I have got Pippin booked in to see an avian vet tomorrow evening. He has brown staining over his cere which he seems to suffer with a lot. He has also been sneezing a lot over the last week or so and the feathers above his cere are fairly wet. He is going through a heavy moult at the moment and seems to be off his food a little. My concern is what type of treatment do they normally give for this type of thing. Is it an injection or is it drops. I am getting quite anxious about taking him as he has only ever been to see a vet once before to have his little toe nails trimmed and she made him bleed !!!. Needless to say I am not going to the same vet. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Hi HoppySpadge - Brown staining could be any number of things...? Though I presume he has been vomiting. This could be anything from trichomoniasis (a protozoan bug), a yeast infection (like a fungus growing in his crop), to megabacteria (a big type of long yeast-like bug), to any number of other conditions (eg. is it poisoning from him chewing sth - eg. zinc from galvanized cage wire???). Maybe it's a type of bacterial infection (although unless something has gone septic inside him, sounds unlikely). However, he may need antibiotics if it also looks like he's getting a secondary infection (eg. the sneezing sounds like a secondary respiratory infection building up, but I wouldn't think he would vomit from this)...

 

In short, make sure the vet gives Pippin a crop examination (takes liquid out of his crop and views under microscope) and a droppings check under the microscope. Don't accept anything less - ie. the vet just gives you medicine thinking that it's disease A or B.

 

Under the microscope, you can see many of the above pathogens. If the microscope work shows "all clear", then a blood test may also be appropriate (unfortunately via the jugular vein usually). But remember that the benefits of this outweight the minor discomforts to the Pippin. You're doing the right thing...

 

If you get medicine, it is probably most likely that you'll need to give him drops of some type or another (or put medicine in his water - depends on the medicine really). If unsure, I'm certain everyone here will give some tips on the "how to's".

 

If they offer some medicine that requires a huge dose dumped down his crop (and you think that he can't manage), even consider leaving him in vet hospital for the next 3 days. If he hasn't been eating, ask them to crop tube him some food before you go. The main thing is getting it into him.

 

Also make sure you are seeing an Avian Vet. Others - despite good intentions, usually don't have much of a clue about birds. Also best to invest in a digital gram scale and weigh him each day of his sickness. If after medicine, he's not looking better after 24-48hrs (eg. and he's losing weight = he's going downhill), ring the Avian vet again and let them know. Never assume that "I guess that's all they can do". A good avian vet is quite resourceful and can also perhaps come up with an alternative or additional treatment.

 

Remember that birds hide illness, so if he's showing it well and truly now. He's likely to be quite a sick little guy. Good on you for taking him to the vet. You've done the right thing. You'll hopefully also feel a bit better after you know he's getting good medical treatment. Hope to hear how he's doing down the track - thoughts with you and Pippin... Turbs.

I am sure someone who has been through this will be better at answering this. But mostly what I have read people with sick birds will get a liquid antibiotic to put in the birds mouth. The vet will tell you the correct dose to give.

 

The injections I have only read about for mites. But I may be wrong.

If it is an infection of some sort and it is severe, sometimes they will administer the first dose of antibiotics via injection to get the medicine to him faster. Arctic had a severe bacterial infection months ago and had to get his first dose of medicine through an injection but after that it was oral. :ausb:

 

It really all depends on what is wrong. I'm sure everything will go okay, try not to worry too much. :hap:

:hap: Good luck with your little one! Like e-terri says, common practise is to give them an injection if they have an infection and then give them oral meds for about 10 days. Never thought I could do it myself about 10 years ago but I am very good at it now. Again, you don't know if it is an infection or not, the avian vet will let you know for sure as it could be a number of things.

Thanks for all your comments and advice. I will let you know how he has gone on later

Just got back from the vets with Pippin. The vet gave him a thorough check up and seems to think he has a sinus problem as he has had the staining for some time. He has had an injection of Baytril and the vet has given me some to put in his water daily. Pippin has to go back next week for a follow up examination. Poor little thing is sat with his back to me now, he can't believe what his mum has done to him. Not a happy little bunny at all. Maybe a little treat of millet may bring him round :budgiedance: