Red/droppy watery eyes - Mycoplasma?

[waxbill lover]

I have a male zebra, and ever since I've had him, he's had these red, sagging droppy watery eyes. No discharge, no crusting, no shortness of breath. It seems to get better for a bit, and then it seems to happen again.
I did some research online, and discovered something that it might be.
Mycoplasma Symtoms:
Red watery eyes, nasal discharge, shortness of breath, matting of feathers around eyes, Appearance suggestive. Laboratory diagnosis can be difficult. Treatement: Tylan or doxycycline either separately or together.
OR
Bacterial infection, e.g. Enterococcus faecalics, Red watery eyes, nasal discharge. Live bird for bacterial culture from trachea, Treatment: Antibiotics, antibiotic choice preferably based on the result of a culture and sensitivity.
None of the other birds have this, nor have they ever had it. Could it be a genetic flaw in him, or is this an illness anyone has experienced?

I'm going to take him to the avian vet this week, and see what they can do. Also going to purchase some red palm oil for the birds to mix in their seed, as it seems to be really good stuff!

Thanks!

[debbie276]

Never heard of these illnesses, I'd be very interested in what the vet says. Please keep us posted and best of luck.

[dan78]

Does it have any other symptoms other than the watery red eyes? Never heard of those two either, maybe a allergic reaction to something? Yes this is interesting and I would love to hear what the vet puts it down too.

[cindy]

I have seen Mycoplasma once in a dog I helped our rescue group save from a shelter. I kept the dog here and our vet treated it, the illness takes hold very quickly compromising the dogs breathing, there was a great deal of mucus, the breathing sounded like the dogs was under water.

The dog actually stopped breathing once (I got it going again) in the house and once at the vets (staff got him going again). Apparently this was running through the shelters, symptoms were apparent at night during resting and became more apparent during the day as the dog got sicker. We noticed the "off breathing" at night the first night he was here. It required about 6 vet visits and weeks to get him well.

I have never seen this in birds, I honestly do not know how a bird handles Mycoplasma but if it was anything like the dog the bird and other birds would be sick.

Keep us posted after the vet visit. Best of luck.

[waxbill lover]

Does it have any other symptoms other than the watery red eyes? Never heard of those two either, maybe a allergic reaction to something? Yes this is interesting and I would love to hear what the vet puts it down too.

No other symptoms other than the red watery eyes. I was also thinking it might be allergies?

[waxbill lover]

I have seen Mycoplasma once in a dog I helped our rescue group save from a shelter. I kept the dog here and our vet treated it, the illness takes hold very quickly compromising the dogs breathing, there was a great deal of mucus, the breathing sounded like the dogs was under water.

The dog actually stopped breathing once (I got it going again) in the house and once at the vets (staff got him going again). Apparently this was running through the shelters, symptoms were apparent at night during resting and became more apparent during the day as the dog got sicker. We noticed the "off breathing" at night the first night he was here. It required about 6 vet visits and weeks to get him well.

I have never seen this in birds, I honestly do not know how a bird handles Mycoplasma but if it was anything like the dog the bird and other birds would be sick.

Keep us posted after the vet visit. Best of luck.

Cindy,
That sounds really scary if thats what mycoplasma does... My bird is definitely not anywhere near that sick. He just has a droopy watery red eye.
I'll let you know what the vet says!

[cindy]

When you call or go to see the vet also ask if something neurological could have caused the condition.

[Jossi]

I had mycoplasma once my self when I was 14 years old, it was dreadful, could hardly breath and have had astma ever since, I had an exray on my lungs and had about 20% lung capacity left at the worst. It really broke me down and I was feeling weak for almost 6 month after. Its common to get an pneumonia as a side affect. Its some sort of microbes that infests the lungs.

[cindy]

Just curious what mutation is the bird?

There is a write up on efinch regarding fawn cheeks...it discusses under the section NOTES about droopy, watery eyes and eye deformities regarding fawn cheeks

http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm

[DanteD716]

Never heard of it, keep us posted. Jossi, that sounds horrible. Glad you msde it through and are with us!!

[cindy]

I to am glad you are alright Jossi!!

The dog was a large border collie, it was a horrible thing for the dog to go through, lots of bloody mucus. He was in the kitchen and collapsed and stopped breathing, I had to literally revive him and get him 2 minutes down the street to the vet where he collapsed again. I had to sleep with him, his head elevated in my lap to keep him in a position not to sufficate.

Waxbill Lover, if you can tell us the mutation of the zebra it may give a clue as to what is happening....how is the finch today?

[waxbill lover]

Just curious what mutation is the bird?

There is a write up on efinch regarding fawn cheeks...it discusses under the section NOTES about droopy, watery eyes and eye deformities regarding fawn cheeks

http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm

This bird is a BC. His watery/red eyes seem to have cleared up slightly. It seems whenever I change the bedding and/or there is dust in the room, his eyes get worse. I had one CFW chick with it too, I'm thinking it very well could be a genetic thing! What Roy describes in that article is EXACTLY the same as what this BC has.
I'm thinking its either allergies or it is a genetic deficiency.

[cindy]

Mention to your vet about the bedding and the dust, see if some type of lubricating drops might help. Both explainations sound like they fit.. Can you paper toweling on the bottom of his cage, see if that helps a bit.

[DanteD716]

I am thinking it may be the bedding

[waxbill lover]

Here are some photos of this birds eye... It got better for a few weeks, and I see that its gotten worse again. I also just put some new nesting material in the cage the last few days, could he be allergic to it maybe?