Vinnie has been making since I got him what sounds like a squeaking sound. It "sounds" like a little cold, and it "looks" like he is coughing as his chest goes in and out. Most of the time there is no sound when he is doing this, and then every now and then there is a squeaking.

Could the feather mites that he has (that I am treating at the moment) be causing this? Like irritating him or something? But why would they cause that type of sound. It definitely soundsssss like a squeaking sound....

I just know I am going to have to take him to the vet.....and I have only had him for like 2 weeks.....arghhhhhh I wasn't expecting vet bills this early in the piece. But the sound he is making doesn't seem to be going away.

Could be respiratory infection or air sac mites. Either way he will need treatment a.s.a.p I give mine Avametic 1 drop behind head at first sign of illness. warmth etc.

I know others use different things but you would need to know what he is suffering from. Do you have any meds on hand?

Unfortunately not Robyn. I don't have any meds here.

I am considering booking in with the avian vets that I have taken my other birds to in the past.

I suspect that he came to me with this and the feather mites. I'm kind of annoyed that I bought him like that.....but I would never consider taking him back, as I have now grown attached to him

I am tryinggggg to catch him on video doing it, as I just KNOW that once I transport him to the vets he won't do the sound and I will look like I am dreaming things lol

The same thing happened when I took him back to the breeders to get advice. As soon as he got to the breeders he perked up big time and was chirping etc.....

But when he is here, and settled.....you can hear the squeaking sound every now and then.....

arghhhhhhhh so frustrated!

 

I ended up finallllllly getting his 'squeaking' sound on video......

 

The feather mites and the squeaking sound will be unrelated. The squeaking sound could be lack of iodine, easily fixed by adding an iodine block to the cage but more easily if you can add 7 drops of aqueous iodine to his water.

Just rang the vets.....$90 for initial consult.......hrmmmm......

Wonder whether I should just do the iodine block that you suggested Kaz.....

Do you think the squeaking sounds like that could be the issue?

He is upbeat separate to this issue....he is singing right now....to the birds outside.....

$90 is a lot if it is just iodine deficiency...

The squeaking sounds if not a respiratory issue are iodine deficiency usually. A chemist can make you up a small bottle of aqueous iodine also called lugolls iodine

So do you just ask the chemist to mix it up?

I might head down to the shops now and get some. What amount would you give if they make it up for me?

The feather mites and the squeaking sound will be unrelated. The squeaking sound could be lack of iodine, easily fixed by adding an iodine block to the cage but more easily if you can add 7 drops of aqueous iodine to his water.

as above.......sorry.............7 drops per litre

Edited March 19, 201213 yr by **KAZ**

Am at the chemist. All they have is Aqueous iodine solution apf. Lugols solution. Does that sound right?

Sounds like this is the right one.....based on it being called Lugols solution......hopefully lol Don't want to kill my budgie!!!

 

 

That's the one Louise. As Kaz said 7 drops a litre. Thinking about it if it was air sac etc. and he's had it for 2 weeks or more he would be pretty sick so maybe the Iodine is more likely.

Thats it

I must say I had to giggle when the chemist what I needed it for......

They told me to make sure that it was the right one, as they didn't want me to come back and say that they killed my bird LOL

I must say that was on a par with having to go into a chemist and ask for laxative for my cat LOL prescribed by the vet lol

Will start him on it tonight

 

How often should I give it to him? Do I keep him on it for a week? or is it a once off?

Give it to him for a week and see how he is then...........reduce the amount of drops if your drinker is smaller of course

Should the iodine be having an effect by now? He is still squeaking. Might need to bite the bullet and take him to the vets.

If it's Iodine deficiency, it will take a while for it to help. If he's not showing any other signs of illness just continue with the drops as advised by Kaz for now and see how he goes. I had a cock bird that needed Iodine and his cere turned brown. It was a few weeks before he returned to blue.

Should the iodine be having an effect by now? He is still squeaking. Might need to bite the bullet and take him to the vets.

If he is tail bobbing it will be respiratory and will need the vet

Should the iodine be having an effect by now? He is still squeaking. Might need to bite the bullet and take him to the vets.

If he is tail bobbing it will be respiratory and will need the vet

I've decided that I'm going to take him to the vet this afternoon. I was sitting with a client this morning in the lounge and I could hear him 'squeaking' for a good minute constantly.....so vet visit this arvo!

His tail does bob also, so I think the best will be to just take him in.

Thanks Kaz and robyn!

Hi Louise I just read through this post & noticed when Kaz mentioned Iodine block.

 

You didn't say that it was already in place. Was that just an oversight? Yours B.J.

We went to the vets today and it wasn't iodine deficiency. He has gastro, and phlegm in his throat and excessive bacteria in his poo. So they have prescribed him medication twice a day.....

 

Bird Junky......I had only had him for a few days and he was starting to squeak so I doubt not having the iodine block would have worked that quickly. I would say that I got him like this from the breeder.

But all sorted now. He has his medication plus an iodine block.

We went to the vets today and it wasn't iodine deficiency. He has gastro, and phlegm in his throat and excessive bacteria in his poo. So they have prescribed him medication twice a day.....

 

Bird Junky......I had only had him for a few days and he was starting to squeak so I doubt not having the iodine block would have worked that quickly. I would say that I got him like this from the breeder.

But all sorted now. He has his medication plus an iodine block.

 

Hi Glad to hear your little friend is on the road to recovery. Don't mind me. I'm always putting my foot in it.....Yours B.J.

Great news Louise, now you know exactly what your dealing with it should be all up from here, fingers crossed. I thought on the video it was more like the sound when they get seed husk caught, rather than respiratory. That sound comes every breath and you can hear it like a wheeze, or squeaky door.

No worries B.J.!

Robyn - I agree! It did sound like that......but then there would be times when he would 'squeak' for a little over a minute at a time, which sounded like more than just seed husk getting caught.

Apparently from the swabs of his poo and down his throat they determined that it was gastro.

Hopefullllllly there will be some improvement soon.

 

I guess one side effect of having to give him this attention for the last 3 weeks is that he is starting to get used to my hand even more.....I can now get him onto my hand in the cage and bring him out while still standing on my hand......he is getting better at it.....and I am getting more confident with handling him.....I can tell that I am going to bond pretty closely to this one! he is such a ratbag already lol

Hi Louise, sounds like a great little buddy already. Also sounds like you have found a good vet that knows their business. Always a great back-up.