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Nikki
09-03-2008, 09:29 PM
I've had the scariest bird mom day today :(

This morning, Toby was a little off when I had him out playing before work, he didn't want to step up and bit me when I pressed my finger up to his chest for him to step up. I just scooped him up and put him in the cage and thought he was being a brat.... so I didn't take him with me to work today. Nothing like a cranky parrotlet who didn't get enough sleep to make your work day a bad one.

I came home around 5:30pm and I got him out to play again. He stepped right up on my hand and I noticed that there was something crusty all in his head feathers and I knew I didn't give him anything sticky with his morning food. I called my mother into the room to help me investigate and as we were checking the cage, Toby started to vomit. Like projectile vomiting of clear liquid all over my shirt. (I never knew the little guy could hold that much) Then, he did it again, three times.
I freaked out and started crying cause I just knew he was gonna die right then and there and I started yelling at mom to find the vet's card so I could call. I got the answering service and the dog vet was on call... which just stressed me out more. Then, 5 minutes later, my wonderful new bird vet called me instead of the doctor on call.... much to my relief. She asked me some questions. Had me do a few little tests with Toby to check his alertness level. He had a clear poop while I was on the phone with her which of course just freaked me out more! She calmed me down again and had me check a couple of other things and told me to keep him warm, limit his access to water to a few cc's per hour and offer him some of his food if he wanted it and to document poops and vomit and she would call me back in 2 hours.
He ate a little, and pooped with color, and drank a little. And didn't vomit at all until right before she called back. Then he vomited up the seed he had eaten undigested which led her to the conclusion that he has a crop yeast infection secondary to his antibiotics for the sinus infection.
I had to move him to a hospital cage and I have to pick up a prescription for Nystatin in the morning.
I wanted to share the background on the story in case this happened to anyone else's bird and they freaked as bad as me so you could at least have a possible cause and a possible reaction in case you couldn't get in touch with your vet for some reason.
And please pray for the little guy. I think he feels okay, but he's scared me half to death tonight.

My question is: has anyone else experienced this? and if so are there any highly palatable but easy on the crop foods that I can try to offer him until this passes?
(I hope Chapala is back <crosses fingers>)

lineola
09-03-2008, 09:48 PM
Sorry to hear you and little Toby are having such an awful time! Antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria in the digestive system, and they are what keep the yeast in check. I've never had experience with the crop yeast infection, but I know with human internal yeast problems you're supposed to restrict sugars. Sugar feeds the yeast, so you might lay off feeding fruits as something to try.

It sounds like you have a good bird vet if she if responsive like that.

Healing prayers for Toby are happening right now, from this forum member!

Maddie

jessief423
09-03-2008, 10:34 PM
i agree with maddie, the yeast feeds off any sugars, including carbohydrates which turn into sugars.

Nikki
09-03-2008, 11:16 PM
Okay, thanks guys. He's only nibbling on some harrison's grey millet that the vet gave him at our visit last week, but he's kept it down so far. I'm getting his medicine in the morning.
I don't think there will be any sleep for me tonight because he doesn't want to be alone in his hospital cage. He's being clingy because he feels so bad. But I don't mind cause I'm so worried about him and he really is like my baby since I don't have kids and only one bird. I'm gonna try sitting the cage and the heating pad on the other half of my bed and see if he does better being able to see me. As long as he can make it through the night, I think he'll be okay.

And yes, this bird vet is amazing. I'm so glad we found her for situations like this. She's so caring and involved. But, for Toby's sake and for my sanity I'll be thankful when my little guy gets completely well.

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes. I'll update with progress and changes.

Mustang99
09-04-2008, 05:17 AM
Nikki -- I just saw your posting and sorry to hear that you've had a bad night...it's such a worry when these little guys get sick. Kiwi has had a few crop infections and the vet is researching a new medicine to give her since she is currently on ketoconazale for the infection. She does not respond to Baytril or Nystatin. She has never vomited with her infections.

I know she has an infection by a few signs: 1) she is less vocal & she makes a noise in her throat in which I know she has fluid in the back, 2) you can see her crop extended, 3) she picks at food but doesn't eat since there is discomfort and lastly, her droppings look more of a mucos consistency.

We have scutinized her diet, I always ensure that her cage is clean to avoid any bacteria on the cage so I'm at a loss at to why it comes back.

I would love to know what your vet advises and wish Toby a speedy recovery.

lisap
09-04-2008, 08:13 AM
Aah Nikki I so feel your pain, I had seen articles about antibiotics killing the good bacteria, I have read of giving them Benebac or Potent Brew or Bioplus but I would ask your vet what she would recommend. There are also lots of articles on the web.

I pray that everything will settle down soon for you and your baby.

Lisa

Nikki
09-04-2008, 01:05 PM
He made it through the night, but was totally weak this morning. By the time I got to the vet at 9:15 he was pretty much comatose. He had a seizure and died in my hands in the waiting room.

The vet said it moved so fast there was really nothing to do. And that it was better that he got to spend his last time with his mommy instead of in a birdie ICU.

He was on benebac, but he was being a parrotlet about taking it and would spit it out, or blow it through his nose, or toss any food I tried to hide it in into the bottom of the cage. I gave him some of the organic yogurt with cultures about 1/2 tsp every other day to try to put some of the good bacteria back which was her second suggestion since he wouldnt take the benebac.

I feel so responsible for letting him down somehow. The vet promises me there's nothing I could have done, but that really doesn't make me feel any better.

So sorry for adding to the young parrotlets dying statistic. Thank you all for the great support and lots of knowledge that I gained on this forum.

Babybreau
09-04-2008, 01:46 PM
Awww hun, I was so sorry to heart about Toby. My thoughts are with you at this time.
*HUGS*

jodeg
09-04-2008, 01:51 PM
So, so sorry to hear about Toby! Our thoughts are with you.

musicjan
09-04-2008, 03:04 PM
Oh Nikki, I'm so sorry. I was reading the thread hoping for a positive update. I'm so sorry you lost him. Just know that you did all you could possibly do. yOu acted quickly - did everything right.

lisap
09-04-2008, 03:17 PM
I am so sorry Nikki you totally adored your baby and he loved you, you did everything and more for your loved one so don't feel responsible. You know that I know how you feel and it will get easier with time even though it doesn't feel like it. Your baby passed in the hands of the person he loved the most and it time you will gain comfort from this. My heart weeps for you and your loss and I am here for you as are everyone else on this site.

All my love and condolences.

Lisa

jessief423
09-04-2008, 03:22 PM
i'm so sorry to hear about toby. i hope you are doing okay.

BeakerLuvsBunsen
09-04-2008, 06:26 PM
oh my goodness....what a sad story--
my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
you did everything you could do in this situation
thank you for sharing this with us.. I can't imagine how hard that would be

-best

Mustang99
09-04-2008, 08:21 PM
Nikki..I'm so sorry to hear about Toby. It's such a void when we lose a precious bird. Please know that you acted quickly and did everything you could. Sending hugs to you.

Nikki
09-04-2008, 10:56 PM
Thank you all for the kind thoughts.

I got out of the shower tonight and I missed hearing him calling to me because it was his usual time to take his nightly bath in my wet hair. It's like everything reminds me of him. His empty cage doesn't help matters much either. His cage is right at the foot of my bed so we were really never more than 10 feet apart unless I was at work.

I know I'll miss him always, and that the pain will be with me for a long time... I can only hope , that wherever he is, he knows I did everything I could to keep him here with me and I know that I'll see him again someday.

Fuzer
09-05-2008, 06:57 PM
I haven't been keeping up with the forum for a couple of days, and just found out.... I am so very sorry. I know that was a terrible thing for you to see and go through. I hope that you will only remember the many good times you made for Toby.... God bless

unpoquito
09-05-2008, 09:44 PM
Oh Nikki,
I am so incredibly heartbroken for you and Toby. This is so unfair. I wish there was something I could do for you. You're such a loving parrotlet mommy, and Toby was a very lucky baby.
Hugs,

Amy1569
09-06-2008, 08:56 AM
So sorry to hear of your loss Nikki. And so young...

I'm 1 week today away from getting my parrotlet...I guess there's lots I need to know....as far as diseases and what not. I'm glad I found this site.

Again, thoughts are with you...
Amy

Py & Cosmo
09-06-2008, 06:19 PM
I'm so terribly sorry to hear about Toby...my condolences to you and your family - my thoughts are with you all.