Sick bengalese (society) finch?? Help ASAP!

[Youngpilgrim]

Hi. A week or so ago, I lost one of two bengalese finches to air sac mites (as diagnosed by the vet). He gave an injection of antibiotics and fluids to him, and he seemed to get a little better but then faded away and died later in the evening, leaving his brother behind. the vet didn't seem concerned that the other bird was at risk.

Now, in the last few hours, my other finch has been sitting at the bottom of the cage looking lethargic and occasionally flapping around the cage in a panicked manner. I still have some of the antibiotics which I have added to his drinking water, and he has had some of it, but I'm worried it's not enough to help him if he has the same mites as his brother had.

I am tempted to try and catch him so that I can put a drop directly on to his beak, but I don't want to stress him out too much. he still has enough energy to try and escape if I go near him. Not sure what is best to do. Want to try my very best not to lose this bird too!

[L in Ontario]

Hello and welcome- wish it were under better circumstances but your finch sounds like it might be eggbound rather than inflicted with ASM (air sac mites). Do you know for sure if it is a male or female?

If there is a possibility that it is a female - I would suggest you immediately put a heatlamp on one side of the cage near a perch so she can go near it for warmth when she needs it or move away to cool down when she doesn't need it. Also drape a towel over the top and three sides of the cage (not touching the heatlamp). Make sure she has eggfood, seed and waterdishes available on the floor of the cage so she doesn't have to waste energy flying up to them. And you will have to catch her for this - put one drop of liquid calcium in her beak. What size is her cage? If it is large - she should be placed in a small hospital cage (again to avoid wasting energy flying around too much).

Good luck with her (him). I'm sure others will be online soon to assist as well.

[Youngpilgrim]

Hello again. Thanks for your reply. I am 99.9% sure it is a male. The other bird definitely was. I have never seen any eggs and the other bird was a male.

He is also about 6 1/2 years old.

[L in Ontario]

If it is a male - then calcium does not have to be applied to the beak but I think you should still give a heatlamp on one side of the cage near a perch.

Is this a sudden change or has he been like this for a day or more? Has he been fluffed and sleeping on his perch a lot more than usual? Has he been eating and drinking as normal?

I personally would not give antibiotics unless you know for sure what is wrong with him. They could do more harm than good.

[Youngpilgrim]

He hasn't been fluffed up so far and, up to now, he has been eating and drinking as normal. He has also been singing his warble song during the day.

Just very suddenly a couple of hours ago there was a lot of panicked flapping around, and I found him sitting at the bottom of the cage looking very sorry for himself. He looked like he was flailing a little bit and looked unbalanced as well.

He has been returning to his perch, but occasionally going back to sit quietly at the bottom of the cage. This is unusual behaviour for him, and also quite similar to how my other bird behaved a day or so before he died, which is why I am treating this with great concern.

He has now returned to his wicker nest where he sleeps and I am hoping he will now stay there for the rest of the night. I suppose I will just have to check on him again at the morning.

He doesn't appear to be at death's door, but I know how birds will hide their illnesses until they are irreparable.

[L in Ontario]

That's sad but it sounds more like he's had a seizure than ASM.

Anyone else have any ideas? He will stay in his nest if you turn off the lights around him.

Also, if you put your location in your profile - sometimes it helps get more localized suggestions.

What kind of antib's do you have on hand (from the last time)?

[Youngpilgrim]

I live in London, UK. I will update my profile too.

The antib is liquid Baytril.

The idea of some sort of seizure crossed my mind as well. Is this common in finches, and what is the recovery rate is one happens?

Here is a video I took of him from about a week ago of him sitting quietly on his perch. Perhaps someone who is more of an expert can spot something from this video that could be indicative of a health problem...? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVL_lhvnDyo

[L in Ontario]

I have a male Gouldian who freaks out when I change the cage papers and goes into a seizure. Once he lands, his right leg will slowly straighten right out and I can reach in and pick him up - he won't move. A few minutes later he will be perfectly fine again. So I'd say the recovery rate or lifespan with seizures can be normal (he is 3 years old now) but it all depends on the type of seizures I'm sure.

Baytril is a good broad spectrum antiB, I've used it before and I think you probably could use it in his drinking water now. Is that how you used it for his brother - in the water?

You have a lovely looking Society there! Best wishes for him and you.

[Youngpilgrim]

Thank you! His brother was very handsome as well, and I was so upset to lose him, especially as he was the picture of health. It was a great shock.

What you describe there with the seizure sounds a little like how I found him at the bottom of the cage. One of his legs looked a little lazier than the other one, and he was moving his wings in an erratic way. I tried to move my hand near him to test his reactions and he instantly flew away and hung off the side of the cage and went back to his perch...but shortly afterwards he went back to the cage floor and continued looking very lethargic.

He obviously still has some energy and co-ordination as he has now gone back to his nest (which has quite a small entrance hole and requires some precision flying!). I just hope it was an isolated incident and won't happen again. I will check again on him in the morning and report back, but I won't disturb him anymore tonight.

Thank you for your advice.

[Youngpilgrim]

Baytril is a good broad spectrum antiB, I've used it before and I think you probably could use it in his drinking water now. Is that how you used it for his brother - in the water?

You have a lovely looking Society there! Best wishes for him and you.

Sorry, forgot to reply to this bit. Percy (his brother) didn't survive long enough for me to give him a single dose of the Baytril after the vet gave him an injection. If I had done, I would have fed it to him direct as he was so weak and would not have struggled or flown away.

I have now (after speaking to an emergency vet on the phone to find out the measurements) added some Baytril to his drinking water, just in case it helps...it shouldn't hurt hopefully!

Oh, and this bird's name is Harvey by the way.

[B CAMP]

Welcome to the forum ,sorry i can't suggest any thing else but good luck with Harvey

[seminolewind]

Why would you treat air sac mites with an antibiotic? Don't they need some Scatt or something? Ivermectin?

Or did I get something wrong?

[Youngpilgrim]

Why would you treat air sac mites with an antibiotic? Don't they need some Scatt or something? Ivermectin?

Or did I get something wrong?

Not sure. This was the diagnosis and prescription from my vet.

[Jan]

I have heard of this on this side of the pond to from some vet's... The only thing I have ever had success with when dealing with ASM is a treament containing Ivermectin (ie. Scatt & Iverlux)? That said, the symptoms really don't sound like ASM, heavy breathing & the clicking sound usually point you towards that?
I would try the heat lamp and unless you know he is eating well, I would give him Thrive or Gaurdian Angel as it sounds like he is stressed?

[debbie276]

Does not sound like ASM at all. With ASM the mites slowly fill their air sacs making them click and have labored breathing. When it gets real bad they can no longer sing. The symptoms don't sound anything like that.
I also would recommend the antibiotics at this point. I think there is some kind of infection going on.
Good luck