Bloody Diarrhea in Gouldian-- Update 4/1 w/ Video

[Domenic]

The male gouldian I wrote about a week or so ago has gotten worse. He is more active now, but his diarrhea is a dark red color. Please help me pin point what is wrong with him so I can buy some medicine for him pronto.

Here are Judah's symptoms:
•No singing or calling
•Not poofed up, but appears stuck in the molt
•He thrashes his head as if to shake something off (this has almost stopped as of today, but he was doing this a few days ago)
•Has gotten thinner
•Bloody/watery diarrhea

What treatments do you recommend I use? I have not been using any treatments besides S76 because I thought it was air sac mites before I saw the bloody diarrhea.

[nixity]

Blood in the stool is never a good sign, and I've rarely heard of birds recovering when blood is seen in the stool.

If it's bright blood red, it means there is bleeding in the lower intestinal tract.
Dark blood red usually means the blood is "older" so the bleeding is probably occurring higher up in the intestinal tract but over all it is not good.

Internal bleeding within the intestines can be caused by a number of things but the way you say he is shaking his head and that he's going light, I immediately think there's something irritating his crop, which makes me consider something like canker, megabacteria, etc..

[Domenic]

Thanks Tiffany, I've come to terms that I'm probably going to lose him. I'm still praying for his life though. There is a female gouldian in the cage with him who initially got him sick but isn't exhibiting any signs, what do you recommend I treat her with so she doesn't progress as far as Judah did?

[nixity]

Well, if she got him sick and she's not symptomatic, my guess would be whatever it is, she's got some sort of resistance to it..
I can't say what it is to suggest a treatment, and if she's not showing signs of illness, I wouldn't feel comfortable suggesting something anyway :\

[dfcauley]

So sorry to hear of your bird being so sick.

I hope whatever happens it is quick......

[L in Ontario]

I'm so sorry to hear this latest development Domenic. I have no experience with this type of illness but wanted to say I hope and pray he gets better, as she did.

[lovemyfinch]

No input here Dominic, just wanted to let you know that I will be saying a prayer for your little one.

[cindy]

Would porbiotics help? Hope he gets better Domenic.

[Sally]

We're all keeping our fingers crossed for him, Domenic.

[albert]

I suddenly lost a girl with raw bloody stool years ago back in Hawaii, I later read somewhere saying it's due to internal worms, I would treat my bird with de-wormer IF he is still strong enough to pull through the worm treatment.

I currently tried Worm-away, 1 drop into the crop and the birds were 'dizzy' for half day before they got back to their normal activities.

Keep us posted on his condition...

[CandoAviary]

[Domenic]

As of 4/1 Judah is still alive. He doesn't have bloody diarrhea any longer but has become lethargic today. Something I worry about is that he can't seem to hold his head back to sleep in normal gouldian fashion. His head is always falling forward and he is having a difficult time keeping it up. This only happens when he is sleeping though, he can keep his head straight when he's awake. He is also back to head thrashing and does a very strange gargling motion by moving his head back and forth, almost like a parrot who dances. That's the best way I can explain it. He has become much more vocal and chirps more often but still doesn't sing. I have been keeping the heat lamp on him 24/7 but I'm afraid the non-stop light is messing with his internal clock and causing him to be exhausted. Is that possible?

When I remove the heatlamp he IMMEDIATELY puts his head under his wing and does something unusual for gouldians, he scoots all the way along the perch and engages in contact sitting with female gouldian in the cage—who doesn't seem to mind. I don't know if he is sticking his head under his wing because he becomes cold immediately without the heatlamp or if he thinks its lights out and wants to go to bed. What should I do?

Here's a vid of Judah's strange behavior:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uHbb0J6Odo

[MLaRue]

Poor Judah

He is looking for warmth from the female I would keep the heat lamp on for him.

[cindy]

Domenic...I use a normal bulb for heat during the day and a red bulb at night. Target has them in the party section, they are 25 watts so you may need to set up two heat lamps to get it warm enough. The red lets them see enough if they need to move around. I use one on baby cages after the chicks are weaned and removed from the parents, once light go off and the red bulb goes on, the birds are ready for sleep. Kepp the cage covered on three sides to keep the warmth in.

When I watch the video it looks like he is uncomfortable, something is bothering him. If this is not a parasite or yeast he may have something internal organ wise going on, possibly a little tumor causing the blood in his stool. Is he eating a normal amount or more than usual?

[L in Ontario]

Aww I agree he does not look comfortable and I would also cover three sides plus the top of the cage (with a towel) to help keep more warmth in. I use red mini spot lights as heatlamps they work well. Good luck.