OcluVet & Bicom

[Monica]

I seem to occasionally come across some weird and interesting things in my searches... One of which was OcluVet. It's an eye-drop treatment to treat, or, counteract cataracts. Treatment is usually 6-8 weeks (not including maintenance there-after), and results may be seen as early as 2 months (or 3). Noel has cataracts.

I sent the info to my a-vet who spoke with an optometrist (one who taught her in veterinary school), and said that there is no scientific research or study to back up the OcluVet, but that it wont hurt to try it, either. So, my vet says, why not, try it! Great! Only for the fact that 1 bottle of treatment is over $100, and will last anywhere from 2-12 months, depending on if I'm doing Initial Administration or Maintenance Administration. INIT ADMIN is supposed to last only 2 months (eye-drops 3 times a day), but considering my schedule, may last up to 3 months (eye-drops only twice a day)...

I can order this stuff OTC, but the company says it's best to order it through a Vet so the A-Vet is having her ordering department look into it and if/when they can, they'll tell me how much it'll be... Pretty penny, I'm sure.

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To go further on this, I've been to the A-Vets every 2 weeks since July 25th... and a few times in between that. July 25th, Noel had a bacterial infection. She was put on Cefadroxil (.16 ml) and DMG (2 drops) twice a day. August 15th, in for a recheck, she still had a bacterial infection... as well as a fungal infection. She was then put onto Fluconazole (.16 ml x1 day) in addition to everything else. August 29th (if I recall correctly), she was deem cleared of bacteria but still had the fungal infection. September 12th, same thing as last time. At this point I'm getting mighty frustrated. September 15th, (*FINALLY*) I get ACV and start adding this to her water. September 21st, she is put on Benebac Probiotics Powder. September 26th, Noel went in for another gram stain and finally, what I've been waiting for since July 25th, blood work. Guess what? Noel is free of the fungal infection!!! Party right? WRONG! She has a bacterial infection. She's back on the Cefadroxil, which I'll probably need to get refilled Monday since the meds have expired (didn't know that before I left the vets today... ), and I asked about being worried if she'll get a fungal infection again. A-Vet wasn't overly concerned, said it was possible, but to just give her the antibiotics... Needless to say, I feel as if I'm going to blow a casket!

On the plus side of all this, the A-Vet told me about Bicom, European "medicine" that works via electromagnetic signals... A-Vet has seen outstanding results, she has treated her husband, herself, her pets, even co-workers... AND the first treatment is FREE!!! If we see no improvements, then that's it. If there are improvements, then we continue treatment (assuming further treatment is needed - which is *EXTREMELY* expensive... OcluVet is cheap in comparison... )

BICOM® 2000 - Enhance Your Veterinary Practice with BICOM Therapy



In all of this, I can only remind myself that Noel is not your average, typical bird. She came to me with health issues that were never treated, and when seen by the last a-vet, (before July 25th) he never did any gram stains to check for infections. (not to mention all his suspicions about her health that he never talked to me about...) At this point I'd just be happy for an infection free bird!

[Greycloud]

Remember not to put the ACV in the water while the bird is on antibiotics. ACV is good but while it detroys bad bacteria it can destroy the healthy too.

[xafsmom]

Can you get a script for nystatin and have Noel take it with the antibiotics?

[Monica]

Originally Posted by Greycloud

Remember not to put the ACV in the water while the bird is on antibiotics. ACV is good but while it detroys bad bacteria it can destroy the healthy too.

I'm afraid that if I take her off of the ACV, that she'll get another fungal infection, and it'll be a never-ending vicious cycle of bacterial infection, then fungal, then bacterial, then fungal, and so forth.... As I understand it though, ACV is better than GSE...

Plus side at least, she is also getting probiotics. Whether or not that stuff is helping, I don't know. Vet's aren't even sure how the stuff works...

Originally Posted by xafsmom

Can you get a script for nystatin and have Noel take it with the antibiotics?

I don't know... I just know that the Fluconazole is the cheapest anti-fungal which costs $18 per bottle.


I have to call them on Monday, anyways, so I'll ask about using an antifungal with the antibiotics again (although I doubt it's something the A-Vet wants to do considering what she said earlier). Then again, perhaps the Bicom treatment will help and she may opt not to add any further medications until the bloodwork comes back and we've done the Bicom treatment.









Is it Monday yet????

[xafsmom]

I always worry when a bacterial is given antibiotics without an anti-fungal. Nystatin is pretty cheap too, like ...crazy cheap.

[Monica]

I wasn't worried about it at first, but now I am because I'd rather get this vicious cycle to stop. At least at this last visit I wasn't charged an office visit. It was just blood work and fecal.

[Monica]

Double checked all that the vet said. She wants Noel to be kept on the ACV because it should help to acidify her stomach and keep fungal growth down. Unless she *ACTUALLY HAS* a fungal infection, she does not want Noel on an antifungal. I'm going to be pretty pissed, if after two or so weeks, she gets a fungal infection.

Noel's bloodwork came back. For her age (whatever that may be), it's pretty good. Her uric acid levels are elevated (can't say if that was a lack of water in the trip in - which she *HAD* water but did not drink - as per usual or if it's because of something else). Noel is on a low protein diet - can't say that it's made any difference if her tests have come back the same. The elevated uric acid and excess water in droppings does however concern me. Noel's droppings have never been dry (as in no excess water, perfect moister - as compared to healthy parrots). Her phosphorus levels are low, which I'm guessing may be due to not enough D3. I do have a full spectrum bulb, which doesn't seem to be doing any good (it is not a tube light - that might make a difference!) and I can't leave it on on days I go to work - so I need to get a timer for that thing - and get an actual tube light.

The low phosphorus though really gets me. It's easily found in seeds, and supposedly a lot of foods she eats. She eats a mash made up of grains, legumes, veggies, and some fruits just fine. There's a bit about low phosphorus possibly caused by a deficiency in magnesium.... which, again, is found in the foods she'll readily accept. Which leads me to believe it might be D3 related. Dandelion greens are supposed to be a good source for Vit D, which I have added to the mash before. So I guess what it comes down to is looking for another FS light, and a timer for it, so that she can more easily get Vitamin D.... unless of course there is something else going on that I am unaware of? I'm not adding excess amounts of calcium.


I've been going over and over this article.... can't seem to find anything that jumps out at me...
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Calcium, Phosphorus & Vitamin D3 in Diets for Parrots and Birds


I'm guessing another dietary change may be in order... but with high uric acid levels, I'm not entirely sure what a good (dry) diet would be.