Prayers Needed -Possible PDD

[CALVINS MOM]

I received a call from an old friend today. Approximately 3-4 years ago, she purchased a male Eclectus from a bird store. Hemmingway has been suffering with chronic yeast infections over the past 12 months and also had fatty liver disease. Over the weekend, she found him to be somewhat lethargic and a ton of vomit on the bottom of his cage. She immediately took him to the vet and an xray showed an enlarged proventriculis, which, as we know, can be a sign of PDD. He also went from 513 grams to something like 417 inside of a day or two.

Her vet put Hemmingway on Nystatin for yet another yeast infection and prophylactically started him on Metacam.

What scares me is that she also purchased an Illiger's macaw from this same store. That bird died at the young age of one year. Right around the same time as her Illiger's death, a clutchmate to the Illiger also died with diagnosed PDD. The Illiger was exposed to Hemmingway for the six or so months prior to this death. This was about a year and a half ago.

I know for a fact that several birds from that store have died of PDD.

So, she wants my assurances that it is not PDD. I hope and pray it is not. I am asking for your prayers too.

I realize that, with the tremendous help of Lisa B, I just held a huge fund raiser for PDD at my store in June. Unfortunately, I was not present for Dr. Ritchie's entire lecture so I am looking for answers here.

I know that birds with an enlarged proventriculis do not necessarily have PDD. Does anyone have any information on birds with chronic yeast infections having an enlarged proventriculis? I know I am grabbing at straws here hoping to find something positive. She did say that Hemmingway appears to be feeling better today and is much more active. So that's a good sign, right?

[jimpierce7]

Hemmingway is in my thoughts and prayers. I think I've been reading about him a bit lately.

[Tullysmom]

I'm so sorry Kathie. My thoughts and prayers also are with Hemmingway and his mom.

[Missi]

Poor, poor boy and his mom. They are in my thoughts and prayers today. I hope the store has been contacted.

[homebird]

This is scary stuff - but the things you pointed out seem quite damming.
I'm sorry to hear your friend's fid is at risk.

Sadly it's time for her to re-evaluate what's been going on too.

[Eliza]

I'll certainly keep Hemmingway and his parront in my thoughts. I wish that beautiful ekkie boy nothing but the best.

Keep us updated...

-e-

[CALVINS MOM]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I will keep you posted as to Hemmingway's progress.

[Macawheaven]

Kathie, isn't Hemmingway the male Ekkie that you sold?

I have an update. Hemmingway has been to the vet and is doing better but his mom said she will post when she gets time.

An update on the Iligers who was supposed to have died from PDD, I spoke to his mom tonight and she said he is actually alive and doing well. The Iligers that Hemmingway's mom had living with her actually died from a liver disorder but I will let her elaborate on that when she posts.

Kathie may be confusing the Iligers with a severe who came in and was still handfeeding at 12 months. I actually almost took the bird myself. She was brought in and surrendered by a guy who was tired of feeding her. He tried to "wean" her several times and it never worked out. She was a real sweetheart but was unable to digest regular food. The person who owns the iligers actually took "Gracie" home because I knew I would never be able to take on handfeeding a bird like Gracie. She died and the necropsy showed she had a genetic deformity of her digestive tract. No PDD there either.

I can see how there might have been some confusion or misinformation given at the time but I can assure you that PDD was not the cause of death in either bird.

I hope this helps clear things up a little.

[Vega]

Sending my thoughts and prayers

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by Macawheaven

Kathie, isn't Hemmingway the male Ekkie that you sold?

Yes, I did. But not at Bird Paradise. That is how Hemmy's mom and I met about 5-6 years ago.