FINCHforum

I've noticed my male lavender waxbill has been acting like he's off balance or maybe has vertigo or something. It's not like he's twirling at all. He looks forward but seems unsteady on the perch and seems slower than usual. He goes about the day as usual, foraging, eating, drinking, etc. Recently he even helped to incubate eggs that he and his hen had. All were non vital He has a permanent poof to his feathers, but not what I'd call puffed out looking. Almost like he's overweight looking, but he's not fat. It's obvious something is wrong, but I have no idea where to begin looking for what is wrong. I need a list of symptoms or something that I can point to a diagnosis so I'll know what to treat for.

KarenB
Oh no......
Good grief....
Is he going into a molt? You know the drill Karen, with the heat and light.
Prayers and hugs coming your way, my dear. I don't know what else to recommend, but sending best wishes.

~Elana~

No, not molting. He's going about his way as if ignoring his symptoms, but he's clearly got something wrong. I will try the heat lamp and see if he actually uses it.

KarenB
I hope he'll be alright. It seems everyone is having a string of sad luck this week. You, Colt, me....
Like I said... what is going on?

Try the heat. I mean when they're not ferling well, heat is at least comforting, if nothing else.

~Elana~

KarenB
Did you check out the Post "Avian Illnesses" by Cindy, at the begining of the Health Section? Maybe find some answers in there (I hope!!!).

~Elana~

lovezebs, I did check it out, but it really was not helpful. I need a list of symptoms that I can pick from that would lead me to a better diagnosis.

I didn't see anything like that. Did I miss something?

What medications or treatments do you have on hand Karen? I suck at diagnosing but if we brain storm aloud perhaps we can tease enough info out for someone better to take a crack at it.

Do you know what his stool looks like?
Other than being poofed and lethargic is he behaving normally? Bathing, singing, eating, and drinking?
How long has he been off?
Have you tried anything so far other than supplemental heat?

@Sally Miacarter cindy - Ladies?!

I have Amoxitex, Tetratex, Ronex, Probiotics, Thrive, Rescue Remedy as far as medications.

I haven't seen his stool in particular. He does not have a wet vent or anything.

He is going around in the flight as usual, not lethargic, per se. He's just acting like he's got a balance issue. And he is sort of puffed, but his feathers are so sleek and tight, that if I didn't have the hen to compare him to, he'd look almost normal to me. He doesn't park under the heat lamp, but he has gone over to it several times for a few minutes each. He's the only one who has done so.

I guess I could take him out and put him in the hospital cage. I just hate to stir the whole pot in doing so. I have cordon bleu babies in nest that the parents are finally actually feeding.

Oh boy. I understand not wanting to stir the pot. I'll be doing a lot of that when I get home... :/

What if any of those medications would be safe to give the whole flight with parents feeding chicks? Treating everyone probably isn't the best idea but neither is chasing him around to pull him out...

I guess he's been sort of puffy looking for a while, but I thought that was his norm. He's never exhibited any symptoms of anything, and so I never thought anything of it. I really only noticed the unsteadiness the past couple days, maybe. It may have been present before that, but my attention has only recently been drawn to it.

I haven't been paying attention to whether certain birds are bathing, so I really don't know if he has. I recently started using a different large container for their bathing water instead of four separate smaller ones (for my benefit, it's easier with just one).

None of the other birds act this way. I hate to treat for something I don't know what I'm treating for.

Well the Probiotics and the Thrive aren't going to hurt anyone. So it might be a good idea to use those. Not sure on the Rescue Remedy. Isn't it essentially Gatorade for the birds with tons of electrolytes? Amoxitex, Tetratex, and Ronex are all antibiotics right?

I suck at diagnosing too, which is why I don't often offer advice on health matters. And I can understand your reluctance to upset the group when you have CBs that are actually feeding babies. Perhaps just offering the Thrive or Rescue Remedy (haven't used this before) to the group, and keeping an eye on him?

That's what I was thinking if the other medications aren't suitable for birds feeding chicks.

Thrive is for sick or injured birds and has vitamins and electrolytes.

The others are antibiotics for different types of infections:

Amoxitex - broad spectrum antibiotic used for the treatment of non-chlamydial intestinal and respiratory bacterial infections in birds.

Tetratex - broad spectrum antibiotic used for the treatment of chlamydial and other intestinal or respiratory bacterial infections in birds.

Ronex - treatment for cankers, giardia and other protozoal infections.

Symptoms of protozoal infection include: canker or large yellowish masses in the throat or crop, weight loss, regurgitation, dried saliva around beak

Symptoms of chlamydial infection include: Obvious change in behavior or appearance (that is one symptom), Ruffled or fluffed feathers (another symptom), Diarrhea, Sneezing, Unusual or difficult breathing, Not eating (he still eats fine), Closed eyes (eyes open as usual), Sitting low on perch

I'd be tempted to try Thrive and Rescue Remedy unless they can't be given simultaneously. They aren't going to hurt him. And perhaps it could bolster his immune system if he's feeling a bit under the weather.

Does he seem to be as strong as always? Like flying and gripping perches. I've noticed sick birds often behave "weaker" having a hard time perching and flying long distances from perch to perch. I know you haven't handled him but perhaps with lights out tonight you could snatch him from the nest/sleeping perch and feel his breast bone and listen to his breathing. If all's well there you could return him. That's the ninja sneak method I use at night when I need one of the birds out of the big flights. Especially if birds are on eggs or chicks and I don't want to disturb them.

If Probiotics can be given alongside the Tetratex I'd probably do that as well just as a fingers crossed. If after the treatment time you don't see any improvement I'd go with the Amoxitex. Doesn't sound like Ronex is the medication of choice in this case.