Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    I assume that the eclectus was fed mostly on a diet of varied fruits
    and seeds only as an addition.
    If so the vet should FIND the micro-organism involved. It's most likely
    either a bacterial infection, easily treated with something like 
    tetracycline, or a fungi infection. The latter is not uncommon with 
    eclectus because of the fruit they eat. Both can be treated.
    
    If the bird has been fed on seeds mainly it may be an accumulated
    malnutrition which may be difficult or ven impossible to correct.
    
    Find a specialised vet fast!
    
    Peter

    Hi Lisa,
    
    When reading your note I get the impression that the VET is not an
    Avian vet. From your note it sounds like the bird is in serious
    trouble, if so this bird should get to a VET with extensive Avian
    experience. If it were me I would take him to 1 of the following:
    
    Littleton Animal Hosp. Littleton Ma. 508-486-3101
    Dr. Mcmillan, Walpole Mas. 508-668-4520
    Dr Holub, Chelmsford Ma. 508-256-9555
    
    Doug

    Hello,
    
    Thanks so much for your replies.
    
    I'm sorry I did not give the location.
    My friend and I both live in Atlanta Ga.  She has taken her bird to one
    of the best avain vets
    in town.  He does see other animals as well, but his specialty is in
    avain and exotics.
    
    An update:
    
    It's a bacterial infection as we learned last night.
    So he is treating it with an antibiotic.
    I hope Charlie will perk up and begin eating on his own soon.
    Right now they are having to tube feed him.
    
    Thanks again for your replies.
    
    Any other comments/ideas/experiences welcome.
    
    Laurie
    

    Hello.
    
    An update on Charlie.
    
    It appears he has a bad bacterial infection caused by contaminated
    seed.
    She has been feeding him as well as her other birds the same brand of
    seed, Topper.
    None of the others are scik, only Charlie.  They have send samples of
    the seed
    off to be analyzed. At this point, the bacteria seem to be under
    control.
    The battle they are fighting now is getting Charlie interested in
    eating
    again.  The vet is having to tube feed him some days because he just
    shows no interest in eating enough to keep himself going.
    Hopefully things will look better for them soon.
    
    Laurie
    

    Hi fellow bird people,
    
    Just a note to let you all know that Charlie the eclectus died a week
    ago today.
    I've been on vacation and very busy so have not had a chance to write
    till now.
    The vet suggested that she bring him home as the infection was not
    contagious to the others she has.
    I can't remember if I mentioned that the bacteria came from
    contaminated seed.  Anyway, he improved slightly at the vet but not
    very much.
    So the vet felt that maybe he needed the home 
    environment to help perk him up.  He lived at home about one week
    then died sometime early Wednesday morning a week ago.
    She is quite devestated.  In fact, she is taking this so hard
    she's talking about getting rid of all her other birds.  She feels
    quite a lot of guilt
    over this and feels that maybe she just is not observant enough to
    handle
    birds.  If anyone has any advice or suggestions I could give her I'd
    be very happy
    to pass them along.  I was quite surprised when she told me she was
    thinking
    about this.  I thought the others would be a comfort to
    her after losing Charlie.
    
    Thanks for listening.
    
    Laurie
    

    The tears start to flow when I hear about birds that pass on.
    Birds are so innocent...they deserve to live forever.
    They can't tell us when they are sick so as pet owners 
    we are sometimes very helpless.
    I have a note in this file about Chet, the lovebird, knawing on his leg.
    He is doing well now, but he has a collar on and is helpless.
    He is probably wondering why he is being kept away from the
    other birds and why he has such an uncomfortable thing around his
    neck.  It hurts me to have to confine him, but it is for his own good.
    As pet owners, we have chosen to be guardians for our birds.  While
    we get a great deal of enjoyment from the bond that develops,
    we also have the burden of saddness when our little friends are
    sick or pass on.
    I remember reading somewhere (maybe this notesfile?) that Heaven
    would be a very dull place without birds (and dogs and even cats!)!
    
    Your friend should not even think about getting rid of her other birds.
    She would probably be lonely without them and she would most likely
    have a difficult time finding a home for them where they could
    be as loved as they are now.
    
    Nancy

    	I agree with Nancy, the birds that we 'parent' are very special and
    the feelings that your friend is having are normal.  But she should
    remember that the bird was well cared for and that it had lots of love
    while it was with her and that should be a comfort because she knows
    that she can give the same to her other birds and make their lives
    better.  If it sounds like I'm talking about people it's because they
    are children to us.  We 'raise' them and they become part of our
    family.  I think that birds are so like us that the bond bwteen birds
    and people is very strong.  Please tell your friend that she should not
    feel any guilt.  The thing that we must remember is that since birds
    are so small their metabolism is VERY fast and so many times once we
    are able to recognize a problem it may be too late.  That is no ones
    fault, it's not because we don't love them enough or care for them
    enough or pay enough attention to them, it's simply a biological fact.
    
    Tom

    My heart goes out to your friend. Please tell her not to give up and
    not to feel such guilt. Something like that is one in a million and 
    she did the very best she could and you can not ask for more. All of
    us I am sure, have done something - or not done something - or have
    not seen something. We are only human - not perfect. But that is why
    our bird friends love us and visa versa. Tell here there is probably
    another bird out there that needs a home and she has the space now.
    
    I have lost a bird and I really know how it feels - but she should
    just forge ahead.
    
    			Give her our best!!

         Please tell your friend that I am very sorry too, and not to give
    up with the other birds.
    
         I have cats, rabbits and large birds (chickens, turkeys, etc.). 
    While these birds aren't normally considered "pets", certain ones have
    distinguished themselves as being "pet-quality".  One chicken I have is
    always curious about what I'm doing, but she is on the very bottom of
    the chicken-pecking-order so whenever something happens that upsets the
    rest of the flock, she gets beaten upon.  She is a white leghorn, but
    with a fuzzy head of feathers.  The others will pull out those
    feathers, and then she has this pink little head.  Chickens love to
    peck, so they peck and eventually they break her little head open,
    either by pulling the feathers or pecking.  Once chickens see blood,
    they go crazy.  Fuzzy is now down in a pen all by herself in the
    cellar, until the production hens (that peck) are replaced by our new
    brood that are supposed to be of quite temperament.  When that happens,
    we will try her in with them.
    
         I feel so bad, keeping her in the cellar, as chickens are social
    animals.  But if she goes back out, she gets pecked and hurt, so it's
    the best solution for her for now.  But I can't wait until the new
    brood grows up and I can try her in there with them - perhaps then she
    can have a normal chicken life 8-) .
    
         I guess the point is that we all try to do the best we can, but
    sometimes we can't.  If I didn't have a separate pen for Fuzzy, she
    would have been killed by now.
    
         Your friend did her best, that's all that is required.
    
    					- Andrea

    My thanks go out to all who have replied.
    I'll be very happy to pass your replies along to her.  It seems as
    though she's beginning not to think as seriously about giving up the
    other birds, but only time will tell.
    
    Thanks again very much.
    
    Laurie