When I woke up this morning, coco was 100% his old self, apart from a bit of soft poo
...He ate his seed, drank his water, got annoyed when I tried to give him a pet
(he only ever lets me pet him when he's not feeling well, probably gets some comfort out of it) I called the vets and told them the entire story from beginning to end. They said that it most likely was the new food I had just had him on a few days previous, and suggested I should go out and buy a brand that I had already had him on that he liked. They told me to give it a day or so, and that if he stayed ok, than there was no need to come in. I was unsure about not bringing him to the vets, but if the vet is saying not to come in (loss of money anybody?) then that's gotta mean something right?
So I went out and bought some other food and bottled water while I was at it just in case. He's siting on his perch preening himself right now. I'll give him till tonight for his stool to solidify. If it isn't by then, I don't care what the vet says, I'm scheduling another appointment.
But you guys have got me wondering about mites. I doubt he has any external parasites. We've had him for 7 years now, and he's been in absolutely no contact with other animals, except for my two dogs, who have always been treated for parasites and have neither of them ever suffered from them. (Thank God) But I have heard that a bird could be infested with feather mites for several years before it died, and that worries me. I'm ashamed to say we've never taken him to the vets for regular checkups, so he's never been tested for anything. He's just such a nervous, and very easily stressed, bird. He's had who knows how many owners, he was abused by at least one that I know of...It took him two weeks to recover having to spend one night in another room while mine was being painted, and I slept in the room with him!
I've heard of something called Avian Insect Liquidator, which is specifically designed for preventing and killing any type of external parasite that birds could have. It's water based and is, supposedly, very safe for all types of birds. But it comes from australia...Do any of you know of anything I could give coco to kill/prevent mites and such that WON'T be harmful to him if he DOESN'T have mites? I know of evermectin, but that's more something that a vet would prescribe right? With dosages depending on type of bird and weight...
I'm getting ahead of myself. I always do this when I research bird diseases and such. The symptoms are so like what a bird does normally (except in excess) that's its hard for me to differentiate between a sick coco, and a coco who's annoyed because he's molting and he's itchy.
Sigh. My parents think that coco was just really stressed out. He's always had the run of the first floor, but we just adopted a new dog 2 months ago, and...well it's not that dakota wants to eat coco or anything, it's just that he thinks coco's a really fun toy...
So he's been sequestered in my room for the last two months, and I've had to share my time between the dogs outside my room, and the bird inside my room. (Which coco was not happy about. We used to hang out as one big happy familly you see)
And all of this to say that I have no idea what to think anymore...my head hurts.
Any thoughts on this huge ramble anyone?...
