Hi, Percy is coming up to 4 yrs old, have had him since 6 weeks and although always lively, good chatter and very loving, has had poo problems since he first arrived. Eventually my avian vet diagnosed an enlarged liver - after x-ray. Percy's poo problems didn't get better until end of last year when the vet him a course of antibiotics and mentioned it "could" be a parasite in his intestines. The antibiotics worked brill and his poo back to normal, then gradually after a few months the poo prob returned. Took him to vets yesterday and he mentioned the parasite again... "gia.. " something, does anyone know of one sounding like that. Percy's now on antibiotics again once a day for one week, then one week off for three weeks (total administration of antibiotics). He's also given Percy vitimans to sprinkle on his food so I've started that today. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me what this parasite is please and just to say that for a long long time now I've heard a clicking sound coming from his vent which I'm sure is to do with the parasite. Would be grateful for any help re this problem and if anyone knows if this can improve. Thank you so much xx

the parasite is giardia. you may find this link usful:

 

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/giardia.html

 

its good you know what it is, now you can go about treating it. hope he gets well soon.

:ausb: Do you mean giardiasis, I thought that was a people intestinal parasites but maybe birds and animals get it as well? Oh, I just saw Pixie's post, glad he is getting treatment.

there are several strains of giardia, the one that infects humans is a different strain to the one that infects birds.

Doesn't sound like a very pleasant thing for man or beast. (or bird) :ausb:

Hi Pixie, many thanks for the very useful link (and concerning article..uhmm) to the site re Giardia. Having read it, all becomes clear as to why no one has diagnosed Percy before even with a fecal test.. and now I see that it's very difficult to eradicate and can come back after treatment. I'm sure all his gut problems from when I had him at 6 weeks was due to this but not been treated until now, even with him going mad trying to itch his vent with his little feet, now it's clear why that was going on. What a WONDERFUL site this is and all my thanks to you and others like you who give advice, links, help, empathy and just plain friendliness to those who post on here. I feel so much better actually knowing more about this condition and I now wonder if (as it says there re liver) Percy's liver condition could have been brought on by this awful parasite!

 

Thank you again, I will keep you posted from time to time to let you know how he goes on.

 

xx

your welcome! the important thing to remember is that although it can be tricky to treat it's not impossible to treat.

 

and yes, please keep us posted regularly on how he is doing.

Hi, as promised an update on Percy's condition. I have given him Flagyl (4 units per day) one week on, then a week off and same again and this week it's his last week on Flagyl so that's over a period of 6 weeks. One thing I don't understand, the vet said no need to keep the antibiotic in the fridge but in a dark cupboard, is it still "active" by doing this over a period of 6 weeks.. I'm not sure?

 

I am also in a quandry whether to give him this last weeks dose as he really hasn't shown a lot of improvement with his droppings and still seems to be in discomfort at times and of course he gets stressed out at me catching him and putting the antibiotics down his throat poor soul. I also keep wondering about the "clicking" I hear coming from the lower half of his body - I assume the vent..... he's always had this and yet the vet says nothing about it. Percy's still lively most of the time but I know the gut problem bothers him which I hate because I feel helpless. Anyone have any ideas as to whether I should give him the last weeks dose and if the Flagyl is still okay after being kept in the cupboard for 5 weeks now? Thanks everyone, will look to see if any suggestions coming my way. xx

Always finish the dosing of medicine, it is important to do this. I am sure it is still active, most medication have an expiration date because of the laws. The best thing you can do right now is call the vet back and get him back in if he is not improving. Did he suggest any type of diet change, to ease his stomach?

Always finish the dosing of medicine, it is important to do this. I am sure it is still active, most medication have an expiration date because of the laws. The best thing you can do right now is call the vet back and get him back in if he is not improving. Did he suggest any type of diet change, to ease his stomach?

 

Hi lovey, thanks for replying. I will continue the last week of Flagyl for him as you say it's important. I will ring the vet next week and ask him what to do next. As for change of diet, he didn't really say but last time gave me pellets for the bird which of course he wouldn't eat even when I crushed them up and put them on top of his food.. nor in a dish other than that - grrr. I am wondering if the problem is this Giardia as I know they give the Flagyl for that.. will have to see what the vet says. Thanks again x

no problem, keep us updated for sure.

no problem, keep us updated for sure.

 

Hi, an update on Percy. After the course of antibiotics I took him back to the vet and asked for probiotics which I'm now giving him. However after my pointing out that Percy had what appeared to be a lump on his tum and asking if that could be the enlarged liver, vet said it wasn't but felt like a fatty tumour..... scream. Can anyone tell me about this, I know budgies are prone to it but with all his other health probs he really doesn't need this does he (sob). Thanks for any help you can give me. xx

hi classy lady. I really don't want to frighten you but it really sounds like the problem I had with Cheeky. His droppings went really wet and he had a clicking noise although he had it when he was breathing. Unfortunately he also had a lump in his tummy which turned out to by lymphoma. Might be worthwhile getting a blood test done asap.

Fingers crossed its not that please let us know how you get on. I'll be thinking about you both! :hugs:

ali

Edited March 31, 200619 yr by Cheeky

hi classy lady. I really don't want to frighten you but it really sounds like the problem I had with Cheeky. His droppings went really wet and he had a clicking noise although he had it when he was breathing. Unfortunately he also had a lump in his tummy which turned out to by lymphoma. Might be worthwhile getting a blood test done asap.

Fingers crossed its not that please let us know how you get on. I'll be thinking about you both! :hugs:

ali

Hi Cheeky, many thanks for letting me know about this.... I am really getting worried in case it is similar to what you experienced. I have to phone the vet in a week or so... will tell him about things and how the probiotics are helping (or not) Percy. Am dreading any bad scenario... but will take one day at a time. Thanks again for posting.. I will let you know how we get on in a week or so. Thanks xxx

oh im really sorry i didn't mean to worry you. i just couldn't live with myself if i didnt say anything and your wee baby had the same problem. I have everything crossed for you and im sure i'm just being over sensitive.!!!

oh im really sorry i didn't mean to worry you. i just couldn't live with myself if i didnt say anything and your wee baby had the same problem. I have everything crossed for you and im sure i'm just being over sensitive.!!!

Hi Ali, please don't worry... I can well understand about u knowing what it's like and if you didn't say anything how you would feel, I'd be the same. Thank you SO much for your words of comfort...I am just taking each day as it comes with him, he is very lively though which belies his condition with the enlarged liver and the lump and whatever is wrong with him in his gut. He just keeps on keeping on for which I'm glad but I know he's not as he should be... so hopefully the vet will come up with something when I telephone him. Thanks again for your help and after reading all your problems my heart really goes out to you with what you went through - hoping of course Percy won't go down that same road, but with these little fellows you never know do you? Take care.. thank you again xx

 

Chrissie x

hey chrissie, hows percy doing today??

hey chrissie, hows percy doing today??

Hi Ali, he seems a little better today after a few days on the probiotics.. still worried about his droppings though as they are never the same each time poor little devil. He's still happy and chirping away, just that occasionally he stops and you know he's "not right".... never sure if he's in pain or not but it doesn't last long. Thanks for asking Ali.. it's really nice of you to keep in touch. Will post again when I've contacted the vet.... have a nice day.. take care

Chrissie x

thats good he's chirpy! fingers crossed!!

Hey classylady, do you have an update on Percy??

Hey classylady, do you have an update on Percy??

 

Hi Cheeky..... yep sorry not to have got back sooner, but been busy with one thing and another. Took Percy off the probiotics as he didn't seem so good on them. Since then he's not been 100% - think he was going that way anyway. His poops are not like little pellets mostly, or water.... but hardish and grey.... no urates... Have just started giving him a little lactulose cos I think he is constipated. Will ring the vet to let him know how things are but this has been going on so long I really don't know what they can do next. With Percy's enlarged liver and the gut/poop problem that he's always had I am at my wits end as to know how to help him as I'm sure the vets are running out of ideas. Don't know if Giardia which the vet suspected he had, does this to budgies pooh.... just wish I knew how to go on from here. Apart from that he's chirpy mostly, sleeping a bit more of an evening now since the probiotics... so not as lively as he was.

 

Wondered if anyone else had any ideas.... or what I can do next? Appreciate some comments please.

Thanks Cheeky it's nice of you to keep in touch. xx

Hi, I wanted to update you about Percyas I took him to the vets yesterday because after a short course of Ornicure, he was no better with the infection/vent scratching etc etc, in fact just as he's always been. As we know through diagnositc xray Percy has an enlarged liver, so we know things aren't really great for him, however he is still as chirpy and happy as ever with only the occasional "whimper" as though something is wrong. With the vet visit yesterday, he said that he now felt the infection/scratching of the vent could well be Chlamydia and indeed could even be an infection in his liver. Reading between the lines I think the vet feels there's not an awful lot that can be done but isn't giving up yet.

 

He has recommended we keep him on Ornicure for 42 days, with a sprinkle of Avi-pro (probiotics) on his food every other day. He said to see how that goes on and after 4 - 6 weeks he will evaluate the situation. I am DREADING that day, but then I am not going to look ahead. Percy is still the same as he's always been but to see him trying to scratch his vent is heartbreaking. I am trusting to luck that the Ornicure will help him this time, he's been on other antibiotics which help for a time... I know I'm expecting miracles really, but he's my darling, I must try everything though not to the cost of him suffering as I would never allow that to happen.

 

I would just like to ask here, has anyone any experience of enlarged livers in budgies, infection of the liver, Chlamydia etc etc? If you have, could you possibly let me know of how you got through it with your bird please, I would be so appreciative if you could - many thanks.

 

I will of course update as and when I can, thank you for listening and caring.

 

love

Chrissie x

:ausb: Poor Percy, it has really been a long haul for him but at least he is still happy and enjoying life. May this latest treatment work for him and you. :dbb1:

oh poor little thing!! i have everything crossed for him!!