Bird Intoxocation

[OhNayeli]

Hello everyone,
have any of you guys ever had a bird intoxicated by lead, zinc or something similar??

I am asking this because my lovebird which previously had a prolapse and is still recuperating, started sleeping more on saturday and looked fluffed up. On monday i noticed his abdomen looked swollen and it felt soft. His poop started getting darker. Today i took him to the vet and he got xrays done and it looks like a mass all over his body and his air sacs arent very visible. I got referred to another vet and the options were to get the xrays sent to a radiologist which would be $100, get a second opinion from a different vet, or to try to keep him comfortable and just wait or to consider putting him down in the future if he gets worst. Ive been looking online and the xrays of another bird with dyspenya due to intoxication of metal look similar to the ones i have from my bird. I asked if it could be an infection and she said it wasnt. His poop has been looking more normal since yesterday and he is still acting normal just sleeping more. Today he pooped and the vet spread it out and the green part looked like very tin strings i am wondering if this could be the cause maybe he ate something or licked something.

[lovezebs]

OhNayeli

Sorry to hear what your little fellow has been going through.

Poor little bird.

I am not a Vet, so I can't even begin to imagine what's going on with your little guy, but it sounds like it's definitely serious.

I can't tell you what to do, but 'personally' I would keep him comfortable, offering a good nutritious diet and see how he does, but that's me not you.

You mention toxicity....
Does he have access to anything toxic in your home? And if that is the case, I would caution you that it could be harmful to you and your family as well.

Good luck, and I hope things take a turn for the better.

[OhNayeli]

OhNayeli

Sorry to hear what your little fellow has been going through.

Poor little bird.

I am not a Vet, so I can't even begin to imagine what's going on with your little guy, but it sounds like it's definitely serious.

I can't tell you what to do, but 'personally' I would keep him comfortable, offering a good nutritious diet and see how he does, but that's me not you.

You mention toxicity....
Does he have access to anything toxic in your home? And if that is the case, I would caution you that it could be harmful to you and your family as well.

Good luck, and I hope things take a turn for the better.

Hello thank you for replying and i know i feel so bad for him i am considering taking him to another vet but i already spent around $235 in 3 weeks i know if i take him they would do blood work and possibly a gram test plus the consultation and it would be expensive. But im torn because i think that if i dnt get a second opinion and let him die i would feel like then i shouldnt have taken him to the vet at all because i didnt get any answers as to why my bird is swollen. I feel really bad and dont want the other lovebird which is either his mom or sister to be left alone.i am hoping it can be something treatable.

The vet i took him too doesnt know wat is goin on with him either i am thinking it might be either an intoxication or maybe it can be an infection or something to do with his lungs i know it can be serious but treatable and not as bad as a tumor.


And yes i will be doin that and see how he does and make a decision by monday. And i am thinking that because his abdomen started getting alittle bit more swollen each day and the his back started to get swollen im not sure if a tumor can expand that fast I am thinking maybe he was licking the bars of the cage or even the ointment i apply on his vent sometimes i see him trying to rub it of off his beak.


Thank you so much and i am also hoping he gets better

[Sally]

Unfortunately, even vets can't always diagnose what is wrong with a finch. Vets have much more experience with the larger birds, plus it is simply easier to treat them, draw blood, etc. I have a friend who has sent several deceased birds to Texas A&M Veterinary college to have necropsies done, and they still came back inconclusive. It is easy to spend a small fortune and still have no answers, which is incredibly frustrating.

I myself would do as lovezebs has suggested--keep him comfortable with lots of good food/treats, and keep a close eye on him.

[OhNayeli]

Unfortunately, even vets can't always diagnose what is wrong with a finch. Vets have much more experience with the larger birds, plus it is simply easier to treat them, draw blood, etc. I have a friend who has sent several deceased birds to Texas A&M Veterinary college to have necropsies done, and they still came back inconclusive. It is easy to spend a small fortune and still have no answers, which is incredibly frustrating.

I myself would do as lovezebs has suggested--keep him comfortable with lots of good food/treats, and keep a close eye on him.

I know but he is actually a lovebird, which made me think some type of treatment would be easier and im surprised she didnt do any blood work she is a vet that sees birds but is not very experienced with this type of situation which i didnt know and it's frustrating i will still try my best i want to see if i can at least try giving him a medication for an infection he keeps getting a little bit more swollen evreyday nd it seems like its fluid. I will see if anybody at laraine's store can help me out.

And thank you for replying he loves millet i will give him that even if that is all he wants to eat.

[Moon]

Does the bird get a lot of sunshine?

[OhNayeli]

Does the bird get a lot of sunshine?

Hello and not much they are in a room were light does shine through from 3 different areas but through the windows. But he has been getting more lately during the days i would take him to the vet we walked once for an hour and i put him in a stroller.

[Moon]

In some birds (I've noticed in my starlings in particular) a thing they do called Sun Drunk.... they sit in the sun so much they get drunk off of it. Might be something to check. But my other birds have had this same issue as well, so I use sheer curtains on my windows. This might help, won't hurt to try, and may explain what the bird is doing.

[OhNayeli]

In some birds (I've noticed in my starlings in particular) a thing they do called Sun Drunk.... they sit in the sun so much they get drunk off of it. Might be something to check. But my other birds have had this same issue as well, so I use sheer curtains on my windows. This might help, won't hurt to try, and may explain what the bird is doing.

Well actually this bird was on a cage that i had to divide into half my two lovebirds couldnt be together because of the prolapse and he was on the side against the wall that didnt receive as much light. But i will try and see if it helps i will close the doors from were the sun shines through and see if it helps. Thanks

[lovezebs]

OhNayeli Moon

Birds NEED sunlight!

Direct, unfiltered sunlight is the best thing for them.

[Moon]

Windows without curtains lead to drafts. I do open mine during the afternoon, but it's winter now. I follow the partial sun method that way they get their sunlight, but not to much draft. I also ensure they get 'window' time if they're free flight. But when temperatures are down to anything below 30, I cover the windows and turn on a heat lamp.
I also make sure they're across the room from windows, so they do get their sunshine.

(I use a tropical tree that dies if it gets too cold, something of a gauge to how much light and heat the birds need and how much cold they can handle. I also state that pet birds, imprinted bird, hand tame birds, and wild birds are very different from each other.)

I agree birds need sunshine, LOTS of it. Hence the heat lamp method when it's getting dark or it's too cold.

The condition I was referring too is, in fact, something I've witnessed several times. Birds left in direct sunlight through a window is like putting a magnifying glass on a bug. I discovered the traits in my own birds when I left them unattended in the windows.

That's why when I read the stroller comment, I may have not thoroughly explained my concerns. If you need to put your bird in direct sunlight through a window, please, consider staying nearby.

[Fraza]

I pup bubble wrap over my wondow in the aviry so that they get the sunlight but it doesn’t cause a draft ? Could this help

[OhNayeli]

Windows without curtains lead to drafts. I do open mine during the afternoon, but it's winter now. I follow the partial sun method that way they get their sunlight, but not to much draft. I also ensure they get 'window' time if they're free flight. But when temperatures are down to anything below 30, I cover the windows and turn on a heat lamp.
I also make sure they're across the room from windows, so they do get their sunshine.

(I use a tropical tree that dies if it gets too cold, something of a gauge to how much light and heat the birds need and how much cold they can handle. I also state that pet birds, imprinted bird, hand tame birds, and wild birds are very different from each other.)

I agree birds need sunshine, LOTS of it. Hence the heat lamp method when it's getting dark or it's too cold.

The condition I was referring too is, in fact, something I've witnessed several times. Birds left in direct sunlight through a window is like putting a magnifying glass on a bug. I discovered the traits in my own birds when I left them unattended in the windows.

That's why when I read the stroller comment, I may have not thoroughly explained my concerns. If you need to put your bird in direct sunlight through a window, please, consider staying nearby.

Oh ok actually when i had him in the stroller since its a strolller for dogs it has mesh at the back top and front and i placed the cage inside the stoller towards the back and covered the top and front which is were the sunlight was hitting the stroller if i saw his cage moved forward and receive too much light i would push it back. But this was around two weeks ago and the swelling began 6 days ago.

And sometimes i take the cages outside so the birds can get natural sunlight but usally place them in a spot were the sun isnt hitting them directly or i place the cage were they can move to the shade if the sunlight is too much for them.

[OhNayeli]

OhNayeli Moon

Birds NEED sunlight!

Direct, unfiltered sunlight is the best thing for them.

Then i wont close the doors. Direct as in place the cage outside and have the sunlight hit the whole cage? Or place the cage outside on a place in the shade were the sun still hits them?

[lovezebs]

OhNayeli. Moon

Idealy if you live in an area that doesn't get cold weather, you can place your birds in sunlight, offering shade as well, by covering part of the flight with a towl or sheet .

If however you live somewhere where you get cold weather (as I do), they need some special lighting that will offer them the Vitamin D, that they would normally get from the sun.

That however is neither here nor there, as in regards to your sick Lovebird OhNayeli.

How is he feeling today?