M Finch Has Eye Problem

[finchboy]

Hi, I am new here.
You see, I recently bought my first pair of Strawberry Finches, but the male one happens to be obviously much older and he is also having a problem of the left eye. He has difficulty in opening the eye and closes it most of the time.

I am at a loss as to what to do about it. I have been putting the pair's cage in the sun for an hour a day hoping the sun will kill most of the germs in the sick eye. What should I do? I can't afford a trip to the vet.

[Sally]

Here is a link to another topic about a bird with an injury, perhaps you might find some help there:

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 51#p388251

If you can't afford a trip to the vet, then you may be able to try some over-the-counter medications, but be aware that if you don't really know what you are treating, you could be doing more harm than good. There are some eye ointments available, but I don't know where you are located to know what is available to you.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on finch care. If you put your general location in your profile, it helps members to know how to answer your questions.

[finchboy]

Thank for the info.
I am continuing the sunning 'treatment' and hoping for some sort of miracle, but like you pointed out, I will not do the ointment thingy as I am not a vet or good enohh to do that. I hate it if I make it worse.

I am most worried about diseases of pets, as it is the worst thing that can happen to our pets, whatever animal it is.
I am starting to be wary of mites and micro bugs on finches, hence I have taken a liking to treat the cage with UV rays from the sun. At least the will keep the micro bug population under check, though by no means completely eliminated.

[lovezebs]

finchboy

I am sorry that your bird is suffering with eye problems.
Make sure that you don't leave your birds in the sun for too long, without shade. They can overheat and die very quickly.

Regarding the eye problem: I have never tried this with my birds, but with cats and dogs over the years (also works for people) I have used plain black tea, and a cotton ball to wash eyes . It is very soothing, and has been helpful, unless it's a full blown infection, in which case one may need antibiotic eye drops.

Good luck.

[cindy]

the sun can actually make issues a little worse if the eye is very sensitive to light, it may actually make the eye hurt. It will not cure it.

An ointment or oral antibiotic might be needed to help the eye... any discharge, yellowing or matting around the eye? Swelling. A picture close up of the birds eye and face might help us see the issue better.

When it comes to eyes it is a good idea to know what you are dealing with first before medicating, the wrong medication can or may cause further issues.

[cindy]

http://beautyofbirds.com/eyeproblems.html

[finchboy]

Thanks for the advice, Elana & Cindy.
I will take care not to expose my finches too long in the sun. I do take the opportunity to mist them with water as they apparently don't know how to bath themselves in the saucer.

I am unable to post a pic now due to limitation on my present oldish tablet.

[cindy]

I asked in my comment about swelling, discharge in the eye... any nasal discharge, any swellig of the area around the eye or feather loss?

Personally until the eye is healed I would not be exposing the bird to bright sunlight.... as I said it can make it more painful, the bird will shut the eye and not look at the sun so it is futile to do at this point.

They do make drops called colliodal silver that can help treat a wide array of eye issues..... http://glamgouldians.com/product-colloidal-silver.php not sure of your location and what is available to you.

Then again suggesting what to treat the eye with may be difficult sice we have little information, can not see the eye itself... it may very well have a cut that requires antibiotics applied to it, something sunlight will not heal.

[finchboy]

Thank you, Cindy. I'll note your advice.
As far as I can see, there's no swelling or discharge. My concern is also the overall germ condition of the whole cage, hence my interest in sunning the cage for about an hour daily. I just love the idea of the sun's UV rays to kill micro organisms that may have taken hold on all the surfaces. But I'll take care not to hurt my finch's eye too much. Thanks again.

[finchboy]

Oooh, I am so glad my finch's eye did't get worse. He doesn't close it now, even after I've misted him all over with water. Apparently he could have hit his eye against something and it has healed now.

I would like to ask seniors here what it means if my male finch keeps chirping (but not singing) when I stand in front if his cage. I should think he is stressed or frightened. This male doesn't seem to sing at all, while the female does occasionally as I can hear it from a distance.

[Sally]

Most of my birds don't sing when I stand in front of their cage, I think it is because I am usually doing something with them at the time--adding feed, cleaning the cage, changing out waterers. So they see my presence as a disruption.

[finchboy]

Most of my birds don't sing when I stand in front of their cage, I think it is because I am usually doing something with them at the time--adding feed, cleaning the cage, changing out waterers. So they see my presence as a disruption.

No, Sally, my finches don't sing when I am in front of them. They are obviously apprehensive but the male keeps making a monologous short chirping sound as he hops about and apparently looking for a way to escape.

Only the female sings o casionally, but not much, when I am nearby but away from the cage.