ichigo
Just Hatched
Worried :(
Joined: December 2013
Posts: 3
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Hello!
Dec 2, 2013 20:14:26 GMT -7
Post by ichigo on Dec 2, 2013 20:14:26 GMT -7
Hello, everyone! I am not an African Grey owner myself, but my parents have kept one for years. Lately, Lucky hasn't been looking too well and I have taken an interest in his health. I'm worried about the poor little guy. His symptoms and behavior include: -weight loss -breathing funny -not eating or being a very picky eater -making a cooing sound frequently - sleeping too much - standing on one leg more then usual My parents took him to the vet where they took blood and a mouth culture, but they couldn't find anything wrong with him. He was given antibiotics which he took for a while, but I'm not sure that he finished taking. He doesn't like getting his beak wet. Sadly, I am his least favorite person in the family so I'm not sure what to do to make him feel any better. Any and all advice would be welcome.
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Post by Grant on Dec 3, 2013 5:49:37 GMT -7
Hello and welcome to the forum!
I understand your concern for Lucky. You did a great job in listing specific symptoms and behaviors. Was he taken to an Avian Vet and did the vet hear the unusual breathing? Did anything change lately in his environment or the kinds of food offered? How long have the symptoms been apparent? Make sure to find out if he did finish his antibiotics; if he didn't we can offer solutions to help you with this.
Grant
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Hello!
Dec 5, 2013 22:45:18 GMT -7
Post by lenke on Dec 5, 2013 22:45:18 GMT -7
Hey there, welcome My cag's name is also Lucky, so immediately I share your concerns. As grant says - was the vet an avian specialist? What's changed in the immediate environment? Do you know how old Lucky is? Has it been unseasonably or suddenly cold?
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ichigo
Just Hatched
Worried :(
Joined: December 2013
Posts: 3
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Hello!
Dec 6, 2013 19:35:43 GMT -7
Post by ichigo on Dec 6, 2013 19:35:43 GMT -7
Hello Grant and Lenke! Thanks so much for both your replies, I really do appreciate it. I'll do my best to answer both your questions in order. I was told Lucky was taken to VCA Animal Hospital where a Veterinarian with experience in exotics took a look at him and did the blood and culture tests. Both came back clean, but to be safe they gave him antibiotics. They said he had lost a lot of weight, but did not really mention anything about his breathing. Lucky is very clever and has a cynical personality. He was quick to catch on about the antibiotics and stopped taking them after a few days, so basically he did not finish them. As for his environment, I feel like he's been neglected for some time now because my parents don't have much time to spend with him as they used too. Because of this I feel like he's become a bit hostel. He tends to bite and only seems to love my mother; most animals do. Food wise he has always been a picky eater. Lucky loves his sunflower seeds and popcorn. Lately, he wont eat fruit and seems to really dislike getting his beak wet. He doesn't pluck his feathers, but they seem to lack the luster he once had and seem a bit droopy. I don't know if he's been grooming himself much lately. He also keeps them kinda fluffed up, but I think it's because he's cold since he's lost weight. My parents have kept Lucky since he was old enough to feed himself. I believe he is in his 20's now or at least in his late teens. As I said before he has always disliked me the most, but lately since I've been back home from school, I'm the only one who has had the most time to spend with him so I've noticed these changes. I think these changes became more apparent around October, but they might have started at the earliest sometime in the Summer. We live in Southern California and it was incredibly hot this summer with an unseemly high pollen count. A lot of people around us caught lung infections during that time. Recently, it has become pretty cold around here. I hope that covers everything. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for Lucky. I just want him to be healthy and happy again.
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Hello!
Dec 7, 2013 11:03:40 GMT -7
Post by Adele on Dec 7, 2013 11:03:40 GMT -7
That sounds like instead of an acute problem, it is more of a long term development (I don't have much experience with fungal infections in the lungs though, so maybe someone else will chime in to see if those symptoms match up). How long is he out of his cage each day? It sounds like his diet is not great either. Can you try offering him more variety and maybe he will eat some of the items? Can you check his weight?
If the vet seems to think he is fine, he might just be sad/depressed. I heard that can definitely affect the luster in their feathers as well. Can you try offering him treats to get him to like you more? Can anyone handle him?
It must be difficult being off to college with little you can do. Something similar happened when I left to college and the pets stayed at home (dogs can live in dorms!). I was always worried about them and would often find problems with them when I visited that had been overlooked by my parents. You can try to make things better, but as soon as you leave again, things usually go back to the way they were.
It seems like you're doing a great job trying to help Lucky.
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Hello!
Dec 7, 2013 11:50:21 GMT -7
Post by lenke on Dec 7, 2013 11:50:21 GMT -7
a couple of things i would suggest, having just come through a major health scare with my Lucky -
ask the vet if they can give you a citrus vapour mix and a nebulizer - see this <a href="http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/lenkelf/media/fids%20and%20fluters%202011/IMG_1361_zpsfab5611e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k522/lenkelf/fids%20and%20fluters%202011/IMG_1361_zpsfab5611e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1361_zpsfab5611e.jpg"/></a> to show you what i am talking about.
i nebulize my Doodle monster once a week with a combination of a citrus anti fungal suspension, mixed with water and his other meds (he has all sorts of problems, but is allowed to have, being at least 68 years old!) Then ask your vet if they have something like Heptonic - its a liver tonic and i use 2 drops per day 2 water. Its made a world of difference both to my Doodle's murderous intentions and his feather condition, as well as enabling him to grip his perches properly and recover from his bruising crashes more quickly.
then, try enforce a more varied diet on your Lucky - sunflower seeds really are junk food for parrots and have a VERY limited nutritional value. I had to get my Lucky off just sunflower seeds & peanuts and the difference it made to him once he began eating more healthily was remarkable. BUT, it did take me almost 3 years to break him of his diet habits! so expect to have to be very patient and persistent. other than that, spending time with your lucky is an excellent thing. Try sitting next to him and reading out loud, or singing, or just talking to him - and not just "hello beuatiful boy" try having a full conversation with him. These greys are so smart, you will probably find that he will try respond to you
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ichigo
Just Hatched
Worried :(
Joined: December 2013
Posts: 3
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Hello!
Dec 18, 2013 18:09:35 GMT -7
Post by ichigo on Dec 18, 2013 18:09:35 GMT -7
Hey, guys it's been a while! Thank you Adele and Lenke for both your comments!
Here are some updates and observations I've made since my first post.
Lucky's cage is always open. This way he can choose when he can get out since no one is really home during the day except for me since I'm out of school at the moment.
Adele, I had considered the possibility of a fungal infection from the start, but the vet didn't really mention anything. But, then I got to thinking would they have even been able to have known from a blood test and a mouth swab? How would they even detect something like that?
Lenke, I love that you can him?/her? your 'Doodle monster,'that's so cute! I looked up the vapor mixer you mentioned and everything I found was completely out of my budget. I do have an air purifier, though. Do you think that could work if I set it up in the living room (Lucky's room)?
As for the tonic you mentioned, is there a specific brand I can get from a pet store? My parents spend over $600 the last time they took Lucky to the vet and that was after much persuasion from my part. Both my parents are very loving, but since the economy has been so bad they can't really afford to fork over that much cash on a given basis. Needless, to say they weren't so thrilled when I told them to go to the vet to pick up some tonic. So, is there a website or other place I can pick it up from and what brand?
While observing Lucky, I've noticed his cooing sounds have remained constant and the same. He doesn't talk much until my parents come home. He sleeps most of the day.
As, he doesn't like me at all, he kinda just tries to ignore me when we are alone together. I've started playing classical music for him, but he doesn't seem interested at all and sleeps. I try to remain in the same room with him throughout the day. He almost let me pet him for the first time ever, but then tried to bite me. The only person he won't bite is my mother.
Adele and Lenke, you both spoke of adding variety to Lucky's diet, but do you guys have any suggestions? I tried grapes, apples, carrots, french fries and mandarins. He doesn't seem to care for any of them.
Do you guys also know of any types of toys I might be able to purchase for him? I've realized he hasn't had much stimulus in years.
He deserves better and I'm the last person he'd ever want to be stuck with. But, I'm all he's got right now and I just don't know what to do with him.
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Hello!
Dec 21, 2013 7:58:03 GMT -7
Post by lenke on Dec 21, 2013 7:58:03 GMT -7
hey there.
well, on a limited budget, i'd suggest you look at the available tonic brands within your price range, and select the best one you can afford. The one i use is made for me by my avian vet, so its not a brand that's commercially available.
as to variety in his diet, you need to just keep trying. i am almost 6 years into being owned by Doodle, and believe it or not, he still fights me about food....he wants his junk food (sunflower seeds and whole peanuts).
if classical music is not winning with your Lucky, then try other sorts of audio entertainment - different genres of music, audiobooks, radio talk shows etc. the one thing, though, to bear in mind, it may take a few days (or even weeks) to find your Luckys interests. Just be patient
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