awful.... I hope all goes well for him/her. I'm taking Percy to the vet today for the x-ray... dreading leaving him there even if for a few hours :-( should of course know more later.... he isn't poohing properly tho never has done but not such much urine now.... and very little pooh anyway. The vet thinks the tumour is pressing inside to impede things.. we shall see. Thanks for all your words of encouragement, I will keep you posted. xx

After my other posts of how Percy (blue budgie) previously diagnosed with liver damage and has since young (he's 3.5 yrs old now) had green/white/grey, soft/hard/watery droppings and had gut infection et al, I took him to another avian vet today! Percy has been constipated and straining to go lately and I felt that he had a small lump in his belly and this vet said "Yes it's a mass, possibly a renal tumour". I'm devastated, although I knew that Percy hasn't been 100% with health, he's always lively, chirping, talking lots, very affectionate, NEVER bites.. understands what you say.. I'd never have believed how intelligent these lovely birds are! The vet has given him anti inflammation drops (meant for dogs it says on the packet..eeek) and I'm giving him a drop or two of Lactulose to help with the constipation, tho the vet thinks the straining is because of the tumour, also the tail bobbing due to it pressing on the lower air sacs and maybe the dropping problems too but can be caused by the liver damage. The vet said he would x-ray Percy to establish what the tumour is, how large et al and I think I should get this done, but does anyone have any experience of what the birds go through and if the prognosis is as bad as I think it's gonna be? If anyone can give me some thoughts on the matter please I'd be very appreciative. I am so upset over this news. Thank you for ur help.

Hi thanks for everyone's suggestions... I think I might try the "How clean is your House" one.... also come to think of it, maybe even leave the Wrigleys Chewing gum about (before eating of course (Laughing out loud)) as it I can at least smell that in the room when it's there. As for budgies smelling... nooooo I don't think it's budgie smell at all, more like.. food, sandpaper... you know the "pet shop" smell and as I can't open the window too often I think it's more stale air than anything. Thanks for your help and if anyone does find out the perfect (smile) solution to this I'd love to know. KOKO folks xx :grbud:

Hi, just wondering what others use (if anything) to keep the air smelling a bit sweeter than of seed and bird. I have Percy with his cage in our small sitting room, he has the flight of the room unless we are out then I shut him in the cage. I can't often open the window in the room mainly because it's behind a heavy secondary glazing unit, but also because we are on a main road and fumes come in, although at certain times I open just to recirculate the air. Obviously under those conditions, although I have a small oscillating fan on during the summer, the air is stale and smells of "bugie"..... is there any natural product I can put in the room that won't affect Percy? I have noticed one thing, we often eat chewing gum and leave unopened packets in the room.... and when I go in there in the morning I can smell the gum more than the bird stuff (Laughing out loud).... is there anything like this that would do a similar trick do you know? Thanks for taking the time to read this and many thanks for any answers you can give me.

Hi, just wanted to come in here as looking through your posts and esp the pics of the droppings of your budgie, they are very similar to my birds, only with more white or green and lots of urine. They've been like that since I had him at 6 weeks, 3 yrs ago. He's had blood and faecal tests and the result is that he has a damaged liver. He is well in all other ways, eats and drinks good but was ill the other week with gut infection, I don't know if caused by the liver probs but he had antibiotics and it helped him over that tho the droppings haven't changed. I feel more that it's constipation... just a feeling and sometimes he strains to go and since I've had him (happy little soul) his droppings change from green and wet to white cloudy, from solid and stringy to loose and sometimes solid grey but never really "normal". Reading what others have said I am wondering if he has kidney problem too... my vet doesn't really know what to give him apart from probiotics which doesn't help. As for the blood test I don't think it was a big deal for my baby, he is very good and I just needed to know what was wrong with him so I really had to have it done. I just wish I could find out what's wrong and if anything can be done and with what you show in your pics it seems so much the same as my baby's (silly woman me) problem. I do hope you get it sorted, can you let me know please what they come up with as I would dearly love to find out what's wrong with my baby too. Good luck, I do hope all goes well for your little birdie xx