Very Sick Macaw, I looking for help

[tamaran2]

I took Bam-Bam to the Vet today. The outcome is not good. I feel like I’m in over my head. My heart is breaking and I am looking for any advice. Please

Bam-Bam is my scarlet Macaw. He is absolutely Wonderful! But the last two days he had been acting weird. He was hanging out in the same spot yesterday not running around like his usual self. Ok, I thought not to bad, lets watch this and see how he is tomorrow. Well, today he was whining, that is what it sounded like. Every few minutes, he would throw out his wings and let out a whine. I called the vet and he said get him down here now. I did!

He has pneumonia, really bad. He had a fever, and was in pain. He took and X-ray and found “Something” not really sure yet, on his heart. He is overnighting the xrays to some vet hospital in the Midwest to get there expert advice on what it is. He said it was either, his heart, a tumor or he swallowed something a long time ago and it has formed a hard mass. NOT GOOD! Nothing he said was good. I cried! God, I love this bird! And I feel helpless.

We can’t do anything until we get the pneumonia cleared up. He gave him a couple of shots and I’m to take him back in in the morning. He let him come home with me as not to stress him out any more that he already was. I am setting here with him in my bedroom with me in a travel cage, watching my bird sleep, wondering if this is his last night. He told me to put a vaporizer on him to help open him up. So a made a tent over him like I use to do for my girls when they were little and sick. But with them I Knew pretty much what to do to get them better. I am at a loss with Bam-Bam.

Tamaran

[Irish]

Tamaran, you and Bam-Bam will be in our thoughts and prayers. I don't know what else to do, nor do I have any advice except to remember that where there is life, there is ALWAYS room for hope. I empathize with your fear and pain, and I hope and pray that your Bam-Bam will overcome his illnesses and become healthy and happy again, soon! I hope you will keep us updated.

Take care, and have hope in your heart.

[The Outlaw]

Tamaran:

I'm terribly sorry to hear about Bam Bam's health. However, don't give up so easily. These birds are tougher than you think. I would be sure that he's kept very quiet and of course warm. Do you have a heating pad? If you do, why not place it UNDER the carrier, with a towel in the bottom. Sick birds need to be kept extra warm, like in the neighborhood of 83 degrees. Since you have the carrier tented and the vaporizer on, that little bit of extra heat should make him rest easier.

As for the mass, you'll know more later. Sometimes xrays can be confusing, too. Is the vet that saw him this evening an Avian vet? You mentioned him sending the xrays to another vet for a second opinion. I would have imagined that since you live in Georgia, the obvious place to send them would be to the University of Georgia Veterinary College. One of the best AV's in the world is there, Dr. Branson Ritchie. Please keep us posted. I'll of course keep you and Bam Bam in my prayers.

[Joel]

I feel real bad for you & your bird.....Curious if the vet was an Avian vet or not and curious as to whether or not you were advised to provide heat and if so, what temp. & how are you providing it? Is BamBam eating, drinking? How old is he?

Nancy, your post wasn't up when I started mine, seems like we were thinking the same things.

[The Outlaw]

Joel:

I just thought it odd that this vet would have sent the xrays to a midwest vet when the best vet in the country is right in his own backyard.

[birdsnthings]

Hang in there with Bamm-Bamm! Comfort him if he needs it. Just being there for him is important to him. Do keep him warm.
Alice

[Joel]

Yeah, that does sound kinda odd Nancy. I had an A.V. once send tissue samples all the way out to a lab in Calif......Never did find out why he did that.......I just figured it was a college buddy of his or something since I was about to attempt to burn his butt for killing one of my Greys under anesthesia.....Long story.


QUOTE=The Outlaw]Joel:

I just thought it odd that this vet would have sent the xrays to a midwest vet when the best vet in the country is right in his own backyard.[/quote]

[puffinp]

Tamaran, Know that our prayers are with you and Bam Bam to send you both the strength to get thru this time. It breaks my heart to hear of his condition but take in Nancy's words that they are tougher than you think. Just your presence of being beside him while he's hurting may be a great comfort to him as it would be to any sick child.

[puffinp]

Tamaran, meant to mention that we live in B'ham just 3 hours away w/ a wonderful avian vet. If there is ANYTHING at all we can do for you and Bam Bam PLEASE get in touch !

[tamaran2]

Thank you everyone, we will take all the prays we can get. I believe that pray works when nothing else will.

I posted then got off to check on him. I held him for a bit; then put him back down. It is really sad to see such a lively bird so unlively, in such a short period of time. Man, They do get sick fast!

Here are a couple of answers to questions:

Bam-Bam is nearly a year old. We have had him from 3 months on.

The vet is an AV vet, he just could not tell exactly what the mass was, with out a doing exploratory surgery, and we are not willing to take that chance with him begin so sick right now. Here was our question, Are we looking at something that is life or death or are we looking a something that will wait until he gets better. I think that is what we covered, abd why he was sending them off.

Why midwest not Atlanta? Not sure. I didn't ask. I was to busy letting the shock of all of it hit me. I have to take him back in the morning. I will ask that question. This was not his regular Vet. She only works on Fridays. Bam-Bam would not have waited until then, we took him to where they advised us to go in lue of his regular vet. My husband wanted me to wait until tomorrow so his vet could see him...I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I didn't.

I took your advise on heat, the doctor had told me that too but I had forgotten it with all that is going on. So I but a heating blanket on low over the top of the carrier and down the sides.

Again thank you.

I am going to go to bed now. I think I will set my timer to go off every couple of hours and peak in on him, I want to hold him in my arms all night if you gave me the choice but I know he need rest more than anything right now. and in my arms he would sleep as well as he could in his carrier.