Poor Noel, What's up with the Sinuses???

[Monica]

Noel has had a sinus infection for a while now, sadly to say. I would have taken her to the vet by now though my family is having somewhat of a financial problem, and as soon as we get rid of 'something', it might get a bit rough here... The sinus infection was mainly in her right nostril, and her left nostril was clear. Well, it ended up spreading just slightly to her left nostril as well.

Anyway, on Saturday, I started treating Noel, knowing what would be fine to give her until I might be able to take her to the vet. I had talked to one over the internet and he suggested saline nose drops. I was able to buy a bottle on Saturday, though didn't know how often to give this to her. I decided to give the nose drops to her about every two hours.

Noel was having a bit of a problem when she became nervous or had to shake her whole body... she'd end up wearily moving her head about, which seemed to be an inbalance in her head though didn't last for more than 10-15 seconds. By Sunday, with the saline nasal drops and a shower when I had also flushed out her nose with water, she was doing better and having no 'headache' problems. By Monday, her left nostril had cleared back up.

I was trying to get ahold of my vet since Friday, though had called after hours, Saturday they closed early, Sunday they were closed completely, and Monday, my vet wasn't there... So I wasn't able to get ahold of him till today (though, I had to leave a message, and forgot to leave my last name, so he thought his daughter had called... oops!). He said the nasal drops and showers were great and to keep it up. He also suggested for me to get some childrens motrin or ibuprofin (s/p) for her. He had also suggested that if this didn't clear up some in a week, or she became worse, to take her in. He had said that it might clear up on it's own.

Today, Noel got another shower again, and had her nostrils flushed with water. After drying her off mostly with the hairdryer, I took her to the sink to see if I could flush out her nostrils again to see if I could get any of the dried gunk out... it didn't help, though afterwards, I brought Noel and Casey outside to the apple tree (after another treatment of the nasal drops). Noel had a bit of wheezing (most likely due to the amount of water that had gone into her nose), and a bit of a headache. Otherwise though, she's still doing great. Her behavior has not changed, there is no discharge from her nostrils, and she is not loosing weight. Her droppings have however been quite a bit more watery than usual.

[indybirds]

Here's hoping she continues to get better :icon_smil

[Monica]

A bit earlier, I was able to get some of the stuff out of her nose. This stuff is rock hard, though consisted of more than half of what was left. I'm sure she'll be feeling better with most of the gunk out of her nose. I'm trying to see if I can possibly get some natural yogurt for her as well, which could help her out as well.

Casey knows that Noel hasn't been all too happy with the treatments that I've been giving her, so Casey has been giving Noel more headscritches than usual. Noel had also let me clean off a chunk of her beak that was coming off, as well as a couple other small pieces that were chipping away. With spring on the way, her beak will probably be more cared for as well.

[danforth3]

Hope Noel feels better soon.

Yogurt and a little organic apple cider vinegar in the water are good for the birds. Mine get a dose daily. It helps keep good bacteria flourishing and destroying the bad bacteria at bay. For the yogurt about a teaspoon in a cup and whatever she eats will be fine. The vinegar about 2 or 3 drops in the water daily.

[indybirds]

Originally Posted by danforth3

Hope Noel feels better soon.

Yogurt and a little organic apple cider vinegar in the water are good for the birds. Mine get a dose daily. It helps keep good bacteria flourishing and destroying the bad bacteria at bay. For the yogurt about a teaspoon in a cup and whatever she eats will be fine. The vinegar about 2 or 3 drops in the water daily.

No kidding? Yogurt and ACV is also good for dogs. I did not know it was also good for birds.

[smallonion]

Get well soon, Noel. I think it's lovely that your tiel is being affectionate to Noel, knowing he's not feeling that well. Parrots are wonderful

[danforth3]

Originally Posted by indybirds

No kidding? Yogurt and ACV is also good for dogs. I did not know it was also good for birds.

Indy it is good for birds, dogs and humans--not sure about cats. Seem to recall the vinegar okay but the yogurt no, but memory is starting to fail me at times and this looks like one of those times regarding our feline friends. I use it daily with my birds.

[Monica]

She still seems to be doing fine today, though contemplating as to whether or not I should take her outside after her shower. With luck, I might be able to get some of the 'debris' out of her nostrils when I go to flush her nostrils in the shower.

To say the least, she doesn't like showers anymore (though she only tolerated them at first, she's getting edgy now), and she doesn't quite like my lap either with my hand over her head (where I'd set her to examine her, and give her the saline nasal drops, steadying her head in one spot). Otherwise though, she has no irregular problems with me so I know she still trusts me!

[Monica]

I must be SO cruel to Casey!!! I took Noel in for her shower, though before I could even get it started Casey was hollering for Noel so I went and brought Casey too. Noel tolerated the shower, though Casey hated it! She likes her spray bathes, rain, and her water dish, no other way!

Well, I was able to clean the last of the muck out of Noel's nostrils, though she may still have some white muccus in her nose, there is no discharge. She seemed to be having some headaches, so I gave her a tiny bit of infants ibuprofen in hopes that it might help. I'm not sure as to how often to give this to her, though I guess probably not more than 4 times a day (so every 6-8 hours).

I still called my avian vet to see exactly how much (so I know I heard right the first time) and to see what he feels best, and to let him know about Noel as it stands now. I was only able to leave a message so I am awaiting a call back from him.

Noel is glad to have been able to come back outside today, though we had a storm this morning, and another one possibly coming in later, as its a bit windy and very cloudy (can't see any of the sky, though plenty of white clouds!)

[Monica]

Yesterday, I talked with my avian vets wife, though she's not as knowledgeable as her husband, as it seems, though still was a great help! I didn't want to bother her with too many questions so that she'd have to hang up and call back later so I stayed with the main subject, how much ibuprofen to give to Noel, or atleast how frequently.

I was told about a 1/4 of a drop (uh geeze... how big is a drop??? how do I regulate that with a syringe?) and only twice a day. Well, this is childrens ibuprofen (liquid kind, actually, it's for infants and its consentrated... PLUS its berry flavored! smells so good!). Noel has been receiving only a tiny amount twice a day, since yesterday, and to continue this for a week (okay, I can do that!). I'm not really sure though if Noel likes this stuff as it smells very sweet (of course berries, but sugary sweet too). She only needs to endure this for 14 times, 3 already down!

In the morning, after rousing myself awake slowly (5-20 mins, with an alarm clock that sounds like sirens going off every 5 mins), I give her a drop or two of saline in each nostril, then give her the tiny amount of ibuprofen. After that, its the rounds for food, to make sure everyone has fresh food and water to last them till I get back home.

I haven't given Noel a shower yet, though may give her one an hour or two before bedtime (now around 8pm instead of 5pm as the hours have changed and have gone through daylight savings...) and dry her off mostly with the hairdryer. I'm sure Casey wont want to be joining in, either... Noel will receive her bath, though this time, and maybe for the next few, I wont flush out her nostrils (not really anything in her nostrils to flush out... clean maybe, flush, no). Today however, I haven't noticed any problems with Noel so the medicine might be working afterall.