"chipmunk" finch

[jniner]

Hi, discussed this a bit under the Avipow subject, figured I would get better answers with a new thread. I have a 2 month old BB Gouldian fledgling, who about a month ago started looking ill. I've treated with Trimeth-Sulfa, Amoxitex/Ronex mix, and most recently Medistatin (nystatin powder). Took him (I think it's a "him") to the vet on Oct. 28th, they didn't find anything crazy in the poo check. Vet consulted with an avian specialist, he thinks might be yeast/fungal so have ordered fluconazole as prescribed. Apparently nystatin was not quite strong enough in their opinion (plus they are not quite sure as they have never seen this before). And quite frankly neither have I, but I've only been working with finches for about 3 years.

I'm hoping someone out there may have had some kind of experience like this before, and might be able to offer any suggestions/advice/etc. on this condition.

little Chipper

side view of Chip

other side

If he looks "pink" its because of the red heat lamp I have on one side of his cage!

[debbie276]

Check these pictures
https://ladygouldian.com/node/223
maybe a start to a sinus infection? I'd email Laraine and see if she's ever seen such a thing.

[jniner]

Hmm, it does look somewhat like that first picture, but without the nasty look around the eye... He's very active, eating, flying, etc. No discharge from nostrils either. The poo is still a bit off, but after nystatin treatment it's MUCH better (firmer, formed, etc). Still a bit on the yellowing looking side, but getting better every day.

I'll try the stuff coming from the vet, and see what happens. I may call them next week and ask them about sinus infection as a possibility also... he did say the cheeks appeared to be somewhat firm, so maybe... I sure do not want to lance that! Ugh!

[jniner]

It's been a while so I wanted to give an update on Chip. I had treated him with itraconazole (not sure on spelling, I'm doing this from work) but it was a special mix and not fluconazole as I previously posted. Gave him that for a few weeks, daily, which he hated! One cheek seemed to go down, but after 3 weeks the other side didn't really seem like any change. This treatment was for fungus, as the vet thought it was this after his consultation with a renowned avian vet at Akron zoo.

Took him back to vet Monday, he agreed the previous med was not doing anything anymore. Checked the poo (which has been like diarrhea), no yeast, NO megabacteria (yeah!), no fungus. There was, however, some spore forming bacteria found. He decided to take a sample from his one remaining swollen cheek (I held Chip so he could get the needle stuck in there to get sample!) YIKES!! Did a slide of that, also found spore forming bacteria. He said to be sure what kind it was, would have to grow a specimen sample, from cheek & poo, about $250 total - well I opted away from that, that's pretty pricey for a test to me. So he suggested we try something that could help, for bacterial treatment, Clindamycin, so I left with that and gave him first dose that night.

So at Wed treatment, he was looking bad... he didn't make a poo before I went upstairs after taking care of everyone. Went down Thurs am, found 4 poos on bottom, a couple looked kinda dark, the other two were yellowy but actually starting to look like a tube again, yeah! Maybe the meds made him constipated, and then it all came out at once? So last night, Friday, I am dosing meds and OMG I think I aspirated him!! I was freaking out!! Heard him gasping, wheezing, sounding like there is fluid in lung for sure! Oh no, my poor baby, just when you're starting to get better! Pretty sure there is nothing you can do when this happens, but I thought "well, I can try to hold him upside down, maybe it will come out!" so I did that, lightly tapping on his back at same time. Poor thing, prolly couldn't figure out what the heck was going on! Still wheezing, so I left him for the night and hoped for the best, but all the time expecting the worst. All I could think of afterwards was "oh, geez, what if I just coated his WHOLE lung with the stuff??!!"

Thinking I'd be finding his little body on cage bottom the next morning, I looked and saw he was still alive - Oh Joy!! He's definitely not 100%, but at least still alive! He was eating when I left for work, so I'm hoping he will be ok. I'm very leery about giving him another dose of meds tonight, that's for sure. Perhaps I'll just do a tiny bit, just to make sure he gets some... I only have to give it to him for 3 more days....

Wish me luck! Jeannine

[lyzzyjayne]

Oh good grief! Bless you both!

[jniner]

Well, I lost him last night/early this morning. I was kind of expecting it, but also hoping for a miracle that he would make it. Poor baby, he was getting better from the meds too... bummer.

[debbie276]

Oh no...I'm so very sorry for your loss

[finchmix22]

That is so sad, but you worked very hard to save the little guy. Rest in Peace Chipper! I've had several finches over the years die from "something" we didn't know the cause. All we can do is try the antibiotics or fungal or protzoa treatments and pray for the best. Unless I have an expensive finch, I really can't afford the vet lab costs, but I've paid them before with only minimal answers, so it's a gamble either way. You did your best! Sorry he didn't make it.

[Sally]

So sorry you lost him. I agree with Deborah, you can spend a lot of money on lab tests with inconclusive results--very frustrating. It seems that often with finches, it is difficult to get a good diagnosis, and without knowing exactly what is going on, it is very difficult to know what meds will be effective.