My budgie is showing the typical signs of illness that are posted all over this forum: A 5-yo male, formerly chirpy, happy, and playful has done a death spiral in the last 3 weeks: listless, puffy, flopping about on his cage floor as if having lost all sense of equilibrium, shaking, unable to balance on his perches for any length of time, constantly at his food trough, yet pooping regularly without any unusual discharge. Short of the simple answer of taking him to an avian vet, what is the standard treatment for a bird exhibiting these typical illness symptoms? Are antibiotics required? What can a vet tell me that already isn't known in the greater budgie-owner population with what appears to be these routine illness features?

My budgie is showing the typical signs of illness that are posted all over this forum: A 5-yo male, formerly chirpy, happy, and playful has done a death spiral in the last 3 weeks: listless, puffy, flopping about on his cage floor as if having lost all sense of equilibrium, shaking, unable to balance on his perches for any length of time, constantly at his food trough, yet pooping regularly without any unusual discharge. Short of the simple answer of taking him to an avian vet, what is the standard treatment for a bird exhibiting these typical illness symptoms? Are antibiotics required? What can a vet tell me that already isn't known in the greater budgie-owner population with what appears to be these routine illness features?

 

We really can't answer you because it could be a number of things, he could have megabateria which is a secondary infection.

You should put him near a heat lamp or hospital cage, he needs to be kept warm, around 28 degrees. budgies are very small they loose their body heat very fast. He probably needs medication and that you need to get from the vet. You can get a antibiotic from pet stores and you could try that.

Cheers

Agree with Splat.......and additionally a bird that "appears" to be eating most often isnt and thats a definite sign of megabacteria. Not saying thats exactly what your bird has but it could be.

 

Dont suggest you buy any antibiotics over the counter and treat willy nilly without a proper diagnosis. Antibiotics dont treat everything.

 

Your bird needs to be seen by an avian vet. The symptoms are not general ill health but serious.

It needs a poop analysis which will show megabacteria rods if its that and antibiotics are not the treatment for mega.

 

Have you picked up the bird and felt the keelbone.....the bone running vertically down the front of its chest ? If sharp its lost serious weight and you need to act.

 

What can a vet tell me that already isn't known in the greater budgie-owner population with what appears to be these routine illness features?

You will never know if you dont go, will you??

 

Avian vet not normal vet.

Thanks Kaz and I totally agree with what you added also.

Terrific and helpful responses. We're off to the avian vet today for a diagnosis for the full analysis.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Sadly, my budgie expired today, an hour before his avian vet appointment. I've learned my lesson the hard way about getting these intelligent but fragile creatures to a proper vet at the first sign of listless behavior. Perhaps a regimen of antibiotics started 3 weeks ago might have provided a different outcome. An amateur autopsy showed the bird was rail thin despite its appearance at the feeder virtually up to the moment of its demise. No other external signs of mites or feather loss. Members at this site were very thoughtful with their responses.

Sorry to hear that Jaxon

So sorry to hear of your loss. We mostly learn the hard way, but the hard lessons are never forgotten. RIP xx

That's a very hard way to learn a lesson, Jaxon. Sorry you lost your little friend.

Did you get a positive diagnosis from the autopsy on what was the problem. May help you in the future, if you get another bird.