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Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:20 am
by Articuno
My zebra finch Flash has been a bit unlucky recently.. he had a tumble (due to only having one toe on his left foot) and appeared to have broken/dislocated his right wrist bone.
At first when I noticed he wasn't flying right, he was wet so I assumed he'd just had a bath and needed to dry off, but the next day it was the same thing. His wing has never healed up.

He seemed to be happy and healthy as normal for weeks apart from the wing but at the start of this week we noticed he was "beeping" strangely, quieter and more odd sounding than usual. The next day he was sitting around a lot and had droppings matted around his vent. I removed these gently and quarantined him in a smaller cage for a bit, he seemed to perk up slightly.

Today he is worse. He tumbles a lot, lays on his back and can't get up right away. He sometimes tumbles when he is walking along the bottom of the cage, it's like he has no balance at all and is constantly rolling to his side.
He's not beeping or singing anymore. I've kept him warm and given him extra vitamins but I really don't know what else to do. All my other birds are fine, my other zebra has been moved to the quarantine cage with him so he doesn't get lonely.
He's still very young, only three years old. Still eating and drinking ok but no baths and still has matted vent feathers.

Did he perhaps have a bad fall and hit his head..? Is there anything else I can do for him at this point?

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:33 am
by debbie276
It may be that he now has an infection from the injured wing and it's into his system. Hope someone can give you good advice, maybe time for a vet :(

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:31 am
by Articuno
Thanks for the advice. Since there was no cut or damage to his skin, nor any bleeding, I didn't consider that his wing could possibly have gotten an infection. I'll see if we can rush him to the vet but it's really difficult when we work right in between the vet opening hours :(

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:53 am
by Articuno
Turns out Flash does have an infection, took him to the vet this morning (we somehow managed to get an appointment at 9.30am before my husband went to work).
He's been injected with antibiotics and will be on antibiotics for the next week or so.. but sadly she thinks it may be too late and we can only cross our fingers for him now :(

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:57 am
by debbie276
Oh I am so sorry :(
Sending lots of good vibes your way for a full recovery [-o<
best of luck

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:28 am
by Zebrafincher
How did your little one go? Is he doing OK? Best of luck.

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 8:21 am
by Articuno
Zebrafincher wrote: How did your little one go? Is he doing OK? Best of luck.
I know this is extremely late but just as an update.. we lost Flash about a week after the vet trip. He had to go for a second one to be put down as he was just getting worse. I miss Flash..

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 9:03 am
by Ginene
That is so sad. So sorry about your loss :( ...

Re: Sick Zebra Finch - Strange Neural Behaviour?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:46 pm
by debbie276
so sorry for your loss :(