A Story About A Seizuring Ringneck Dove

[birdlady49]

Carnation is a 20-year old ringneck dove. Her full name is Reincarnation as her egg was layed on the same day I lost a dove to tuberculosis.
About two months ago, Carnation started having grand mal seizures. We were at my avian vet the next day. He gave me injectable valium for her seizures. The valium worked beautifully except I hated sticking her five or six times a day -- everytime she had a seizure. So three weeks later, back to the avian vet we went.

We put her on phenobarbital (oral), using the valium as backup (as it stopped the seizures more quickly). After a week or so, I tried cutting back on the pheno. But she started seizuring badly again so I increased the dose. I had to increase the dose several times which scared me to death.

Now I'm able to cut back her dose again and I haven't had to use the valium. At night, I keep her in a small padded cage. During the day, she's in a four-foot flight with two elderly doves, two cockatiels, and an elderly eastern rosella. She loves that and is distracted enough so she doesn't "think" about seizuring.

I nearly put Carnation to sleep three weeks ago. I'm hoping she is finally (permanently) stabilized so she can lead a somewhat normal life for the rest of her days.

[Lisa B]

Thank you for sharing her story....she was very loved...

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

Thank you for sharing her story....she was very loved...

She STILL is loved!

[Pa. Nancy]

Amazing. I never heard of a bird having seizures. You are a loving birdy mom. (((hugs)))

[birdlady49]

Reluctantly I put Carnation to sleep in October 2007. As my avian vet said, she was receiving more medicine than a 10-pound poodle, yet she was still seizuring. It was the most difficult thing I had to do in a very long time.

Unfortunately, yes, seizuring is something that will happen to birds on occasion. In Carnation's case, Dr. LaBonde thought she had a growing tumor. In other cases, it may be a nutritional deficiency. In still other cases, it could be the result of an injury or trauma.