Dizzy Zebra Finch

[LindsayG]

I am that little Lucy is improving! You are not being silly at all and I think your boss is insensitive. We all love our pets, feathers, hair, scales, we love them all. If she's rubbing her ear I'm also wondering if it isn't inner ear infection. My friend had one once and she couldn't stand up! I'll be sending out good karma for your little Lucygirl! Get well soon!!

Thank you so much, Trish. I'm hoping I'll hear that she is improving today.

[LindsayG]

UPDATE

So Lucy has been in an incubator at the vet's office since the morning of April 20. She gets her last treatment on Tuesday afternoon and will come home on Wednesday the 11th.

She was receiving antibiotics. She began Nystatin on Sunday the 24th and continued that through about May 3. It did not help. On May 4, she began receiving the Trimethoprim Sulfa. This has not helped, either. Throughout her stay, I understand that she has received calcium and vitamin B. Lucy has improved to where she can stand and get around okay, and her head has straightened out a bit, but not completely. She seems to have a lot of energy. The vet feels that none of the medications have helped in this particular case, and she is leaning towards this being a virus like the one mentioned in the article that mentioned Trimethoprim Sulfa. She said that Lucy could improve more over the next several weeks, and the improvement she has had thus far has not been due to the medication, but to time. I think it has also been due to the incubator and vitamins. She said that I shouldn't be surprised to see Lucy perch, but that she does lay down on the floor to sleep so I will have to clean the bottom of the cage daily and keep a cloth there for her to sleep on. She will be able to bathe with supervision, but cannot have a grate in her cage. Lucy will not be able to be housed with her mate and babies, in case it is a virus. She could have a normal life span.

I hope this helps anyone that is dealing with the same thing.

If anyone has any thoughts on what I should do with the three babies given this information, it would be appreciated. The bird store is willing to sell them. I have not made a decision yet because I am greatly concerned ethically that the store disclose to potential buyers that the mother came down with twirling, whether it is caused by a virus or heredity or something else. I never planned on and do not want three cages of birds (the original two were a surprise birthday gift, and now the father bird has picked on the male baby badly and they were separated). I am also concerned that the babies would not be fed properly by another owner, or would not be treated if they came down with twirling, but I guess that would not be something I would be able to control if I sold them. If I keep the babies, then I will be spending all night every night after work cleaning their cages rather than just enjoying having them. The prospect of this has me pretty down. A coworker suggesting culling the babies, but I don't have the heart to do that even if it means that I have no life for the next 4-12 years. I feel very responsible for all five birds, as I should. So perhaps this is a cautionary tale to anyone who is new to these birds and considering allowing them to breed. I very much regret allowing mine to.

[L in Ontario]

Lindsay,
Is the vet doing this out of the kindness of her/his heart? In other words free of charge?
Lou

I wanted to ask the same thing but didn't know how. That is a long time Lucy is under the vet's care.

I gave my daughter a Cut-throat hen I had that was twirling when I got her. There has been no change with this hen over the year. But there is no real reason to put her down either. Best wishes for Lucy!

How bad is the twirling in your daughter's Cut-throat hen? Lucy's head is twisted quite a bit, but still stands and still eats. She doesn't seem as dizzy as before. Do you notice times where she is worse, like when tired, or better, when well-rested? Do other birds pick on her at all?

Sorry for the delayed response - I've been on and off due to family situation here. My Cut-throats' head was almost always resting on her back (looking up at the sky). She can not perch any more. I'll see if my daughter and post an update on her condition as she has had her for a few months now...

[the.puppeteer]

No change in the cut-throat over time. 90% of the time her head is on her back. She doesn't appear to be in pain; is able to eat, drink and groom without issue. She can't fly and thus can't perch. She has food and water dishes on the ground. When cleaning the cage I just (gently) grab her with one hand and use the other to remove/add the papers as she will otherwise flop all over the bars freaking out and I worry she'll break a leg or wing in between the bars.
I'll post a picture of her tomorrow.

[LindsayG]

[/quote]
Sorry for the delayed response - I've been on and off due to family situation here. My Cut-throats' head was almost always resting on her back (looking up at the sky). She can not perch any more. I'll see if my daughter and post an update on her condition as she has had her for a few months now...[/quote]
No problem. Thank you for getting back to me, and I hope all is well for you and your family.

[LindsayG]

No change in the cut-throat over time. 90% of the time her head is on her back. She doesn't appear to be in pain; is able to eat, drink and groom without issue. She can't fly and thus can't perch. She has food and water dishes on the ground. When cleaning the cage I just (gently) grab her with one hand and use the other to remove/add the papers as she will otherwise flop all over the bars freaking out and I worry she'll break a leg or wing in between the bars.
I'll post a picture of her tomorrow.

That sounds about like what I'll be doing. I'll look for your picture tomorrow. Do you keep her alone or with other birds?

[the.puppeteer]

Here are some pictures of her:

[the.puppeteer]

I keep her in my "misfits" cage with two goulds - one with cronic bumble foot and the other who has always had ratty feathers and her beak and nails overgrow constantly.

[LindsayG]

Awww... poor thing. I feel so bad for these little birds when they are like this. At least yours has her other misfit pals and doesn't have to be alone. Thank you very much for sharing your pics and answering my questions.

[LindsayG]

My husband brought Lucy home late this morning, and when I came home from work she was actually on a perch. She got up and down fairly easily, and at some points had her head completely straight. Unfortunately, I had to clean her cage by myself. She was a little tired by then, and freaked out quite a bit. I had to try to hold her and fix everything up at the same time, but that didn't work so I had to put her in a pet carrier box. When I put her back, she was twirling quite a bit and putting her head on the ground. She's exhausted now and her symptoms are awful. I hope I didn't take all the good that the vet has done and ruin it. I'm going to have to figure out how to do this quickly and with the least upset to her. This is really difficult because I know I have to clean her cage nightly, but if it makes her so much worse...?

[LindsayG]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucy is doing AMAZING. Since she came home on Wednesday, she has made progress everyday. Thursday night was a little rough like Wednesday night, but Friday night she was able to perch after I put her back in the cage after I cleaned it, and in fact she was able to stay perched all night long. Saturday morning she acted like she wanted somewhere higher to go than her low perch, so I put one in a little higher. She got on it right away with no problems. I ran to get my phone to take a picture. When I came back, she flew to the other side to see me, then a little later flew back up to the high perch. She hung out up there most of the day, even though she was turning in circles now and then. Last night when I cleaned her cage, I didn't even have to remove her. She went to sleep on the low perch, but I did find her on the floor this morning. This morning I don't see her turning in circles yet, and her head is pretty straight. To anyone who didn't know any better, she looks normal.

I would like to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers--I truly believe this is a miracle. I also believe that trying all of the medications you all have told me about has made a HUGE difference. If I had to guess, I would say the Trimethoprim Sulfa (sp?) made the most difference. That and an incredible vet who never gave up on my bird. If you are wondering about the cost of all that time and treatment there, it was only $79.00.

I imagine that Lucy will have some good days and some bad, but she has come so far since April. This is an outcome I only dreamed about. I'll update again in the future to let everyone know how she is doing in the long-term. I am so thankful to all of you for suggesting these different courses of treatment, and feel so lucky to have found this forum.

[Ria]

YAY!!

Lindsay, that's awesome! So glad to hear Lucy is improving! maybe just being back in her familiar home with loving family has calmed her down and encouraged the recovery started at your vet. Congrats! keep us posted on her condition!

[debbie276]

Wonderful news!!
best of luck

[WhiteMagicWoman]

That's AWESOME news! Whew!

[lovemyfinch]

So glad to hear that Lucy is feeling much better