FINCHforum

My zebra finch has one eye that is blind. When I adopted him about a year ago, it was that way. Over the past few months, the other eye has been going blind too. I think that at this point, he has no vision at all. I have posted about him before on the forum.

Today his eye that has been gradually been getting worse looks very swollen and red. He has been rubbing it over the past few days on his rope perch, and he has feather loss all around it. His retina and iris are going completely burgundy (like his other blind eye), and now he has a big white spot on the surface of his eye that looks very painful. He keeps both eyes closed now, all of the time

I love this little guy. What can I do for him? Should I try to give him something for his swollen eye? Any help would be appreciated.

It looks like Avian Conjunctivitis from my experiences. Please see the web address below that has a lot of helpful info on this disease and treatment. Keep him warm and comfortable.
A good avian vet should make a recommendation and diagnose what it is for sure.
http://www.avianweb.com/avianconjunctivitis.html
I hope it helps. Please keep posted on how he does.

thanks GB1. I just ordered colldodial silver from the States with rush shipping. I hope that it will arrive in time for me to treat him.

I was able to get collodial silver from a health food store today that's literally right on my street, so fortunately I don't have to wait for it to come all the way from the US Laraine at Ladygouldian.com was very helpful and pointed me in the right direction so I could find it locally.

I sprayed his eye twice since I got home from school this evening. I hope that tomorrow I will see some improvement Laraine recommended that I should continue to spray his eye numerous times per day.

I found this in a medical book for birds, I will condense what it says...for short term use....apply opthlmic ointment like Neopolycin and Neosporin (drops are preferable since they won't mat down feathers). Ointment contains polymycin, bacitracin and neomycin.

cindy wrote: I found this in a medical book for birds, I will condense what it says...for short term use....apply opthlmic ointment like Neopolycin and Neosporin (drops are preferable since they won't mat down feathers). Ointment contains polymycin, bacitracin and neomycin.

thanks cindy. should i give him this along with the silver spray?

I would not mix it....not sure what it will do since the ointment coats the eye.

I thnk since it involves the birds vision it might be best to call a vet office to see what they suggest.

Ok sure. Thanks Cindy.

Check out this site on ladygouldian.com. http://ladygouldian.com/node/223

I would try antibiotic drops or cream.

cindy wrote: Check out this site on ladygouldian.com. http://ladygouldian.com/node/223

Thanks Cindy. It looks like the gouldian hen, who has the "swelling eye, cause unknown". I just got home from work and sprayed his eye again.

Diana wrote: I would try antibiotic drops or cream.

I don't know how to put the cream on his eye. i don't want to hurt him further. any ideas?

I would stick to liquid form. Last year my canary had the same thing and I tried the cream, it made it worse because the bird kept scratching the eye. The poor guy didn't make it ( despite all my efforts and meds). I decided: no more creams on eyes. Liquid works better(from my experience). Try calling a vet too.

There is a difference between ointments and creams like neosporin. The book I used suggest opthlmic ointment or liquid but in pinch the neosporin ointment might work....try the csilver as suggested if no improvement I would call back ladygoulian.com and ask her advice further.

Any signs of nasal discharge?...wonder if it may be a sinus related issue.

cindy wrote: There is a difference between ointments and creams like neosporin. The book I used suggest opthlmic ointment or liquid but in pinch the neosporin ointment might work....try the csilver as suggested if no improvement I would call back ladygoulian.com and ask her advice further.

Any signs of nasal discharge?...wonder if it may be a sinus related issue.

ok i will continue using the silver. his eye is a lot less puffy now. there is no sinus discharge that i can see.