What an aweful day... (plus: stupid people, should they have birds?)

[lyoness]

All I have to say is Augh.


Today has been extremely hectic. Beatrix has been diagnosed with her first bacteria infection, and I'm not going to pretend this doesn't make me nervous.
The doctor said she looked like she was in perfect condition and was almost positive she was ok, but low and behold: after a feces test we discover she has an early bacterial infection. I don't even know why I brought her to the vet, I guess I just had a feeling that something was up. She hasn't been acting like herself. So now that she's been diagnosed, can anybody tell me what the severity of this is? Could it be potentially fatal? I don't want to lose my wee one...
Another issue I've been meaning to bring up here is stupid people. Let me refrase that: ignorant people. My vet told me today about a woman who was raising three baby cockatiels and they died. She brought them in and said "What happened to my babies?" Come to find out she had put a drop of undiluted bleach down each of their throats because a Swiss website that had been roughly translated by google told her to. However, it even said to dilute the bleach. This woman took three lives by taking advise from a sketchy web page from a foreign country. They could have told her to stand on her head and balance them on her feet and you know what? I bet she'd have done it.
Excuse me, but that is plain ignorance. I feel sick.

Another vice of bird owners: carelessness. I love my aunt to death; she's the one who gave my Beatrix to me, but I won't pretend she's not careless. She's a very busy woman with three small kids and she often runs around like a chicken with her head cut off, so I can understand why she did what she did but her carelessness still breaks my heart. She had two birds (very inexperienced with them, I might add) a conure she bought when she bought me Beatrix (when my Aunt sees something she likes, she buys it. I wish I had this luxury... ) and a cockatiel named Punk. She left the house one day leaving Sam (conure) in a tree in her backyard. Needless to say she remembered later that day and ran home, only to find a very fat and happy cat where Sam had been. She didn't quite grasp how intelligent birds are and in a way saw them as disposable, the way someone might view a hamster or mouse. The second thing that kills me about her carelessness was Punk's escape. She didn't know she had to clip the wings every so often and Punk, the cockatiel that inspired my love of birds and the sweetest little thing I've ever met, flew away. Poor Punk. He came back the next day but they couldn't get him out of a tree before he flew away. I'm sure he probably met the same fate as Sam.
Forgive me, I'm ranting. I'm just a little upset right now.
Anybody else know someone who, in not knowing enough about birds, has accidentally ended their pet's life?
And I'll reiterate my previous question because I'm sure you've forgotten if you've read this far: what's the severity of a bacterial infection?
Thanks for reading, sorry to babble like this.

-F. Lyon

[Kateykat]

I am sorry to hear that about Beatrix. What a rottern thing to happen, but at least you caught it early so more can be done about it right?
Ignorant people always annoy me. My husband and I used to have a budgie called Ernie. I say used to becaue one day he was sitting on his T stand in the sun room (I was watching him through the kitchen window), the next thing I know is there is a monsterous big cat in there with him. Our neighbours cat had pushed through the screen on the door and attacked Ernie. We have 2 cats and they are never allowed to roam, in door cats. Because of the man next door and his cat we lost a wonderful friend and companion.
Oh and he also had a teil, that used to chirp to the wild birds. He got so mad at the (small) noise it was making that he hit the cage, broke it and the bird flew away.

[jessicaboyer89]

Hello Fran.
I don't know if you read my recent posts or not, but my parrotlet is getting over a serious bacterial infection. You can read about it here: http://www.birdboard.com/forum/thread10869.html
My vet said that if it gets bad enough they can bleed internally and die. Don't mean to scare you. It sounds like you caught it early and that's good!
Hey, I know what you mean about careless bird owners. I have a cousin with small children that has gone through many budgies that all die of various disasters, some of which are very sad. Some people understand birds while others just don't get it and should never have one.

[dino24]

Fran,
Yours was caught very early so I am sure your bird will be fine. Yes stupid people can get on your nerves, sorry your day went so bad. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

[Franciscus]

Fran, bacterial infections are not rare in birds and especially because it was caught early there should be a full recovery. Yes stupid things peopel do can be SO agrivating!

[Lynjupiter]

Bacterial infections are easily treated if caught early. But do watch your bird for a while and if she shows any sign of illness get her back to the vet. The infection can show up again after the course of antibiotics runs through.

My nanday had an infection once and my vet told me to start using a few drops of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar ( it is the stuff you get from a health food store, cloudy with sediment on the bottom) in the water. None of my birds from finches to a cockatoo have had an infection since. ACV is wonderful for your bird and helps keep away that nasty bacteria that can grow in birdy soup.
Lynda

[lyoness]

Thanks to all who replied...
I was grumpy yesterday, if you didn't notice. But I'm feeling much better.
Jessica Boyer: I actually have been reading about little Tiki but haven't read the latest on her. I would have posted something but I'm afraid I didn't have any useful information to help her. I would like to mention that your Tiki is the bird that inspired me to get a parrotlet. I fell in love with the photos you posted in the gallery! So I hope she has a speedy recovery, and I'm crossing my fingers for both Tiki and my Bea. Thanks for letting me know what can happen. I'm praying that it doesn't.
Also, thanks Lyn for the info about Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I did some research and it sounds like great stuff! I'll be sure to add a few drops to Bea's water as soon as I can track some down.

[Franciscus]

Originally Posted by lyoness

Also, thanks Lyn for the info about Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I did some research and it sounds like great stuff! I'll be sure to add a few drops to Bea's water as soon as I can track some down.

Check at the health food strore.

[yehudasf]

BS"D

stupid people, should they have (sic) birds?

Well, no, in a perfect world (or even a truly decent one) genuinely stupid, thick-as-a-plank, "whut's this do? (ka-blam) idiots would not be allowed to be companions to ANY creature, especially birds. They wouldn't be allowed to have children that they later foist off on the rest of us as cretinous, unemployable, alcoholic, drug-addicted, physically abusive yobs. Nor would they be allowed to interact with any person who was "at risk" for abuse, either active or benign. Unfortunately the world we currently inhabit is a bit of a wreck. That is one of the reasons G*d gave, as a primary obligation, to the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai (on the occasion of the revelation of Torah Ha Kodesh) the duty to fulfill the Mitzvah of Tikkun Olam (healing the world). In every act we perform, we have the chance to, in our own small way, make the world a kinder, more just & loving place. This by no measure means being some milquetoast, namby-pamby doormat for the stupid, cruel or evil. Sometimes we have to intervene to let the perpetrator begin their own healing process. Always, we must strive to protect the weak, feed the hungry, & lighten the burden of widows & orphans. No one person can heal the entire world, but one never knows when their small act of kindness may tip the scales of the world to joy.

[jessicaboyer89]

Wow, how nice to hear that Tiki was such an inspiration! Thanks.

Originally Posted by lyoness

I would like to mention that your Tiki is the bird that inspired me to get a parrotlet. I fell in love with the photos you posted in the gallery! So I hope she has a speedy recovery, and I'm crossing my fingers for both Tiki and my Bea. Thanks for letting me know what can happen. I'm praying that it doesn't.