Connor Had a Seizure Last Night

[angelicarboreals]

I am just getting started with my day. Yep, at 12:30 in the afternoon!!!

Last night I got home from work around 7:45 and cooked and ate dinner before going down in the bird room to clean up a little and feed the guys. I always check on everyone when I first get home, so nothing looked out of the ordinary when I first walked into the door. When I went back into the birdroom at 9:30 or so to feed everyone a late dinner and do water changes and spend some time with them, again everyone was fine. I collected all the water dishes to go upstairs and wash them and refill them and brought them back down. I had placed a few dishes back in the cages before hearing a large crash and turning around to find Connor in the bottom of his cage, his entire body contorted, eyes closed, etc.

I started screaming and crying (at first I literally thought he had died) and trying to get him out of the bottom of his cage. He had somehow got one foot through the grate and it was twisted around the grate. My boyfriend was upstairs in the bedroom watching TV and heard me screaming and thought someone had broke into our house. He came flying down the stairs into the bird room with a gun in hand. Click the image to open in full size.

Anyway, after a few minutes Connor stopped seizing in my hands and began to regain some control of his body. I immediately called a friend of mine and was asking her if it was indeed a seizure, since I knew she had vet tech experience. I have never, ever seen anything so scary before in my life. She helped calm me down tremendously. She told me to try calling my vet, since because I am a regular client they may see me.

I called my vet, and was directed to the emergency hotline because the office is closed for the whole weekend due to the holiday (It figures that all emergencies always happen to me either on a Friday night or a holiday). I called that number, and my vet picked up- he was on call last night. (Which was soooo lucky because he is the only exotic vet in that office, and they rotate the 24 hour on call between the several vets there). I explained my situation and he told me to calm down and explain what I saw. He made sure that I had not sprayed anything, cleaned carpets, used aresol sprays, etc. I told him that the only thing that had changed was I fed a new type of food the night before last, but the whole flock had ate it.

After listening to all of Connor's symptoms he told me that I should watch Connor for about an hour (at this point Connor was starting to regain most of his abilities) and that if he seized again or did not look 100% normal in the hour's time that I needed to make the three hour drive to UT teaching hospital. He said that although he was in the office, there was not enough people to watch him 24/7 as they would at UT. He also would not be able to run bloodwork until the lab opened back up on Monday morning. He told me that if Connor looked 100% better and did not seize again that it would rule out some of the possibilities and that it would be ok to wait to see if he seized again before taking him and/or to wait until I could get to his office on Monday to have bloodwork done. He did make it very clear that someone needed to stay with him 24/7 until I can get him to a vet one way or another.

Last night he got moved into an acrylic bird carrier with plenty of towels and camped out with me on the nightstand for the remainder of the night. I finally got him to eat and drink some food around midnight and my boyfriend and I took turns watching him all night, after my boyfriend realized I was going to sit up all night if I had to. I finally got to sleep at about 4 this morning. He is acting 100% normal this morning, contact calling for me to get him out of the carrier, etc. It is so scary because I have never seen anything like this, and he has never had a health problem at all.


While I was up last night I did some research online and read all the possible causes and I have no idea what might have caused this. I went through his cage after reading lead/zinc poisoning could be the culprit and could not find anything. As of right now, unless he deteriorates again I am planning on holding out to get him to the vet on Monday.

I will keep everyone updated on what they say, the vet stated that tumors are unlikely because he is so young, but that it may be a liver issue.

[hollyhawkz]

Oh my gosh how scary for you. I would be sobbing too! I am glad you are going to keep us posted. What a mystery. I'm happy he is seeming better today!

[Lori~D]

Oh MY - feathered prayers your way. I would have freaked as well and BTW? All my animal emergencies are on Sunday or Fridays of a holiday weekend too!

[Michelle & Fids]

One of my RF Macaw's has Cardiac Racing Syndrome, it causes seizures if she is scared. Is it possible that something scared him? Best of luck I hope you never have to see another seizure, I know how scary they are.

[jenniferag]

oh my gosh, that's SO scary I'm so sorry you had to go through that!

I'm no good in emergencies like that either, I freeze up and freak out!!

Good thing you were there for him!

Keep us updated and good luck with him!

[angelicarboreals]

I haven't been on the forum in a few days, but wanted to give a quick update and just let everyone know that Connor has yet to have another seizure, and we are just waiting on the blood work to get back from the lab to make sure there are no deficiencies, illnesses, etc. that caused the seizure. I find it strange that he only had one and is acting absolutely fine now. I have heard that sometimes excitement can cause a seizure, so I am not sure if maybe this was the case?