I need help, my red belly parrot is sick, what can I do for him until the morning?

[maczoo]

Hi,
I have a about 5 year old male red belly parrot who is sick. He's light weight (has lost weight), hasn't eaten today, can't seem to fly 2 feet and was crying little whines until he fell asleep. I gave him fresh food and water which he has no interest in, covered his cage (to keep drafts out) raised the heat in my house to 75 and put a floor lamp right next to the cage where he's sleeping to warm him up. What else can I do for him until the vet opens in the morning??
I have a female red belly in the cage 10 feet away who is healthy as a horse. His feathers look fine, however his beak is dirty which was the first indication that he's sick. and any ideas what it could be? like I said, my other bird who has same exact care, food, etc. is eating, drinking and fine.
Thanks,
AMy

[ccg]

Sorry Amy, I won't be much help for suggestions, but if possilbe I would move the healthy one into another room until you have the male checked out at the vet.

I hope all goes well for you tomorrow...

[maczoo]

Thanks, I didn't think of that, I'm moving her now. I'm going to sleep on the couch tonight with Fred and call the vet as soon as I wake up.

[birdlady49]

How is your baby doing? What did the vet say? Sorry I wasn't up that late to offer my support.

[birdsnreps]

oh no!! red bellies are SO precious, i really hope yours is gonna be ok :(

[maczoo]

HI,
We're back from the vet. He checked his poop and said he didn't find anything. He's definitely lost weight, having trouble standing without leaning on something. The vet didn't want to take blood because he said he's so weak and that could push him over the edge. He said something about his liver? I'm not sure exactly what he said, I'm operating on about 4 hours sleep. He gave him a b-12 shot and he put him on clavamox twice a day. He said to put everything to the bottom of the cage, but I put him in the bottom when we got home and he climbed up to his perch and he's leaning against the side of the cage, so I'm thinking that he's better off staying at the top. I'm not confident that the vet is very knowedgeable about birds, but there's not an avian anywhere close by. We just moved to the area, High Point, NC in case anyone knows the area. I bought him some treats, seed balls, and I tried peanut butter which he doesn't like. I did get him to eat a couple of bites of a saltine cracker. He took the first piece in his mouth, but just sat there, so I thought he might not be able to balance on one foot to eat, so I took it back out of his mouth and held it for him and he ate 3 bites. Question about water, he's not drinking, not moving really, just sitting next to the light, I have a syringe, should I try giving him a little water with that? I don't want to drown him. Also, I have a floor lamp with the light bulb directly touching his cage with a 75 watt bulb. Is that good enough? and should it be on all night, or should I turn it off so he can sleep at night? and I cranked my house heat up to 75, I normally keep my house at 65, is 75 necessary for him? or is he okay with the normal 65?
THanks for all the help
also, I can't actually get my other red belly into the next room, is the other side of the same room as Fred okay? (about 20-25 feet away)

[T.W.]

With dogs or cats, or people, clavamox needs to be taken with food, because it upsets the stomach, I guess it is different for birds?
Get a thermometer and guage the temp in his cage, I think it should be like 85 degrees with a sick bird. My vet always gave me Baytril for my birds when they were sick. Maybe you could try giving him a little warm oatmeal, or some mashed sweet potato. My bird appreciated millet and avi cakes when he was sick. Keep a thick towel in the bottom of his cage in case he falls. Good luck with your poor baby. Tina

[wildirish]

It seems there is a vet in either Salisbury or Kernsville, but I haven't looked, I have these listed definately farther for me LOL!

Durham, NC - Gregory Burkett (Avian Veterinary Services - Birdie Boutique) - 919-490-3001 - http//:Parrots Foraging Roudybush Harrison's ZuPreem Lafeber Pet Birds African Grey Volkman Aviary Breeder Parrots Birds Board Certified Avian Veterinarian Oxyfresh Lafeber Nutriberries Pets Toys The Birdie Boutique Poop-off Camicide Pet Focus
Huntersville, NC - Lauren Powers (Carolina Vet Specialists) - 704-949-1100 - Welcome to Carolina Veterinary Specialists
Kannapolis, NC - Chris Griffin (South Ridge Vet Hosp) - 704-933-1414
Kernersville, NC - Carmen A. Lindheimer (Hopkins Road Animal Hosp) - 336-996-2190
Raleigh, NC - Laurel Degernes (NCSU) - 919-513-6800
Raleigh, NC - Keven Flammer (NCSU) - 919-513-6353

[Valo's Moirana]

i like the idea with the towel.... also, you could try a little bit of juice or a rehydration solution (gatorade should work) so he takes some liquid. i'd get a heating lamp, usually the temp for a sick bird should be 85-90degrees and the lamp makes it easier to provide that. i'd offer it from the side of the cage, so the bird can choose to get closer to it, or move away depending on preference.

regarding the other bird - in order to ensure that you can't transmit whatever fred has, you'd have to follow strict quarantine rules (different rooms, changing cloths, washing hands etc). if you can't do that, i'd keep the distance at least, but it really won't help much.

the best of luck to all of you - i'll keep you in my thoughts.

i'd try to get the bird to an avian vet, if that's possible.

[Lori~D]

All I can do is say a prayer for him. Everybody else has the rest covered. You could look in the reptile section for an infared light bulb as it provides heat and the red light is will allow him to sleep. I personally like the ceramic ones that give no light at all.