Raw, Itchy Bum

[wildbird]

It seems like the problem started when she was given Nystatin & Trimethaprim Sulfate. Could it be a side effect from one of these? I wouldn't put anything more on her & discontinue the drugs. The less stress & handling the better.

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl -- Ooh, interesting reads!
Algae has chlorophyll! If only you could grow algae without mucking up the water and growing gobs of bacteria!
I don't have a juicer, but I do have a food processor. So I could make up that recipe with the kale, coconut, spinach and broccoli. I don't have wheatgrass. I could make that up and mix in some antibiotics

Got her heat lamp up and running.
Unfortunately, just before I popped in the new bulb, she decided to relocate off the floor and into her nest. *sigh*
I guess that's a good thing. Cuddling with her lovey Elvis should help too.
It's there if she wants it. I hope she remembers that the heat lamp = warmth. (Not sure how good bird memory is!)

Made up some new water without ACV.

I have husband out on a mission to find Rescue Remedy, so hopefully we'll have that soon!

Poor Priscilla just keeps getting hit with one thing after another!

I also wonder whether stopping the antibiotics caused a backslide due to her original problem with Twirling/Stargazing. There are no balance issues that I can see, but birds are notoriously good at hiding ailments.

If that's the case, then Amoxitex didn't work and we'd need to re-start the Trimethaprim Sulfa.

I checked and the new batch of Nystatin is en route so hopefully that should arrive within the next day or so. We can try that if she still seems itchy.

[Corkysgirl]

She may be itchy from developing an allergy to the sulfa drug. That is what I suspect. I think she developed the open sores from it and "breakdown" also. Hopefully the Amoxitex will take care of it. Can you put the heat lamp close to the nest where she lays. She can withstand it pretty warm. I keep my lamp atop my cage laying sideways, and I have a thermometer that hangs on the top hanging off the side. If she should get too warm can she go to the other side of the cage, or bottom. My birds never get too warm. I really keep my old lady bird really warm about 80-85 degrees. I guess the others are 75-80 because the lamp isn't right on them directly. I also have a heater on in there...and it's on now. Of course we need it here in the evenings. It's always cool. I just think leaning towards warmer is better when they're fighting illness. Stopping the antibiotics...meaning the sulfa one? If she's not twirling, I think it's two separate issues. It may be the cause (allergy or sensitivity). It still may not be. But I don't think it's because you stopped it. It doesn't makes sense to me she developed sores from NOT killing fungus any longer.

[MiaCarter]

Darn. Husband checked 3 stores and couldn't find Rescue Remedy.

I do have HomeoPet Trauma drops.

It says: For bite wounds, cuts, bruising, sprains, teething, fever, bone fractures and assists in reducing bleeding. Can also be used before after surgery to promote healing time.
(Bold is my emphasis).

It contains: Belladonna, Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum, Hypericum Perforatum, Staphysagria, in 20%USP alc. in purified water.

Do you think this would be safe?
It has a cat and a dog on the package, no birds.

She's in her heat lamp now. Yay. That's good.

EDITED TO ADD: I did some googling and found the HomeoPet Trauma drops can be used on birds. Horray!

[Corkysgirl]

I wouldn't give it to her because the Hepar Sulphuris Calc. is from sulphur. If her very problem is an allergy to sulpur, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl -- Ah, good thinking! I'm glad I asked as I didn't know that!

[Corkysgirl]

Hypercium Perf. is for nerve injury, microbial, sedative. Belladona is for spasms, like colic, stomach, bowel issues, motion sickness and tons of other things...but nothing related to her. Staphysagria 6&30c is for nervous afflictions, emotional health and recovery, etc.. The remedy sounds like it's good for a dog/cat...for all that ails them basically. I really wish you could find the RR. It's a hit or miss thing. The Vitamin Shoppe usually has some form of it. Health food stores. Mostly online stores. I see it online at Walmart but never bought it there. I get it on Amazon or Vitacost usually. I wish I was closer.

[Corkysgirl]

Sorry, our posts overlapped. Yes, I learned all these homeopathic remedies going to school, then working for the Homeopathic Doctor. I'm praying for her. Maybe you could get some RR tomorrow. I just got some today. I wish I could give you some.

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl -- I know I've seen it before. I've even bought it before for a foster dog who's neck had been ripped open (bait dog.) In fact, I think I bought the HomeoPet Trauma drops at the same time.

But husband went to Walmart, Walgreens and CVS and none had it.
And unfortunately, it's too late for GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe. So I guess we'll need to search it out tomorrow.

That's wonderful that you have all that knowledge about homeopathic remedies! I bet that comes in very handy in lots of areas of life!

I just saw Priscilla eating and preening, so that's good. She also chirped at me and replied when Elvis vocalized, so another good thing. She hasn't given up yet.
I just need her to hang in there a bit longer! She's on her third week of illness now. I don't know how much longer she can fight.

As usual, Elvis is right by her side. I tried to get a photo up close, but he kept perching when I neared. But I got a photo peeking through the door:
http://tinyurl.com/ofr9kc7

What a sweetie pie. He's sitting with her on the cage floor, preening her, chasing away anyone who tries to approach and serenading her.
He's so sweet. Very rare to see such a bond. I really worry what will happen to him if she dies. I'll be heartbroken for him!

Edited to Add: I just took a peek and there are no new blood spots and her bum looks about the same. The ointment is still on there and no active bleeding so thankful for that!

[Corkysgirl]

Awww that's so sweet he takes such good care of her. It is a good sign she's eating, chirping, and preening....and stopped bleeding. That's vital! Maybe the antibiotics are working and a good night's sleep will put her over the hump. She looks so miserable, poor little girl! Yes, that would be awful for Elvis losing her. Lets hope that will not be what happens at all. I've been praying for her.

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl - Yes, no bleeding is a good thing!
There's no blood marks on the paper towels of the cage floor and she's not picking, so fingers crossed that we're over that part of the bridge!

I haven't seen her drink any of the water yet, so not sure if she's taken the antibiotics. Hopefully.

Thanks for the prayers. She needs 'em!

[MiaCarter]

I was browsing through again to see if anyone else had a similar issue and I did find a great photo that's very similar to Priscilla's bum:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 0&start=30

I haven't been able to get a photo today (I wish I'd thought of it when I had her our earlier!) and when she's perched, she gets annoyed with me when I shine the flashlight on her bum and turns around.

But it looks just like the first set of photos on page 3 of that thread....just more dried blood.

[Corkysgirl]

That's why I asked you if anything was sticking out because I thought of a prolapsed cloaca. I'm going to go back and read the two pages before the page you posted. I didn't read what they treated the bird with to make her improve. One thing I know for sure is it got worse when she....the article I read yesterday...laid another egg. Very important that she doesn't do that. Here are some other pictures from the previous post. I know it doesn't look like that. They call it an "outy" because it's protruding. http://www.internationalcockatielresour ... oblem.html

[MiaCarter]

Corkysgirl -- Yeah, I took a peek at that link. (I LOVE that site's little info graphics! So helpful!)

It doesn't look anything like the prolapses. (I have a cat who's prone to prolapses, so I've seen them quite a bit! LOL) The swelling is definitely all external skin (and it's been a gradual process, so it's been easy to see that this is the case.)

In fact, the entire case with the bird Heckle seems really similar to the bird in that other thread (http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 0&start=30).

Heckle was picking at her bum, just like Priscilla.

And like Heckle, I'm pretty positive it's not egg-related, as this started before eggs were in the picture. And she's laid twice successfully since it started. (Hopefully no more, though! I put 3 more eggs in the nest so hopefully if she's cooking something now, she'll see those other eggs and that will signal her to stop.

Heckle's thread does mention that a sore can form due to sitting on eggs. Well, remember Priscilla was sitting in her nest for the better part of 2 weeks when she was sick. So it's very possible she got a bit of irritation from coming in contact with some poo. It's possible that caused the irritation initially and then she started picking at it and making it worse.

Seems like they did oral and topical antibiotics for that bird, so I guess we're on the right path.

They also mentioned a cupcake paper e-collar, which I may very well try!

[Corkysgirl]

Yes I saw that about the cupcake paper. I was hoping you saw that and was going to mention it if you didn't. I didn't think it was a prolapse yet, but wanted you to watch, in case it was going in that direction. I also thought that laying an egg might exacerbate the already irritated tissue, even if that wasn't the original cause. I still think it's from the sulfa and and maybe additionally from the die off from the yeast. I think she has a secondary infection from scratching...and the antibiotics are a must. Oh...I forgot, you can't give her probiotics at the same time or the antibiotics won't work. I'm not sure if you're doing that. I can't remember, but I made that mistake in the past with the eye infection saga. With Heckle she also kept her cage at 85 degrees. I swear my bird gets well when she's sick if I keep her temperature high. You're probably hot where you are anyway. They have tiny cup cake papers at the dollar stores...at least at Christmas...so maybe now....or a Michaels/Joanne's, etc. None of those near me. It would be better than working with the large ones.