need input on sick Grey vets stumped

[AVorhauer]

My eight month old Grey started acting very strange immediatly following a grooming session at the bird store. Her strange behavior progressed over the last three weeks to the point she can't fly well now. She is very clumsy and the worst part is she has dropped a dangerous amount of weight that she is currently hospitalized for. She had blood tests ran which showed nothing significant and gained a couple of grams while hospitalized last week. She then returned home to be rechecked in 4 days for weight gain. She was given a working diagnosis of regressive eating behavior and I was told that she possibly was so traumatized by the grooming that she reverted back to infancy and was put on baby food of which I fed it to her from a spoon and I was told to model food eating to her by eating with her and continue offering a wide variety of food. Previous to this problem, she ate everything. Her pellets, veggies, fruit, pasta, sprouts, etc. She is now throwing up and the vet now believes something else is up other than a behavior issues but doesn't seem to know what it is. He said she is dangerously thin so she is hospitalized in case it goes bad and they have to tube feed her. Today he said she is eating a small amount and he will continue to monitor her through the weekend. I feel no one has any idea what is going on and my little bird is wasting away. If anyone has had something like this happen please let me know. Also, she went from a total happy playful nut of a bird now she sits for hours on my arm just squawking. She is still very loving but now she has lost her mischevious spirit and spunk. She is still very alert and interested, but I'm afraid if we don't figure this out soon, she will die. Anyone out there got any thoughts or experience? Let me know. Thanks, A.Vorhauer

[Joel]

You may probably get lots of opinions here on what may possibly be wrong with your bird, however if you have a well experienced and certified A.V. - he/she is probably going to get you bird back on the right track. Best of luck.

Suggestion: In the future, try and learn all you can from various souces so that you will be able to do your own grooming at home. Unnecessary trips like these to a bird store or even to a vet, puts your bird at certain risks.

[Lisa B]

I agree. with a good certified vet, they should know the best route to get your baby back on track.
As far as digressing, yes, it is possible. however, that would not include throwing up.
She could have been hurt while being restrained, again, that would NOT include any throwing up.

Do you know what your dr is testing for? Is your vet ABVP? If you want to PM me your location and Vet info I can cross refernce it with the list I have for vets in your area.

There is still alot of guess work when it comes to birds. We are learning everyday. It does help when you are able to post the signs to see if anyone else has gone through this. Thats part of how we all learn.

I am sorry you and your baby are going through this. Its heartbreaking. I hope for a full recovery for her and that it comes quickly.

[isoscelestri]

Could you tell us some more about her grooming visit? Was it her first time? Were you present, did the groomer mention if your bird became stressed? Could you ask if any other birds had gotten sick that had been in the store around the time? If you weren't there for the grooming, do you know what methods they used for restraint? Was the person who handled her experienced?
I know those are a lot of questions, but more insight never hurts.

[birdlady49]

It sounds like severe trauma during the grooming session. Perhaps the groomer held your baby too tightly or for too long a period of time and there has been some tissue damage or even broken bones.

Has your vet been able to take xrays?

[yambasticks]

is it possible that your baby grey just might have suffered a stroke at the groomers?

I'll keep your bird in my prayers.

if your vet hasn't checked your bird for this ask him or her to please do so.

[Lea]

Has the vet checked for Zinc or Lead toxins? The test is the same for both. Birds will not be themselves, lose weight and throw up when a toxin is present - as well as if there is a foreign substance in the crop/gizzard. The throwing up is the bird's way of trying to get rid of it. Did your vet do x-rays and a tox screen?
I have a friend whose father's Quaker showed the same signs your bird is showing, and the "certified avian vet" finally did the tox screen, when the owner questioned it. It came back positive for zink. Since the bird is out a lot, and is into evertything, it is hard to pinpoint the source. It is believed that it could be from a crack in the tile flooring that the bird was seen picking at. The bird has also been playing with the owner's keys -which apparently can have zink in them.
This bird has been in treatment for a couple of months now, has shown great improvement, but is still not totally as he was yet.
Good luck. I hope you, and your Grey, get through this. It has to be frustrating.
Lea

[Lisa B]

Thank you everyone for giving her things to check. Diva, her baby is in good hands. With the help of you all, she now has a list to check with her Vets, and questions to ask.

We both appreciate your input!

[yogies]

I hope your bird is doing better. My oldest bird is 19 years old, never been sick. My two conures were 17 years old when they became sick, all of a sudden. They died the following day. The vet could do nothing for them, but told my husband and me it appeared they had bronchial poisining. I leared a week later that my neighbor had her lawn spayed with chemicals. The day her lawn was sprayed with chemical, it was a beautiful spring morning and the first time I had opened a window on the loft where their cages were. I believe they injested the chemicals. It still upsets me that there were no signs on the my neighbor's lawn about the lawn being sprayed with chemicals. But I have finally stopped blaming myself. I had 12 birds and now have 6. A love bird (his partner died from age, the vet said) she was 14 years old; 3 cockatails, father is 19 years old, two babies are 13 years old; African Grey which had been injured from continuously falling off her cage. I bought her for my son. Two years later, my son had a new puppy and a new baby. Sabrena, the African Grey became very nervous, wouldn't eat and started biting people. My son asked me to take her. I did. Her injury healed, I believe, because her environment changed from the hecktick lifestyle at my son's home. She gets a LOT of attention, we play with her, we give her healthy food (probably like you do) and her injury has healed. Our Cockatoo is 7 years old. She is still very miscievious! We are thankful that she is healthy and happy. Finally, it has been very sad throughout the years when one of our birds died. But we just don't know all the answers about their illness and/or aging problems that our vets said may have been the cause of their illnes and/or death. As you probably know, you have done everything possible to help your bird. We hope your 'grey' recovers the health she had and is once again doing the things you mention in your post. Lot's of love to both of you. Please let us know how this matter progresses.

[kittykittykitty]

Did you have a comprehensive avian lab work up including cultures and sensitivities? Was your bird congested? Do you have an avian specialist or is one near enough for consultation? Do you have a homeopath who is willing to work with you and your Grey? Are you using a humidifier that you clean daily? How warm is the room where you keep your Grey? Was she exposed to other birds? Not only could your bird have been traumatized she could have been exposed to any one of a multitude of organisms. I have an African Grey who has been ill recently and is eating poorly, also. We are making daily trips to her vet for weighing, antibiotics and syringe feedings. She does not get enough food from a spoon. The best to both our Greys!!!