Concerned for my crazy old bird...

[Hides the Peanuts]

Alright, so my bird Sparky is a Red-Lored Amazon, and he's lived in my house longer then me. When my brother moved out about three years ago, he became my responsibility. Since then he's gotten a bigger cage and the addition of Timothy Hay (it's for rodents and such, but he loves to play with it) into his cage bedding.

I believe he's just somewhere around 30, but he could possibly be much older. He is still a fairly active bird (just this week he started climbing onto my mantle that sits beside his cage for the first time, so he's even still exploring), but it's quite clear that he hasn't aged well. His vision has clearly decreased and his balance isn't always the best. He still has a healthy loud squawk and recognizes my voice and face (when I'm close), but the hostility he used to show towards visitors has decreased, because half the time he can't tell where they are in the room.

About a couple of months ago he started to act weird. He would whine and crawl around the floor of his cage (something I've tried to associate with wanting his cage cleaned. He hasn't done this for a while), eat his own excrement (while his food bowl was full), and sit on his cage with his head down and whine while his wings fidgeted. For the most of the time he acts normal, eats normal, drinks normal, and I give him the same attention and affection as usual, but I can't help but be worried about these episodes.

A week ago I started to, when ever I noticed him acting weird and whining, wrap my arms around him and hold him close. His eyes would be open and he would be making the strange whining noises while his breathing continued at irregular intervals. His 'butthole' would puff and shrink (which has led my brother, Sparky's former owner, to think it's constipation) and his wings continue fidget if I don't hold them. He lets his head go as far down as possible to the cage floor (or my shoulder) and doesn't react to unwelcomed behavior like he usually would, such as if I touch the tops of his feet or move his wings. After about 5-10 tens the episode stops and he goes back to normal, almost like nothing ever happened. It's almost spooky.

Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? I haven't changed his diet, supply of water, or bedding (I know it's not that) to have caused this. There hasn't been any new family members in the environment, and if it was a ploy for attention then it's a pretty damn good one. I've been meaning to put some new vitamins in his water to see if that might help, but what if it's how he's aging?

Thoughts or feedback? I could really use the help!

[DeguMom]

Wow, he really needs to see an avian vet ASAP. Putting vitamin drops in the water isn't a great idea - the water with the drops in it spoils very quickly, and a parrot on a good diet doesn't need any extra vitamins. They can actually suffer from vitamin toxicity fairly quickly.

Please let us know what the vet says!

[Hides the Peanuts]

We can't afford a vet, and they charge a lot more then they're willing to do. Plus he's an older bird, and it may sound heartless, but it's not a worthwhile investment to put money into his health at this point. A diagnosis alone from a vet costs a ridiculous amount. That's why I'm curious enough to ask here- is this a common situation with older birds? Could it actually be something as simple as constipation?

And as far as the vitamin toxicity, he's been on liquid vitamins before and they served him fine. His water is changed regularly so it's not like it would be a catastrophe to try it out, if not as a solution then for other long term health reasons. And I don't think 'ASAP' is really a concern here- he's been the same way for these several months and otherwise seems fine, I just want to make sure it isn't something I can fix for him sooner.

[Lisa B]

It sounds as if he can be reverting to begging for foods if he cant see well.

amazons can live up to 80 years old. I will also repeat what one said with the vitamins in the water. Within 2 hours the vitamins loose their power and create a bacteria soup. most vets will advise against it. Powdered vitamins over their soft warm foods is better.

they say, eating poo is because they know their body is lacking something. what that is cant be determined without bloods being run.

[tracieerin]

Birds are prey animals and will instinctively hide any illness or weakness as best they can to avoid the attention of a predator looking for the weak one in the herd. They are not like dogs and cats and humans, who have no problems showing weakness as they are predators and don't fear being eaten.

The fact that your bird is showing any signs of illness means he is VERY ill. As pointed out, Amazons can live to be 80 so he is not an "older bird." Once birds show signs of illness they can go downhill very very quickly.

If you cannot afford the vet for your 30 year old family member, please consider rehoming him to someone who can, or surrendering him to the vet who will treat him. If he gets worse and you will not do these things, please AT LEAST shell out for euthanization. Wouldn't it be worth that small investment to spare him dying in pain and anguish?