Swollen liver?

[mmeager]

I don't quite know how to say exactly what I want to say. And this will probably turn out to be very lengthy! But first things first, an update on Buddy.
I am terrified of getting my hopes up. Because Buddy is still very very weak and sick, but throughout today he has definitely shown signs of improvement! He is moving around his cage, he is drinking his water, and he is eating out of his food bowls! In fact, as I am writing this, he has been the liveliest we have seen him in the last two weeks!!!!
Yesterday Buddy could not even stand on any of his perches, he tried, but kept falling off, he spent most of his time asleep on the bottom of his cage, he looked terrible, and couldn't eat out of his bowls, I took every opportunity I could hand feeding him single pieces of corn, because that was all he would eat.
We moved our mattress out by his cage, so we could sleep by him last night, we honestly didn't think he would be with us when we woke up. I like to think that all the positive energy given by so many people, including both you Wolf, and Liz, as well as all our family and friends helped to keep him alive last night. Buddy himself has also fought very hard, and doesn't want to leave us. I want to think that he has now reached a turning point, and may be on his road to recovery. But we are a long way to being out of the woods yet, so keep that good energy up guys!!!!

Next I want to say a very special thanks, on a personal note.
Liz: As well as following us from the very beginning. You have shared a very personal part of your life with us, and that I truly appreciate and admire. I also understand the point you were trying to get across, We have listened! Implemented what you were telling us, and I believe this is another factor that has kept Buddy alive. Thank you!
Wolf: From the beginning of our journey you have followed us, you have helped us, and played a huge part in Buddy's development, as well as our own understanding, and I cant thank you enough!
I will always trust in your words. Both my wife and myself read your last post together, and we cried, the simple fact of your care for Buddy, and us, means the world. Thank you!

The next thing I need to say.
Most people will probably think I am a little mad, a little obsessive maybe? Buddy is just a bird, just another pet right?
Well, No he's not. He has been so much more than that. So much more than we ever expected!Since Buddy entered our lives, he has made a dramatic change to our family, to me personally. He has given so much joy, so much happiness, I think I said in another post, I haven't truly laughed as much in the last two years as I have in the last two months! Buddy has lightened my heart. He has made a big change in my life. One thing the Avarian vet said which has given me comfort, is sometimes in life, when a little bird is in trouble, and not likely to live much of a life, somehow they find a family that will give them the best life they can have, in their short time with us.

The last thing I really want to say is.
This forum has been a place where I can find solace, a place to express my feelings, a place to find a little release. And a place to gain knowledge and understanding. So thank you to all!

[Wolf]

I just wrote and lost a rather lengthy reply when I tried to post it. To now give a very much shortened version of it as I need to feed my bird, I am a little late.

If Buddy is not getting milk thistle for his liver I would check to see if your local health food store carries non alcoholic milk thistle. it is not cheap, but it appears to be the go to liver treatment for birds according to my avian medical texts. It must be the non alcoholic milk thistle as alcohol would not help his liver at all. The dosage that I use is 6 drops in the morning gloop every day although you can use more without any negative side effects. Pajarita first told me about this and then I read about it in the medical text,

Please keep me updated of Buddy's condition, if you can get him through this the liver can repair some of the damage and with a good diet, milk thistle exercise and love, he can still live a long and rewarding life with you.

[liz]

I have liver damage due to my illness. I am auto immune which means my immune system attacks my organs.I just wanted to tell you that damage can cause pain in the liver as well as weaken the body.
Use the info that Wolf gave you. So far he has been right with his response posts to me.
Other than the thistle all I can suggest is keep him warm and comfort him. He does not know why he feels so bad but love and physical contact are comforting.
I believe the love of my family and friends, as well as a lot of prednisone is what gave me the strength to fight back.

[JaydeParrot]

I agree milk thistle is best, my beautiful boy Hide (when he was still here) had a bad liver partly due to bornavirus and was perscribed lifelong milk thistle. Unfortunately I was stupid and waited too long have him diagnosed (he had to be anesthetized for blood sample and I was scared of him being anethetized), he lived for only six weeks after his vet visit.

There can be many possible reasons for what is occuring, lethargy, poor balance and very enlarged crop are notable signs of the virus, it is not highly likely that your bird has it as the bornavirus tends to also cause a large appetite and possibly also feeling hungry whilst completely full, I would however consider ringing up your vet and discussing the possibility. The test results can take a while to come back, where I come from, the test had to be sent to a different country to be analysed. If your bird needs the test get it done as soon as possible to you can get results and antibiotics (if necessary).

I hope your bird's ok and look forward to an update.

[Pajarita]

Was he tested for heavy metal poisoning? Because this disease presents the symptoms you mentioned he has been having and it doesn't show on the normal blood work. And, if it is, all they have to do is a chelation therapy on him and put him on liver tonics and cleansers as well as an organic (and low fat, low protein) diet.

[seagoatdeb]

I think Pajarita is on the right track here. The way he was falling off perches and then getting bettter after rings bells for me.....and the way this sounds to me is that it is Zinc poisoning and I would check to make sure he doesnt have access to any metal that may have zinc in it anywhere near him and get anything suspicious away from him. Ask the vet to check for metal poisoning and as Pajarita says he can be helped with chelation therapy.

[mmeager]

Well, we fought hard everyone, but unfortunately we lost the battle, and we lost Buddy last night.
We were all there together as a family, I cupped Buddy in my hands, and held him close to my heart, I softly whispered to him until he finally went away. Its been a really bad day, now I'm home from work, it feels like a really bright light in the house has been turned off. And in truth, is has.

When Buddy came home last Saturday, The Avarian clinic already believed he wouldn't make it, so they approached us in the nicest way, and asked if we would allow them to do an autopsy on Buddy, At the clinic's expense. They asked because they had never seen anything quite like what was happening to Buddy. It was a difficult decision, but we agreed, we agreed because knowledge of what was attacking Buddy, might just help to save many other birds out there.
The autopsy was performed today, and once again the vet said she had never actually come across anything like what she discovered. Buddy's liver was almost the size of his abdomen, his spleen, and kidney's were also swollen and inflamed. His liver had two white coloured spots around the size of a small fingernail each. And his abdomen was full of a white milky substance, the vet has no idea of what that could be. Everything has been sent off for testing. When we receive the results, I will inform everyone here to increase our knowledge.
After that I am going to disappear for a while guys. I do plan on involving myself here again tho. So don't delete me please!
I have discovered that I truly want a bird to be a part of our future lives. But it will be some time before I can open my heart to another feathered friend.

I am over emotional I know. But I want A quick little tribute in honour of our Buddy.

Good night my beautiful little mate. We love you, and you will forever be in our hearts, you gave us so much joy and happiness! And we miss you desperately.

[Wolf]

I understand completely and yes you do need time to grieve this passing. I know that you did all that you could do for him and Know how big of a hole in your heart and life that this has left and there is nothing that I can ever say that will ever make it better, time is the only thing that is going to help right now, and although I may not be able to say anything to help, I can listen and understand so if you want or need someone to talk to, I am here.

Yes, Buddy was/ is just a bird, but not just any bird he was your buddy and his intelligence and his sense of humor as well as his purely birdy way of looking at things provided a source of joy that was much larger than his size would suggest, He was indeed the light of your life in more ways than can be expressed with mere words. I only knew of Buddy through the pictures you posted and the things that you said to us here, but I miss him too.

[liz]

I miss him too. You have to alow yourself to mourn. Only parrot humans can know how you feel and how your heart broke with his passing. When I loose one it is tramatic to me and I have to be alone to mourn my loss.
You do not want to hear this now but I am afraid I will loose this thread. Mourn your baby but keep in mind that the love you gave him will not be needed again. Don't waste it. There are so many who need homes and safety that not searching for one would be a waste of your love.
The next one in no way will be like your lost one. It would never replace him.
An example is: When Calicat past I was devastated and did not want another cat. A kitten about
eight weeks old showed up on my porch and I could not resist. She was not Calicat who could never be replaced but was a very good Fancy who I had for 18 years even with a life long treatment of feline leukemia.
I told her she was not my precious Calicat but she was a very good Fancy.

[Pajarita]

Oh, my goodness! What terrible, terrible news! Heartbreaking... I am sooooooo sorry for your loss! People who don't have birds don't understand how incredibly attached we get to them...