Booboo has just got back from three days of expensive vet treatment as she was fluffed up, lethargic, had watery droppings, was underweight, not eating or making any sound.

 

For the last two days she has been eating excessively, constantly going to her seed tray, and I have been giving her millet and spinach as the vet said she was underweight (38 grams). It's as though she is starving ...

 

I have just noticed some watery droppings again. Should I take her food away for a while? I really don't want her to get sick again. Apart from that she seems fine.

 

Please help...

 

:hap:

Edited October 12, 200618 yr by Eily

It really depends on what the budgie is eating. All of it comes down to energy. If they're eating a ton of seed (especially millet) they're going to have to eat a LOT of it in order to get the energy they need just for normal activities. And that means they also get a lot of fat as well. If they're eating more fresh foods, sprouts, etc., you'll *probably* see a decrease in how much is being eaten because they don't need to eat as much to get the energy they need. :hap:

But why the watery droppings again? I noticed she drank quite a bit more water than usual this morning.. Could that be it?

It could be stress from the stay at the vet. She could also still be getting over her illness. Is she on any medication? If so, do you give it orally with a syringe or does she have it in her water?

 

If it doesn't clear up soon, I'd give the vet a call and ask his/her advice.

 

Also, 38 grams doesn't seem underweight at all. In fact, it sounds just about right, possibly a little overweight. You may want to call another avian vet for their opinion as well, just in case this one doesn't have very much budgie experience.

The vet gave us Baycox drops for Booboo. One drop was given orally yesterday and today I put a drop on a spinach leaf and she ate it. We have to give three drops this week then resume the medication again in five days. I checked Booboo's droppings and they are looking normal again but she is still eating heaps.

 

I thought 38 grams was okay too but have often thought Booboo looks small compared to a lot of other budgies I've seen. On examination the bird clinic vet commented that Booboo was thin.

 

We went to two vets.. first we went to a general vet who knew a bit about birds and because Booboo wasn't getting any better he referred us to a very expensive bird specialist clinic. I don't think there is anyone who knows a lot about budgies. I get the impression that most people don't take their pet budgies to see vets and just let them die because they are inexpensive to buy.

 

:budgiedance:

Edited October 12, 200618 yr by Eily

Does she get other veggies besides spinach? Spinach has calcium binding properties, meaning it interferes with the body's ability to use calcium. I don't think this has anything to do with her issues, but I would limit how much she eats anyway.

 

I have to say, in the picture, she doesn't look like a thin budgie at all! (Laughing out loud).

 

Give the vet a call and ask about those droppings. He/she may have some idea of what's going on.

I was thinking the same terri, 38 grams is quite normal. my sugar was 52g when she went to the vet last month, but shes an english budgie, so they are a little heavier, but she still is fat! (Laughing out loud)

 

i hope it all clears up, but i wouldnt take any food away.

 

i would also think if she drank a lot earlier that probably the culpret.

 

and i also agree that sometimes the "avian" vets specialize more in the big birds, and dont see many budgies due to the price

She may just be feeling better and has her appetite back. Normally seeds will firm up the feces. If you have to give the drops in the water, do not give any veggies or cooked food that she could get moisture from, as she may not be drinking the water if she is getting liquid elsewhere in the diet. Also, depending upon the side effects of the meds, increased appetite and water intake may be normal. I know steroidal drugs will cause excessive thirst and food intake, so its possible the Baycox may do the same. Call the vet and ask them if there are any side effects to the meds. While you have them on the phone, let them know about the stools changing again. I would guess the excess water is from the spinach, as most veggies have a high water content. More water in equals more water out.

 

And if BooBoo is not an English budgie, 38 grams is more than enough for her to weigh. She does not look thin in your signature at all. Can you easily feel her keel bone?

Booboo is doing great, in fact she seems to have more energy than she ever had. Is getting out of the cage, flying around, chirping, singing, head bobbing.

 

Spinach and lettuce is the only other thing she will eat apart from millet and seed. I bought some sprouts yesterday for both budgies and they have completely ignored them. I put a Baycox drop on a spinach leaf this morning which she consumed. In five days we have to give her the Baycox again.

 

I'm still keeping a close eye on her and her droppings which appear normal.

 

Edited October 13, 200618 yr by Eily

Good to hear Booboo is doing better.

I still don't think my bird is quite right though. She is eating and drinking more than she ever did and doing large droppings, some of them watery. She is extremely energetic and noisy though with no sign of lethargy or fluffed feathers. I'm still a bit worried. :glare:

If birds have any watery droppings, the first thing I would do is take all green food away and just feed dry seed, if this persists try somr oral anibiotics such as avicycline this may well do the tric.

 

cheers

Eily, have you given the vet a call?

If birds have any watery droppings, the first thing I would do is take all green food away and just feed dry seed, if this persists try somr oral anibiotics such as avicycline this may well do the tric.

 

cheers

 

Thanks I will try that. Booboo's droppings are normal today and I haven't seen any water in them. I am trying to avoid another trip to the vet if possible as her appearance, energy and noise levels are good.

If birds have any watery droppings, the first thing I would do is take all green food away and just feed dry seed, if this persists try somr oral anibiotics such as avicycline this may well do the tric.

 

cheers

 

Thanks I will try that. Booboo's droppings are normal today and I haven't seen any water in them. I am trying to avoid another trip to the vet if possible as her appearance, energy and noise levels are good.

 

I'd skip the oral antibiotics if I were you. Having worked in a veterinary surgery, I can tell you that it is best not to give OTC antibiotics, and none especially that were not prescribed by an avian vet. You do not know what interactions they may have with the medications BooBoo has already been on. I do agree with restricting veggies until everything normalizes. Seed and millet will be fine for a short while. After all meds are finished and you are sure BooBoo is healthy again you can start to re-introduce other foods. That is my opinion.

I'd skip the oral antibiotics if I were you. Having worked in a veterinary surgery, I can tell you that it is best not to give OTC antibiotics, and none especially that were not prescribed by an avian vet. You do not know what interactions they may have with the medications BooBoo has already been on. I do agree with restricting veggies until everything normalizes. Seed and millet will be fine for a short while. After all meds are finished and you are sure BooBoo is healthy again you can start to re-introduce other foods. That is my opinion.

 

I don't intend to give Booboo any OTC meds at all. She has had her three Baycox drops for coccidiosis as prescribed by the bird vet and we were told to resume them in 5 days which we will. I won't give her any greens for a few days and will regularly check her droppings to see if there is a difference.