[Ryan]

Hello everyone, my name is Ryan, i have a cockatiel thats about 10 years old. Yesterday i noticed that she wasnt able to walk around the cage properly. I let her fly around which she seemed to be able to do, once she landed her feet seemed to be completely uncoordinated. She is not able to walk, climb , or anything to do with her feet.

When i first noticed this issue, i sat down with her and just pet her for a good couple hours, when the problem continued, i started looking around for help. I noticed my parents have picked her up a Parakeet diet food instead of the regular cockatiel mix. She has only been eating that parakeet food for about a week so i dont know how much harm it could have done.

I have blocked the sides of her cash so she cant climb around and put a blanket around 3 sides of the cage so she stays calm. She doesnt seem to be eating or drinking alot, and still having a really hard time walking, falling over alot. Her legs are usually spread apart when she is sitting on the ground.

We have picked up some vitamin suppliments to put in her water. I have been feeding her water off the tip of my finger because i dont think she can really make her way over to the water dish to drink out of it, if i bring the water dish near her, she just kinda turns her head.

I am extremely worried about my bird and i would really like to get her back to full health. Please, if anyone has any ideas, opinions, suggestions, or anything they can tell me that may help, i would really appreciate it.

[Boomers girl]

I am sorry she is not feeling well, she really does need to see a avian vet. This could be caused by lots of things and vet is the best person to tell you how to help her. Metal poisoning can do this to them, if this is the case she will need to have meds to detox the metals out of her system and she needs them fast. It honestly could be anything but that was the first thing that popped in my head, that or egg issues but after 10 years you would know she was ready to lay.

She needs to be kept warm, if you have a heating pad put it under her cage or a blanket so she cant get to it and bite it so she can stay nice and warm and please try to get her to a vet as soon as you can. I will be sending her many get well thoughts and prayers.

[Ryan]

Thank you boomers girl for the information. I have actually been on another site and recorded a video for them to watch. None of them had thought about metal poisoning but i am going to PM you the link to the video, if you are ok with that. And could you please tell me if its something like the symptoms of metal poisoning? I have already thought it could be eggs cause she leans forward alot , sticks her tail in the air and stretches, like shes trying to push an egg out. But i am getting her to the vet as soon as possible, i have an appointment at 3:30 friday for the avian vet so sad i couldnt get it sooner and still cant.
Thanks for the reply.

[Boomers girl]

Is her butt bigger then normal? I dont know much about eggs in birds but I have read there rear ends get really big, if this is the case hopefully she can wait until Friday to see the vets.

The only reason I mentioned the metal poisoning is because I know it will cause neurological troubles and losing her legs seems like it could be neurological to me. I hope not but it happens.

Hopefully Alena here will see this post soon and reply to it, she is the super smart one here that always gives out the best advice. Please let me know how she is doing and what the vet has to say about this once she gets to see one.

[GreenMeanie]

I dont know about super smart, Deanna, but I have seen a bunch of ill birds....

I have not seen the video - feel free to post the link for everyone to watch.

#1. Metal poisoning either from environment (cage, dishes, toys, something she got into) or chemical poisoning through the food.
#2. Tumor on the spine pinching of leg use, she is getting up in age and health issues will start coming up...
#3. Egg binding - could be... hard to say. With egg binding her cloaca would be large and half a visible ball inside, she would be more into plucking the cloaca area.
#4. Respiratory infection that has gone bad - you said she leans forward and stretches - that could be either breathing issues of GI.

There is not anything medical I can recommend... But I would take a plastic container or a fishtank, set it on a heating pad set to low with a towel in between, line it with fleece blankets, use a plate for water and cover the set up with a towel on the top or if you have to - something that will prevent her from escaping but allow good air circulation. I would start syringe feeding her High protein foods - Probably start with lafeber's baby bird formula & pedialight, and go sit at the vet's lobby... They take you in faster. I know I had to wait for my well checkups because I volunteered my spot for an animal in need of doctor, and I have been on the other end of it when others had to wait for the doctor to see me... being there helps, but you need to be prepared with your set up, food, fluids and a good book to read. Did I mention a checkbook or credit card?

Few days ago my friend's female tiel was not acting right, wobbly and unwilling to do anything. Handfeeding her and keeping her warm helped her fight whatever she had and she was back to normal in 24 hours. You can provide her supportive care while you are waiting on the vet - thats about all you can do right now.
I would suggest hand feeding her even a couple of drops every few hours, or offering her millet - which is very high in protein and if she does not want plain water- childrens pedialight is good.

[Ryan]

Thank you everyone here for the information. I have been to the doctors and they have confirmed it as a chest infection so she is now on antibiotics and hopefully and the road to recovery. Thanks you , i appreciate your help so much

[Boomers girl]

I am happy they figured out what is wrong with her and are able to treat it with meds. It almost good its a chest infection and not anything neurological because it least with a chest infection once it goes away she will get better.

[Ryan]

Yes i know exactly what you mean, thank you for your help, i do not want to seem like a careless owner by not being active in this post, i did get the help i needed on another forum a little faster so ive been keeping an eye on that one more than this one. Thanks again and i will include a link below to the forum i am posting updates on

http://www.parrotcha...walk-15636.html

This post has been edited by Ryan: 22 March 2010 - 08:19 PM

[Boomers girl]

How is she doing today, I went to the other forum last night and saw that she was not feeling too well again and hopefully she is better again today. I read that the vet gave you baytril but your mixing it in her water, I have heard its lots better to give them baytril with a syringe in her beak because sometimes birds will avoid there water if its added to it. If she isnt well today I would call the vet to see if you can try giving her baytril in her beak with a syringe so that you know for sure she is getting what she needs to get better. Warm humid bathrooms are great for congestion, Alena has issues with her amazon and sinus issues and I know she will steam her Bill up and he feels better afterwards.

I really do hope she feels better soon, it is so hard to see them sick