Howdy from AZ

[heyteach]

Thank you Liz & Wolf. Will continue to try to get Yoda to eat more veg; probably will do milk thistle and find some very low dosage ubiquinol to give a small amount of that. Brother should be able to change out chains this week. I think I might try to make something and see if Yoda will eat it--she's eaten a few things for me in the past that my brother was dubious she'd eat. He normally has the most success, but I am around more. We shall see. In any case, "episode" free yesterday and today. Grateful for that and interested in better health period.
Thank you for your help. Greatly appreciated.

[Pajarita]

Looking at the diet, I am a bit concerned about the possibility of high protein intake (Liz mentioned it), metal poisoning (Wolf covered this), low vit A (Liz also mentioned the lack of red, orange and yellow veggies -dark leafy greens are rich on it, too) and lack of calcium (you mentioned her been eggbound a couple of years ago and the falling off perches, instability, disorientation, etc are all symptoms of it).

I would like to see the results of the blood work before I go into detail (were bile acids and ionized calcium tests ran?) but, for now, I would try to better her diet and put her on a detox treatment.

I know it's real hard to get older birds to switch to a better diet but it's not impossible. It just takes a lot of planning, observing, preparing and sharing. Personally, whenever I get an older bird that needs a rapid 'boost' of good food, I give them birdy bread. The good thing about it is that you can load it with good stuff and, because it's bread, something that all birds adore, they will gladly eat it. I would make one with grated carrots, pumpkin puree (both rich in vit A), use orange juice instead of water (vit C -great for the liver!), olive oil (omega 3) and chopped broccoli (rich in calcium and vit C and, If you put it in the food processor, she won't even know it's there).

I would doctor her water with non-alcoholic milk thistle and dandelion root extract (I use one droperful of each in about 4 oz of water) and add aloe vera juice (from the inner filet, only and not gel but juice) so I end up with 2/3 water, 1/3 aloe vera. I would also give her calciboost (or any other brand of avian liquid calcium) for 5 days in a row and then stop for two - but whether you have to do this one or two more times depends on the results from the ionized calcium test because too little calcium is as bad as too much.

Have you considered switching her pellets for gloop? I've been feeding my parrots gloop for many years now and I swear by it.

[heyteach]

Pajarita, Thanks for explicit answer. We've been ill and I've not been on. We did make sure to take care of the metals and alter diet. Like your bird bread idea and will see if I can find the liquid supplements. Should feel better tomorrow. Again, so far, no new episodes and she seems feisty. I don't know where he put the blood work tests and can't recall the results. Been awhile since she had bloodwork that's for sure. Probably should get her in again.

[Wolf]

Am sorry to learn that you have been unwell and it is even worse when both of you are doing poorly. Am glad that you are beginning to feel better.
Does Yoda like nuts? I am speaking of tree nuts like almonds, walnuts brazil nut and others. I ask because although they are still a bit high in protein they are a major source of food for them in the wild and they do require more of them than most other parrot species. They are also a good source of some very important nutrients for them. If she likes them then you could replace some of the other higher protein treat that you have been using for her with unshelled nuts for treats and even a few with her evening meal. The unshelled nuts will keep her busier longer and are good for her beak and the lack of many of he nutrients found in the nuts could have very easily been the cause of her seizures, from what I have learned.
Any way glad to have you back.

[liz]

Old birds can learn new things. Rambo taught Myrtle to try what I gave her. She became a more adventurous eater than Rambo. He would never touch a banana until she ate a piece in front of him.

I give them almond still in the shell. It gives them something else to do instead of just eat a nut.

[Pajarita]

So sorry to hear you both have been doing poorly. It sucks to get old, doesn't it? Whenever I don't feel so good (I have few health issues), I always remember a line from a movie with Shirley McLaine - she was an older lady with a real bad heart who had had a scary episode and when she was asked if she was OK, she hit her chest with her hand and replied: "Ach! If it wasn't for this body, I would live FOREVER!" And that's the way I feel, too