Diplobacilli, no, fungus! HELP! Sun and I scared!

[demylenated]

I need some advice and calming words.

A little back history. Hubby retired from military in April. I had moved home to PA (we live in MS) in December to get a job. He came home 4 weeks ago to close on house. Birds (Quaker and Sun Conure) were boarded.

We came home 1.5 weeks ago. I noticed my Sun fluffing his feathers, bobbing, and twitching his wings. I thot it was attention behavior until he went to bed at 6 pm. Took to an avian vet the next day. First we were told he had diplobacilli (in fecal) bacterial infection. Started him on baytril. That was last Wednesday. I called Friday cause I noticed no changes. Vet said not enough time. I also separated him from my quaker (they've been together since they were 3 months old). He got worse (depressed). Seemed better yesterday because he was back with the quaker. This am, he refused to come out of his cozy (where they sleep together), didn't want his treat, and slept a lot.

Back to the vet as soon as I noticed. Now there are spores in his fecal. Vet said he has a fungal infection and started him on intraconozole.

Both times he only did a fecal microscopy. Nothing else. He is the only "avian" vet around.

He basically said my Sun has aspergillosis. Stopped the baytril. My Sun has lost weight even though he was eating.

Now, here is the issue. We are making the 1200 mile trip home starting tomorrow. A lot more stress for my sun. I don't feel confident in the vet down here.

The soonest vet appt with a good avian vet in PA is on Tuesday (we won't even get in until Friday). They did give me an er vet number.

I know a lot more testing should have been run... but it wasnt, and as I said... no good "vets" for him in this area.

Today he is sleeping a lot. He is also screeching in a way he never has... it sounds almost like a monkey screaming. He is still fluffy, bobbing, not playing at all... and trying to cuddle with the quaker. But, she (the quaker) is still playful and moving around a lot. He has diarrhea, and his poop is mainly white (the urate), when I took him the first time it was a weird green, but still runny). Another time he went, it was almost like a clear mucus.

So, I am offering him supportive care while he's on this fungalcide. I have pedialyte in there for him to drink. I am feeding him "bird baby food" with a syringe. I am making sure to give him some water via syringe, too (I am heading out to get a scale to keep an eye on his nutrition). I also have a heat lamp. I am conflicted as to whether I should hold him... or if it is stressful to him (he goes to my neck and rolls over against and in my hair and goes to sleep).

I am so lost. He has ZERO respiratory symptoms. I read that is usually the number one sign. The vet did say it could be a different fungus because he didn't "test it" but it is fungus and the medicine is broad.

The vet also said he will get worse before he gets better, because when the spores start dying, it will cause an inflammatory response. So, our goal is to be in PA before "it gets worse" in case he needs more intensive supportive care than I can provide. I'll feel more comfortable with the vets up there.

So... I am just lost, and scared. Should I keep him with the quaker? She's pretty healthy and showing zero signs of being sick. If she's "healthy" enough, she prolly won't get it. Is it worth the risk though (I did get enough fungalcide for her in case I want to treat prophylactic). Is it worth the risk of stress/depression to him to separate them? It's a dilema.

Also, what can I do to make this trip as stress free for my sun as possible.

What do you all think about his symptoms? About all of this... I am reaching out for help, support, and an ear. I am just worried about losing him. Worried about his behavior today. Worried about the medications... I can't lose my buddy. I don't want my quaker to get sick too/either. Ugh!

Btw, he is 19 months, she is 18 months old.

Thanks for any insight, advice... anything you can offer.

[Squawk]

It sounds like an internal infection, or as the vet said, fungal or bacterial. I've never had a parrot get sick like that before, but as a chicken farmer, I've seen some pretty nasty bacterial stuff (I don't know if all bird species react to bacterial and fungal infections in similar ways or not, just going on what I know).

My advice to you: keep doing what you're doing. Watch the heat lamp, be careful to not overheat your bird... if it's on, just keep checking every 15 minutes or so just to be safe (I've made that mistake before..not good). I'd only use a heat lamp if he's shaking. If his body temperature's feverish, I wouldn't give him heat. Keep the fluids going. Water, meds, high-protein stuff. I'd keep him separate from his companion so as to keep the bacteria from spreading (through fecal matter), though you could possibly keep them in the same room so they can still see each other and so your Sun doesn't feel as isolated...

I've heard that olive oil helps lubricate the crop and helps food pass through (if he's having trouble eating/digesting).

When traveling, I've always used a sheet or a pillowcase to cover my bird's carrier in the car to reduce stress from looking out the window.

I'd plan on trying to find the best avian vet in your state, and just keep your fingers crossed for the best. I know what it's like to feel helpless when a flock member is sick... it's the worst. Your Sun sounds like he's in good hands though. Keep us posted on how the situation turns out.. my thoughts are with you & your flock

[Wolf]

Please call and have someone check on whether you can bring your Quaker to PA with you without it being confiscated and killed as they are illegal to possess in that state. This is important!

[Pajarita]

No, there is no 'calling' anybody in Pa, quakers are most definitely illegal in Pa and the bird won't be confiscated and kept, she will be killed so you will need to figure out who to leave the bird with outside Pa because one single phone call from a nasty neighbor and that will be the end of her.

As to the conure, I would let him stay with the quaker or wherever he is happiest (the quaker will not catch the fungus unless her immune system is depressed). Stress is the biggest factor when it comes to pet parrots for the simple reason that they are undomesticated and already under lots of physical as well as emotional stress in captivity (this is no reflection on you, all our birds are under stress, it's unavoidable when you take an animal out of their natural environment and put him in a human home). I would not use a heat lamp. I'll be honest with you, I know that a lot of people use them for birds but I don't like them at all! I don't like the fact that the heat comes at the bird from the wrong angle and that it's produced by a light. I like heating pads put at the bottom of the cage with all sides of the cage, except the front, covered by material. This way, the heat is even and spreads out throughout the entire cage so, if you put a thermometer in there, you know exactly what the bird is getting. The temperature should be between 85 and 95 degrees (birds need high heat to heal). I would give him Echinacea (only for five days and rest the other two), noni and probiotics as well as DMG (immune system boosters, only birds with a depressed immune system get fungal infections). I don't know what 'baby food' you are giving him but I would stay away from prepared formulas (they all have soy) and make my own by mixing whole grain flours with some pumpkin or sweet potato puree and some orange juice (vit A and C been good for infections -and you can mix the supplements in there, too) or get some TOPs mash and add water to it. Does he still have diarrhea? Because, if he does and it doesn't get better with the probiotics, you might want to ask the vet for some metronidazole which is an antibiotic but also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties when it comes to the digestive tract. I know an excellent avian vet in Pa (Poconos) so let me know if you need her name.

[Harpmaker]

I would be worried to death with a sick bird as you are, but Pajarita has LOTS of experience with healing sick birds, so your best bet is to follow her advice.

Quaker parrots are illegal here, too, so don't discount the warnings about them.

Best of luck to you and both your birds!