Sick bird, help please...

[Fur&Feathers]

Hi, I've registered here as "Dante" before and unfortunately forgot my password and lost the necessary e-mails, I have, however, been a lurker ever since. Anywho, to the important stuff.

I have a Nanday Conure, about 8 months old. Just yesterday he was showing signs of a sick birdy. Not active, sitting there eyes half closed, feathers puffed out. He's still eating his food and his millet. This morning he threw up. I don't know where or what it looked like, because he doesn't live with me. He lives with my mom and her friend (in very good hands.) They ARE taking him to the vet right now, but I'm wondering if this is life-threatening to my poor baby? Has this happened to any of you bird owners? Thank you so much ahead of time.

Here's a picture of my baby:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/DANTE.jpg

[Kfamr]

Being more so a dog person myself, I have no advice for you, but I will be thinking of your birdie for a safe and healthy recovery. :( :)

[Fur&Feathers]

Thank you very much. I see your three beautiful dogs in your picture there.

Edit, instead of making another post. My mom just got a speeding ticket on the way to the vet... cop didn't care about my sick bird... :mad: :mad: :mad:

[chrissycat21]

I'm sorry your bird is sick. Is he doing any better? (Sorry about your mom's speeding ticket, too)

I hope your bird is doing better!

[popcornbird]

Here's some good information on this.

http://www.catfoodaviary.com/Articles/Regurgitation.html

Your bird could possibly be ill...or he could just be showing you, or whoever he loves his 'love'. Regurgitation is sometimes the result of birdie lust :o...and they sometimes do it for birds OR people they love. They sometimes do it when they want to 'feed' their mate, and lots of birdies fall in love with humans and do it to them. :p Popcorn has only done it twice, and I freaked out, but in his case, it was courtship behavior. He was very hormonal at the time. Seeing that it will be spring soon, it could 'possibly' be the desire of a mate. It sometimes looks like they're throwing up when they do that.

SOMETIMES, birds really do vomit, and it could be caused by many factors. He could have possibly eaten something that upset his tummy. He could have possibly eaten something dangerous. He might be sick. Certain poisonings can also cause a bird to vomit. Its best to get him checked out by a vet to rule out any illness. Hopefully, its nothing serious, but because you said he seemed sick yesterday, I would recommend getting him checked by an avian vet.

Good luck. I wish the police would've been more understanding...:( Let us know what happens! Your bird is adorable, and I hope and pray he'll be just fine.

[Fur&Feathers]

Thank you everyone so much for your help and popcornbird, the informative site and LOL @ Popcorn regurgitating. I very much appreciate it. The doctor diagnosed it as Chlamydia. Dante, my bird, had to receive fluids and has to be given medication via syringe. :( They said they would've given him a shot but he they didn't have it, which is unfortunate because birds tend to throw up this kind of medicine. The doctor also said if he's not better within 24 hours, he's got to go back. Something else he said, and I forgot to tell you all. My mom owns the Nanday Conure and her friend owns a Cockatiel, his name is Zeus. The doctor said cockatiels are carriers of Chlamydia, but do not get it. The birds of course aren't caged together, but they do go in the same places... on the couch, floor, tables. The doctor said there is a chance of full recovery... I sure hope so. :( I'll be visiting my baby tomorrow morning.

Thank you all, again.

[Karen]

Poor birdie - I hope he feels better soon!

[popcornbird]

Oh poor baby!!! :( Hopefully with treatment, he'll be able to fully recover. Just be careful, because I believe chlamydia is one of those bird diseases that can transfer to humans. If you have any pregnant woman or sick person in the house, advise them not to deal with the bird's droppings etc. until he recovers. Hopefully all will be well, but just be sure to take precautions. I'll be praying for your bird, and for you. Keep us updated.

http://www.avianbiotech.com/diseases/chlamydia.htm

[Fur&Feathers]

Thank you Karen and popcornbird. Neither of them have colds or are pregnant but I'll let them know, thank you.

I've posted some pictures below of Dante and Zeus, hope you don't mind. Zeus absolutely loves the camera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/danteconure/D1.jpg

Also, can anyone help me with the sex of the cockatiel? Thanks.

[Giselle]

Ooooh Nanday! Gimme gimme gimme! So glad you found out his sickness.

Just a few questions. I'm on the hunt to find my future "perfect bird". At one point, I was considering the Nanday Conure, but was advised the Nanday would be too noisy (as all Aratinga conures are). So how is their noise level? More or less compared to your cockatiel? Well, I guess that's not a very fair question since it looks like the cockatiel is a hen...Also, how many inches long are they? He looks very similar to your tiel, sizewise. I'm most leaning towards the Pattie right now, but I've always loved Nandays.:)

Edited to add: Your cockatiel is a hen, no doubt about it.

[Fur&Feathers]

I'm not the primary caretaker of the cockatiel, so I didn't research them very thoroughly... but I'm assuming that's female? :o

Nanday conures are absolutely wonderful. Zeus is far more noisier than Dante. Zeus goes from sun rise to sun down. Dante will only scream if you leave the room and you don't tell him, "I'll be right back!" And he'll scream if you bother him while he's busy... like eating millet or if he's really focused on a toy. :D I think getting a Nanday Conure would be a perfect birdy, but either of them are great, I'm in love with them both. They're both babies right now. I believe Dante is about 9 months and Zeus 7 months.

[popcornbird]

Your tiel looks like a female, but you can't always be too sure when they're young. :)

It seems that the two of them are exposed to each other. In this case, I would think it necessary to get your cockatiel tested/treated too...because if she's been exposed to the disease, she too, should be treated. Just a thought, to be on the safe side. Keep us updated on the situation!

[Fur&Feathers]

The avian doctor said that Cockatiels are carriers, but do not actually get Chlamydia.

I'll update you as soon as I get a call from my mom. :)

[Fur&Feathers]

Update on my baby, Dante.

They are taking him and the tiel to the vet right now. Dante's feathers are all puffed out and he looks so tired and weak. :( The "avian" vet said the results for Chlamydia were negative, but he's treating him for it anyway. Needless to say, Dante and Zeus are going to a different vet. The options were limited yesterday because it was a Sunday. Anyway, I'll pray for my baby, but I just have a bad feeling about all of this. :( :(

[popcornbird]

Oh poor baby...:( Please keep us updated. Still praying for your sweet birdie's speedy recovery.

[Kater]

I'm praying for little Dante! :(
I hope with this second opinion comes a more definitive diagnosis!

[Fur&Feathers]

The second vet diagnosed him with a vitamin deficiency. The cause being, wrong food. Where we got him from, unfortunately not a breeder, fed him cockatiel exact rainbow pellets since he was a baby and was able to eat it. So that's what we've kept him on. The vet gave him a supplement shot and also a form of supplement to administer to him. We're going to switch him slowly to some conure food. The vet said if he's not better within a week, to bring him back. I've been told Dante's slowly acting like his old self. Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Edit: Zeus is perfectly fine. :)

[popcornbird]

A vitamin deficiency should be easy to fix with the right foods! What food did your vet recommend? Zupreem pellets are really good, but remember that birds need other foods along with pellets, such as veggies, some seeds, etc. Hope he'll get all better soon! I'm sure he'll get better once he's on the right diet. :) Cockatiel Exact Rainbow Pellets probably weren't right for him because he's not a cockatiel, and every species has their own nutritional requirements!

[Fur&Feathers]

I'm not sure which food the vet recommended, I haven't asked for many details today from my mom, she's been in a hurry all day. :\ He gets his veggies. :D He was very reluctant at first and afraid of them :o lol, but now he eats them. As for seeds, that will hopefully be in the new food. If not, he'll get them one way or the other. :D

BTW, Popcorn and Muffin are so CUTE!!!