Hi, new to this but wondered if you could help please? Pet budgie is three yrs old and since I bought him at 6wks his droppings have been either like water or grey and white, and then sometimes hard. The vet did a blood test said the bird had adamaged liver but can't help with the gut problem apart from course antibiotics and of probiotics which didn't help. The budgie is nearly always lively, not fluffled up, moults a lot and sleeps a lot when a little "unwell", but is in good health otherwise. He lately is "straining" but nothing comes out, then when it does it can be a hard dropping or the soft and stains greenish. I'm at a loss as to what I can give him, he is a seed eater, rarely touches fruit or greens when given, drinks good amounts of water. I have recently put him on vitamin drink, but the dropping problem persists, so is this constipation and if so what can I do? I would appreciate some advice please because I just don't know what to do. Many thanks to anyone who can help me out. Thank you xx

Well I?m not a vet so any information I give is just from what I have seen and done

Its always best to seek a vets help that?s what there trained for

Maybe you need to change vets

Its like when you go to the doctors and your not satisfied with his opinion well it?s the same with vets some are specialists in there field and some are just general vets

So I would look for an avian vet

 

Well heres my 2 cents worth remember I ?m not a vet so don?t take what I say as word okay

First look at the seed is it a balance mix try a different mix being one bird don?t buy 5kg packs of food as the seed goes stale

Introduce some grit into his diet you can buy shell grit for budgies in small packs

Don?t feed him to much green stuff

I feed mine lettice every three days or spinach

If you introduced the vitamins supplement recently stop it and see if the bird improves

It?s a case of trial and error don?t make major changes just do little things and wait to see if the bird improves

But remember it?s always best to seek a vet?s advice as they can put his droppings under a microscope and do tests to see if it?s an infection or failing internal organs

 

well I hope this helps and all the best

I'm sorry your bird isn't feeling well. I'd schedule another trip to the vet's if I were you. The liver damage is probably what's causing the green color to the droppings, since you say he has always been like that. Sometimes it will cause them to be somewhat yellowish too. Unfortunately, I know from experience excessive water intake can be due to kidney failure. If his kidneys and/or liver is failing, he will have trouble eliminating normal toxins from his system. Does he still eat well, or has he begun to pick around the seeds more than eat them? I would definitely not give him grit, as less than healthy birds tend to overindulge in it and it causes digestive problems anyway, which is not something you need right now. The vet should be able to do a physical exam and let you know if any tumors exist. If he does not think tumors are present, that's good news. Have you done a google search for holistic bird care? That may also be an option for you to look at and discuss with your vet. If your bird just has weak or diseased organs and not tumors, many times diet can be an effective treatment. Keep us informed.

Hi hommer and rainbow, many thanks for your help on my budgie and his droppings problem (liver damage too). The vet seems at a loss as to what to do so that's why i'm trying to seek help from others who may have had similar probs. He is a good eater tho mainly eats seeds, drinks a fair amount too so no problems there. Just he gets clagged up sometimes. The vet did blood and fecal tests, nowt wrong with the droppings he said, just liver damage from the blood test.. ugh. The droppings are plain or milky water at times, or loose or hard and stringy, so it varies, he sleeps a lot at times, not all the time and sort of arches the bottom part of his back opposite the vent too when sitting on the perch. All this is very mystifying to me and no one seems to know the whole ansa. His claws and beak grow fast too which i read somewhere on here that is down to liver problems, so at least I know that's the cause. Just wanted to know if he suffers constipation and IF there is something people give them for it..... it's so frustrating as it's been like this for 3 yrs now, but he's a darling bird and very lively most times. I feel so sad I can't make him better. Thanks for your interest again guys xxxx

If you could interest him in veggies they may help him to loosen him up a bit,but I know that's easier said then done.

Please DON'T try my next suggestion until someone on here says whether it is right or wrong but I was just wondering if a little cod liver oil mixed in his seeds would do any good? I seem to remember reading that somewhere in the dim and distant past but please wait and see if anybody knows.

Julie

On the BBC website there is also the Aloe Vera recipe for giving your budgie healthy insides, might be worth a try.

Thanks so much for your advice Julie and cooper. Can you please tell me where I can find the aloe vera recipe/advice please cooper as I am new to this and don't know my way around? Thanks ever so much anyway, I'm really wracking my brains as to what I can do for my little baby.... he's lively enough but not right if you know what I mean. Take care and thanks again x

I hope your budgie gets well soon!!!

Well lots of greens should in theory loosen the bird up but they could also have an adverse effect as an animal with diarrhea will become sick too

Cod - liver oil is good too but remember to only apply it sparingly to the birds food and wash out containers on a regular basis

Well I wish you all the best and here?s hoping your little friend gets well soon

check this page for the aloe vera stuff, it might not help, but it definately wont do any harm

 

BBC aloevera stuff

or

http://www.budgiebreeders.asn.au/aloevmc.htm

 

:doctor:

http://www.holisticbird.org/

 

You might want to have a look at this site. I got a lot of information there when Rainbow was sick. The search function is great, just type in liver or kidney or whatever you want and you may find some good information there. If you find something you think has promise, call your vet and ask about it. There aren't many holistic avian vets, but I think your vet would be willing to discuss treatment options.

Edited March 24, 200520 yr by Rainbow

Hi thanks everyone for your help, what a lovely lot you are to be so concerned I'm really touched. Am now looking up the things everyone has given me so will keep on trying to find the solution if I can. He's still up and down with the droppings if u know what I mean.. sometimes wet, sometimes loose, sometimes hard sometimes stringy....(sigh), but at least he doesn't show that he's ill or sits there moping which is a blessing. Will keep you posted and if there's anything else I need to ask I hope you don't mind me posting a notice? Thanks again everyone xxxx