Blind spice finch

[Kayla.ashley]

I was given a spice finch two days ago, because she had cataracts and was assumed to be blind.
I brought her home and she acts as if she is blind, and I can see the blueishwhite cloud over her pupils, as I went to trim her nails I noticed her feet looked weird. I did some research and concluded she has scaly legs. I got some treatment with Pytheron in it, and treated her this morning. She knows where her food and water is, she also found her egg food on the opposite side of the cage. She is also missing the feathers off the back of her head. Does anyone have any information that could help me get her back to health (:

[flrancho]

I have an old Zebra that seems to have cataracts and is really old and grungy looking. I'm guessing he doesn't really take care of his feathers anymore.

The best I would say you could do for your Spice is to keep giving her the treatment for the Scaly Legs as advised and provide her with plenty of different kinds of food. The extra protein in the egg food helps, and if she wasn't fed a good diet before, she will probably benefit from other things like veggies and fruits as well.

Try not to move things around in the cage too much. My Zebra hasn't had much of an issue adjusting to new cages, but I'd imagine the least amount of changes to an items location the better. Observe her to make sure she knows where the food, water and any perches are (if she uses them.) Since she's blind, I'd imagne she's probably staying close to the bottom. You could place a low perch that hopefully she'll be able to "sense", just make sure its not too low that she hits her head on it.

If she starts to get better, you might consider getting her a buddy. It should certainly be a calm, peaceful finch that won't harass her; if possible, I think an older or another like sized handicapped finch would be good. My Zebra benefited from the company of another old Zebra who somehow injured his foot in the flight one day and lost two toes. The Zeb would cuddle up with the blind one when they slept, preen him, and sometimes seem to guide him to food or water if he was having a hard time.

[Lisa]

I think Flrancho gave you some excellent advice... I just needed to pipe in to say that I love your avatar! Very cute!

[dan78]

All good advice indeed. I don't think that there is much that can be done to help this cause except loom after it as best you can. All the best.

[Kayla.ashley]

Thanks for your help! I was considering getting a friend for her after her scaly leg is treated. She's not very active. Im assuming that par t of it has to do with her legs, its not to severe of a case, but its noticeable. But then again she can't see, so I know that plays into her inactive ness. She's eating and drinking regularly.

[Diana]

Hi. I had a blind canary once, he was my smartest ever canary boy, he was old and got blind and of course he was inactive but he knew where his food was, I used to break the shells of the hemp seeds for him just in case and he lived for about 1 year like that. I am not sure another bird would help, might bully the blind one... or maybe not...

[DanteD716]

I was given a spice finch two days ago, because she had cataracts and was assumed to be blind.
I brought her home and she acts as if she is blind, and I can see the blueishwhite cloud over her pupils, as I went to trim her nails I noticed her feet looked weird. I did some research and concluded she has scaly legs. I got some treatment with Pytheron in it, and treated her this morning. She knows where her food and water is, she also found her egg food on the opposite side of the cage. She is also missing the feathers off the back of her head. Does anyone have any information that could help me get her back to health (:

I would say you are doing just great!!! If at all possible, I would line the cage walls and back of the cage with silk plants as she can crash into her cage walls when frightened. Her feathers should grow back soon but being blind she won't ever be able to see, maybe you can give a wicker basket to nest in as they love to roost, and a society of the same sex companion? Just thinking of ways to make her comfortable, also a thick perch or two will help her keep her balance, do not move her food and water as she may not be able to find it after you moe it.. Good luck!

[Nerien]

Be careful not to put anything in there that she could become tangled in or confused and stuck in, so if you pad the cage walls with plants, choose carefully.

A small ladder going from the floor to a low perch would provide perching places itself as well as serve as a guide to a regular perch. Keep it all low in case she falls or wanders off. Being blind, she won't know that she's not near the top of the cage, but will feel the normality of being on a perch. A basket as a nest right up against a low perch or floor-to-perch branch will also be more easily found.

When you put stuff in, pick a placement and then just leave it there. Moving things around will confuse her and intimidate her from learning to navigate her little world. Food and water right next to other landmarks will help her locate it, also, perhaps two of each to increase her chances of always finding it.

A gentle, and possibly infirm, companion is probably a great idea also, they can help each other out, assisting, providing comfort.

(I, and some of my friends, have had various blind pets in the past, tho not birds. Our last, Bob the Blind Goldfish, just passed on last week after about 9 years.)

[Kayla.ashley]

It's been seven days since I started her scaly leg treatment, she is getting "scaly lotion" drops, once a day every other day. This morning I applied the fourth treatment to the birds legs, I got her stomach and chest more wet than usual. Since her treatment she has not been acting herself, she has been sitting with her eyes closed, breathing heavily, and not really responding to being talked to. When she does respond she jumps, followed by a stumble. She hasn't been walking right, with each hop she takes she stumbles and half falls over. since her feathers are wet, she shakes and when she does so she does a summer salt, followed by more stumbling from side to side. Once she does gain her footing, she falls back asleep. I don't have an avian vet in my area, any advice?

[30 Seconds to Bob]

What is it you are using to treat the scaly mites that you are applying so often? I thought the treatment involved Scatt, S76, or ivermectin, which you would administer twice, at 21 day intervals? I've also heard of mineral oil being used, but that shouldn't harm the bird unless a lot of it is ingested. Maybe a toxic reaction to whatever you are using? If the bird is still able to eat, maybe sprinkle some finely crushed activated charcoal over the food to help deactivate the toxins. Good luck. Bob

[debbie276]

I thought the treatment involved Scatt, S76, or ivermectin, which you would administer twice, at 21 day intervals?

Scatt which is Moxydectin remains active in the birds blood stream for 21 days.

S76, Iverlux or ivermectin when diluted in water only remains active for 7 to 8 hours. Therefore S76 needs to be administered in the drinking water two days per week for three weeks (21 days) in order to kill the life cycle of the airsac mites.

Here's an article on the proper treatment for scaly mites if your using one of these products:
http://www.finchniche.com/features_scalyface.php

[Kayla.ashley]

I am using "Johnson's scaly lotion" as treatment for her scaly leg. It contains Pyrethrins (from Pyrethrum Extract) 0.10% w/v, Piperonyl Butoxide 1.00% w/v, Chlorocresol 0.20% w/v. The treatment says to treat her once every other day, for six treatments. And repeat the treatment two week after I treat her. I heard ivermectin is toxic to finches, and would kill her?