How quickly do birds recover?

[electricboogaloo]

Hi everyone, I hope you can help or offer some reassurance. Our lovebird has a cold. After 6 days on antibiotics, how much better should she be?

She's been on antibiotics + probiotics and an electrolyte replacer for 6 days, and we've been keeping her as warm as possible. Her cage is now a steady 80 degrees, no drafts.

She doesn't seem *worse* so that's good, but she still seems sick. The best word to describe it is weak. Her grip on my finger feels weaker than normal, she's not playing with toys, won't accept fruit or veggies, and only wants to come out and cuddle for about 20 minutes before she's ready to go back in her cage and rest. She's normally as active as a dog, and is very much a part of our family.

I'm also worried because of the timing of this. She had dropped weight due to being fully flighted for awhile. Her wings are now clipped, but she hadn't had much time to put on weight before she got sick. Being underweight can't help, right? Tonight I went and got her some food with more protein, fat, and vitamins.

She is eating and drinking. But is there anything I can do? Should I take her back to the vet if she's not doing much better tomorrow? What else do you think they can do for her?

[xafsmom]

I would call the vet, just to get some reassurance but I've seen a simple cold with a bird take upwards of 2-3 weeks to get the bird back to norm.

[Addicted to Tequila]

(excuse the sarcasm... it is the mood du jour for me today. Take this in the humorous way it is meant.)

OK Tiffany... let's see YOU scarf down a pizza after jogging two miles, playing racquetball for an hour, listening to the kids (?) scream and cling all over you and being dragged from your bed next time YOU have "the cold from hades". Oh wait... women CAN do that. OK... imagine you are a guy and... LOL

Seriously... it just takes time. Just as with humans... different sicknesses last different lengths of time. You may get a 2 week head cold... or a 24 hour bug.

[electricboogaloo]

LOL Robyn i was going to say - I do that all the time! Well except for the jogging and the racquetball.

I'm relieved to hear it may be normal for her to still be sick. So scared of losing her! She and my son have already planned their wedding...

[PyscoFalcon]

Well I've had a cold for 3 months now and can't seem to shake it so can last anytime for animals too.

[Izzy]

Is the bird on medications from a veterinarian, or store bought meds?

I'm not a fan of any of the store bought meds - a vet visit is definitely in order if you haven't already.

[KimM]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

(excuse the sarcasm... it is the mood du jour for me today. Take this in the humorous way it is meant.)

OK Tiffany... let's see YOU scarf down a pizza after jogging two miles, playing racquetball for an hour, listening to the kids (?) scream and cling all over you and being dragged from your bed next time YOU have "the cold from hades". Oh wait... women CAN do that. OK... imagine you are a guy and... LOL

Seriously... it just takes time. Just as with humans... different sicknesses last different lengths of time. You may get a 2 week head cold... or a 24 hour bug.

LMAO! You can always tell the women who are married, have been married or with a man for a long time....