I Got Pooped On

[Paula0442]

I was sitting on the couch, Emmy's (the Parrotlet that I picked up on Friday) cage sitting on the table in front of me. Next thing I know, she falls off the perch and lays there on the bottom of the cage. I went and picked her up. She looked dead. Eyes closed, neck limp, body cold. I put her little beak in my mouth and blew!!! She opened her eys but just to slits. I ran to where I keep her food, and thank goodness I had some of the powder formula left from a couple weeks ago. I made it, warmed it ran for the french cathedar and started getting warm food into her.
I had to force it at first, but after the first couple times she opened her mouth a bit. During this time I went and told my husband that she was dying but I wanted to keep her warm, loved and comfortable until she did.
I put her in my shirt, over my heart and held my had cupped over her for about an hour. I could feel her warming up. I got her out to check on her and her eyes were wide open. I went to heat up the formula again and started feeding her, thinking I would have to force it. I held the cathedar to her beak and she started angrily cheeping at me until I got more into her.
THEN SHE POOPED ON MY SHIRT!!!! WOOOHOOOOO! :D I figure that's a good sign.
I put her back in my shirt and layed on the couch for another hour, checked her out again and all was well.
She's now back in her cage, in a fleece pouch over a LOW heating pad. I've been checking on her every 15 minutes.
I know this isn't over yet but atleast I have some hope now.
I forgot to say, she was weened for a week before I got her. All she's been eating for me though is millet.
Wish me/us luck. I'm afraid of losing her.

[nar1122]

Just keep doing what you are doing. Keep checking on it. You may want to risk your full night's sleep to keep your eye on Emmy.

What do you suppose is the problem?

Is she drinking water??

[nar1122]

By the way, for starters, the poop is a good sign. LOL

Just keep it coming. LOL :D:D

Good luck with her! :)

[catfish]

Be careful blowing into her mouth b/c our mouths are filled with bacteria. But if she isn't breathing, you really have no choice. Just make sure... you don't want to add to her problems. Her immune system is weaker since she is younger and even worse off since she is not feeling good... just trying to be helpful

I've read in other places a heating bulb is better then a heating pad, you may want to look into that tomorrow... especially if she is cold to the touch. Young birds also don't have the best sense of balance, so make sure the perches are kept low to the ground so when they do fall, it doesn't hurt them.

I would recommend that you take her into an ER vet if they take care of birds to have her double checked... if anything, take her to your avian vet tomorrow.

[AndreaFahy]

What age is she ? Sorry I have forgotten.

[Paula0442]

The coffee's already brewing Nar.
I've been saying that she hasn't been eating, except for millet, and I hadn't seen her drink.
I'm just going to keep going with the formula for a few days until she doesn't want it anymore. I'll keep millet in her cage at all times like I have been.

[nar1122]

Like they said, you definately need to see an avian vet first thing tomorrow. Also, if problems worsen through the night, you need to get her to an ER.

You should check now where a local one is, or the closest one. And maybe call them and let them know you might have to come in tonight, or maybe even go before the problems worsen.

Definately continue the formula for now. You have experience handfeeding, correct??

[catfish]

What age is she ? Sorry I have forgotten.

Profile states "1 P'lt born 6-12-07"

[AndreaFahy]

If she is not eating enough and not handfeeding, she will have to be tube fed - this is NOT for the inexperienced hand feeder as it can go terribly wrong. What did the droppings look like? She could also be getting dehydrated, which depending on how badly dehydrated could call for supportive fluid therapy (subcu. fluids) This really has me worried...

[AndreaFahy]

Oh Paula, you are close enough to go to Dr. Burkett in Durham!!!! We use only him and it takes me three hours to get there.

He is awesome and does emergency visits:
http://birdieboutique.com/askavvet.html

[nar1122]

Next time you formula feed her, make it a little bit watery, to ensure she is getting water.

How is her poop lately??

[AndreaFahy]

There is a very good chance that on a heating pad you will overheat the juvenille and dehydrate her even more. Are you using a digital thermometer right where she lies on the pad??? This can cause major complications. Even if she has a bit of millet or some other food in her, the heat will draw out all of the moisture and she could wind up with an impacted crop, infections, etc, etc.

Not to be offensive to you Paula, you are doing the best within your means I know that you are, but I really wish it were outlawed to sell unweaned babies - and even to the extend to wish that hand raising was even banned in the states.... :(

[catfish]

You really want to get her into the vet before she gets worse....

In my 7 years working for vets, and the 4 years at an ER hosp.... when a bird comes in barely responsive and cold, it's most likely going to lead to tears...

Getting them in at the first sign of illness is their best chance. Because at this point they are already pretty bad off. I really can't stress it enough, call your local ER vets and see if they can see a bird... if that is not possible get her in to your normal avian vet ASAP.

[AndreaFahy]

Profile states "1 P'lt born 6-12-07"

THank you Catfish for pointing that out to me! I try to answer so quickly b/t all of my work that I am so unable to keep up with *L*

[AndreaFahy]

http://www.abvp.com/find_results.aspx?city=&state=NC&lastName=&practice=&practiceType=Avian&Submit=Submit

Dr. Greg Burkett
3039 University Drive
Durham , NC 27707
Phone: 919/490-3001

Dr. Ryan DeVoe
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro , NC 27205
Phone: 336/879-7633

Dr. Keven Flammer
4700 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh , NC 27606
Phone: 919/513-6353

Dr. Chris Griffin
2100 Lane Street
Kannapolis , NC 28083
Phone: 704/932-8111

Dr. Lauren Powers
12117 Statesville Road
Huntersville , NC 28078
Phone: 704/949-1100

[nar1122]

Based on Catfish's and Andrea's expertise, I believe they have concluded that your best bet is to take it to the ER, now or very soon.

Good Luck.
I'm off to bed.
Emmy is in my prayers.
:)

[catfish]

I'm off to the gym to work out before bed. I've actually been able to finish my homework while on here, can you believe it? Anyways, it's put me off schedule and I need to go burn some calories. Your babe is in my prayers~

Keep us posted. We really care about you and your bird

[AndreaFahy]

I am confused, on August 12 you had Emmy and said you were instructed to hand feed 3 x's a day as she was about five weeks old. Was she not with you then? Had she gone back to the breeders? It now sounds like you only picked her up on Friday, not Aug. 12. I am just trying to imagine what Emmy has been dealing with, trying to piece things together and get a "mental visual" of the entire scenario.

Emmy should be around eight weeks old. A parrotlet should be weaned at that age, but I know some that were fed till 10 weeks of age. It depends on the individual and the parents.

Can you remind me who the breeder is?

[AndreaFahy]

I am also concerned of possible aspiration if you have been blowing and force feeding. It is all too easy to aspirate a bird, esp. when you don't get a feeding response. This could lead to a sudden death (food in the lungs) or even aspiration pneumonia, which left untreated will be fatal.

I hope you are not online b/c you are heading to a vet...

[Paula0442]

We have an ER right here in Huntersville Andrea. I called them last night and told them what was going on and they told me what to do for now and then to call them back in an hour or sooner to let them know if I'm bringing her in. I was already doing the things they told me to do so I felt good about that and didn't want to stress her anymore by running her there.
My regular vet is in Charlotte and would have gone in to the office if I would have called. He's not listed as an Avian doctor but knows about treating birds and other exotics. I had to take a grouchy Cockatoo there and he was like the bird whisperer. I was stunned at what he could do after a few minutes.
I've tube fed before Andrea. Not for the faint of heart is it!!! I had to do it with a sick sugar glider. I hope I never have to do it again.
Everything is great today. I stayed up until 3:00AM doing feedings about every hour. Not force feedings thank goodness. She slept under my night shirt, over my heart the whole time. I had to use the bathroom once and she had a fit when I put her back in her cage for a couple minutes. LOL
I was up at 5:AM this morning and have given her two feedings so far. She's back in her cage right now, in her pouch with the heating pad still under it. SHE'S EATING MILLET AS I SIT HERE, NEXT TO HER, TYPING!!!
I'll keep you up to date and I'm calling my regular vet at 9:00.

I can't thank you all enough!

[AndreaFahy]

I am so relieved to read this :)

[Sally]

Let us know how things are going. I hope the vet will help. Poor baby. Can't wait to hear!:)

[Pado]

Paula - definitely keep us updated on this - after reading the thread I'm very anxious to know how Emmy is doing.

[Paula0442]

The vet and I have talked 4 times today and I've talked to the breeder twice. We talked about EVERY little detail and they said that I did EVERYTHING right. I don't hear that too often. LOL

I must have dreamt last nights events because she is completely back to her wild little self, except for not biting me. Maybe last night after being under my shirt and over my heart made her realize that she can trust me. I hope that's it.

Any way, the vet said that he can look at her and do all of the tests but after what happened he would like to wait a day so that she isn't stressed anymore than she was last night. He said call anytime day or night if I felt that I needed him.

Andrea, Emmy isn't the same bird that I first had a couple weeks ago. She's happy and healthy and living with a relative that I love and trust. The poor thing lost her p'let last month. She saw Emmy #1 and just sobbed. Emmy was sitting in her hair, kissing her on the nose, cheeping into her face like she was telling her something. She didn't do that to me. By the end of the visit she was walking out the door with her. I was sad but happy that I saw my Aunt come to life like that.

After that, I talked to the breeder again and he had a few that were a couple weeks older. He was so touched by my story that he sold me another P'let for half of what I bought Emmy #1 for.

So as you already know I used the name Emmy again because I just loved it so much. It just seems fitting for her.

Also Andrea, I was vey safe in the heat of the heating pad. I had it on low, put a wash cloth on top of it and then she was in a double layered fleece pouch that is like a little box without a lid. At one point I didn't think she was getting any heat at all.

Nar, I was sure to make the formula slightly watery for dehydration and I didn't think it should have been too thick at that time.

The vet just called to check up on us. All is well and my bugger is eating millet with a smile on her face. LOL

[Paula0442]

Also, I'll be off here for the rest of the night. I want all my attention to go to Emmy right now.
Bye until tomorrow and THANKS for everything.

[AndreaFahy]

all sounds good - and how very sweet of you to allow Emmy the first go to the other home. That was very big of you :)

[nar1122]

Good. Im glad for her.

I'm glad you are doing things perfect!

Good luck! :)

[Paula0442]

Nar, it's not very often that someone uses my name and perfect in the same sentence so this was a real treat for me. LOL

Believe me Andrea, I check on her everyday and my Aunt knows that I'll take her back at any time... but I don't think that's gonna happen any time soon. ;)

I did four small formula feedings today. The last one she refused to take. I think she's filling up on millet again which is great. I'll still offer the formula again tomorrow. If she wants it, great and if she doesn't, great.

Emmy is in her pouch, on a heating pad and looking like an angel.
Maybe I can sleep more than two hours tonight. I'll be up until 3:00AM (I'm a Big Brother After Dark addict) so I'll be able to keep checking on her until then.

Just wanted to make a quick drive by so I could let all of my caring new friends how things were going.

Goodnight everyone. :)

[catfish]

thanks for the update :D

[nar1122]

Thanks for the update.

I am glad Emmy is doing so much better!
I hope she continues this way.
:)

She is still in my prayers.

[Elyse]

Best of luck!!! Keep us updated!!

[Mustang99]

I have been following your ordeal and wish you all the best. I'm new to the forum and have been so happy with all the support I have received. Your quick actions served Emmy well...Good luck!

[Paula0442]

We had a great night and a great morning. I did another formula feeding when I got up. She's wanting less and less now. :D
She's eating millet like a champ today while sitting on her perch.

Thanks for walking me through all of this.:)

[AndreaFahy]

For future reference (and this is different b/c baby has not been well) but it's not a great idea to wean a parrotlet onto a "junky" food. While millet is good for them, it is often what they will choose over every other kind of food and it can become more difficult to get them to eat other foods. We have always weaned them onto healthy foods - warm cooked grains/beans, small chopped fresh organic produce and the likes.

[Paula0442]

I was thinking that after this is all loooooong past us that I would start putting in less and less millet everyday. There have been good foods in there every day since I got her. I thought, what the heck, ateast she knows there's something out there besides millet.
Andrea, how much millet is too much/not enough per day?

[AndreaFahy]

umm...I don't really have a good answer. I never give more than about a 1/3 of a sprig in a day. I tend to only use the teeny chunks that you can peel off as training treats. But you can't cut it back that much yet I am sure. It can be tricky to wean a single parrotlet. At what age did you get her?

[Paula0442]

I would say that they're 6-8 weeks.

[AndreaFahy]

6-8 weeks now or when you got her?

[nar1122]

Paula, how is Emmy doing?