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Post by Rich on May 21, 2019 4:09:27 GMT -7
Hi, Thanks for all replies. The vet phoned this morning, Melrin seems to be ok so far, so thats ok. I asked if I could visit even though I wasnt sure if it would be a good idea, the vet said Yes if I wanted to. I think though he would probably get more stressed being left again if I did visit.
The cardboard I gave merlin came from packaging I get from ebay....before that I got from the stationers in town. If there is zinc in the glue of cardboard, I think we all should avoid it. As i said before, Merlin had lots of cardboard to chew on - loves it, with crap everywhere in no time. I will have to get him away from it
thanks
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Post by Jane on May 21, 2019 4:41:44 GMT -7
Thanks for the update. I found this article about lead and zinc poisoning, written by an avian vet. www.northernparrots.com/lead-and-zinc-poisoning-in-parrots-blog155/Scroll down to the zinc section, it is interesting about how the blood sample should be taken and also about zinc levels which might explain why Merlin has no symptoms other than plucking. Jane
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Post by susan on May 22, 2019 16:27:30 GMT -7
I am so sorry you and your sweetie are going through this, prayers coming your way for a speedy recovery.
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Post by Adele on May 23, 2019 16:40:36 GMT -7
Really interesting article Jane. I wonder how long zinc stays in the system. I was looking it up, and in humans it isn't stored at all. So maybe somehow Merlin is getting a steady supply. Did they x-ray the stomach to potentially find a metal item stuck inside?
Also, I wonder if maybe his high level is a normal for him, and his plucking is behavioral, so maybe he isn't suffering from toxicity after all? It is hard with these birds since there's been very little research actually conducted on African Greys and a lot of the info is extrapolated from other parrots, even though they can be so different from each other.
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Post by Rich on May 24, 2019 0:40:55 GMT -7
hi, the vet didnt find anything at all when they x-rayed him, so he must be getting it another way. He eats boiled veg (should veg be raw?) every other day and then below:-
On the non veg day he would have:- Boiled egg 4 chicken bones from asda chick peas Pasta with grated cheese cheddar brown rice
Most days a sweetcorn (fresh) hanging on a stainless skewer in his cage
then has his fruit later which would be a mix of 3 or 4 of these:- grapes, papaya, pomegranate, apple, pear, coconut, kiwi, plumbs, melon, pineapple, mango, cherries - all stones removed and also pips etc
Treats- sun flower seads, walnuts, cashews ,hazel nuts. I have since found out that cashews are high in zinc,so he wont have them anymore!
Has eaten pizza crust with cheese on from my pizza, dry cornflakes, asda multigrain bread (only eats seeds in it), porridge with soya milk
have I done anything wrong above? What would you change?
Obvioulsy he eats his harison high potency coarse pellets everyday as well
thanks
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Post by Thomas on May 24, 2019 10:50:16 GMT -7
I hope Merlin gets to come home soon. I always worry about everything Sheeba gets into, I let her chew up cardboard boxes and those paper rolls. But she likes to get into anything and everything. I have to put her back in the cage when I am gone for more than a few minutes. I especially worry about the paint on her cages, not sure what it's made of. But at least she doesn't chew the bars. I am not sure what paint is used on cages these days, but none of it can be good. I have an older cage(the outdoor cage) that was made in China, the easy assembly kind. It's really bad, the paint peeled off the seed catcher skirting after just a few years, but the bars are still holding up. Sheeba is really into ringing bells, she kind of goes into a trance ringing the bell for a long time, thank goodness she doesn't chew on the bars.
Thomas
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Post by Rich on May 24, 2019 11:36:54 GMT -7
Hi all. well its goes from bad to worse. Merlin was due to come home today, but I got a call from the Vet very early this morning saying that Melrin had been sick and has breathed in some of the sick. Its now in his lungs. He has very laboured breathing and really is unwell. I have stayed away on the Vets advice for his treatment, but I wanted to see him desperately so went this afternoon. You can hear his breath and it weezy. He looks very tired and didnt want to interact at all really. I spent an hour and half with him until the vet could see me. She said that the next 24 to 48 hours are critical. She has cancelled her bank holiday weekend break so that she can be around - not at work, but can get there if merlin gets worse.
I went to the vets with a very upbeat bird with only his feather plucking being the problem. She (the vet) says he is low on calcium and very high in the zinc that I have already mentioned - i just wish I had never gone there!
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Post by Jane on May 24, 2019 12:24:39 GMT -7
Oh no, I am sorry to hear about this development. Keep us updated.
Jane
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Post by beakertrout on May 24, 2019 12:46:52 GMT -7
Very sorry to hear this.
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Post by Rich on May 24, 2019 13:05:53 GMT -7
thanks guys, just wish I could help him
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Post by beakertrout on May 24, 2019 13:33:32 GMT -7
You are helping him.
I hope it all turns out for the best.
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Post by susan on May 24, 2019 16:05:34 GMT -7
Praying for Merlin, as I know everyone here is also.
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Post by Thomas on May 26, 2019 7:56:20 GMT -7
Sorry to hear about Merlin, we are all pulling for his recovery.
Thomas
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Post by Haz on May 26, 2019 10:29:37 GMT -7
We are all pulling for him. Hoping for the best.
Haz
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Post by Rich on May 27, 2019 12:48:54 GMT -7
hi guys. I am going to the vets twice a day now. The vet says he eats more when I am there. He is very weak, looks tired all the time with only breif moments of being awake enough to eat. These moments have got longer though thank god. They keep counting how many breathes he does per minute and use this as a guage as to how he is doing. When it went up to 40 per min, they put him on oxygen to help him, which eventually brought the count down to 30 per min. these brethes are still very laboured, his whole body shakes with every breath, but I have no idea how many a healthy grey does per min. Could someone (or a few of you) please let me know how many breaths per min your grey does when at rest? I am just worried about it going the other way where Merlin isnt breathing enough?
thanks for your help in advance
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