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by **a.susz** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:46 am

keeping her in my thoughts this week-- hoping it is nothing terrible. i sighed when i read beak and feather disease negative!!

by **ptuga72** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:42 pm

a.susz wrote:keeping her in my thoughts this week-- hoping it is nothing terrible. i sighed when i read beak and feather disease negative!!

Same here. Thinking of you and OG, especially since the test results will be in soon (hopefully).

by **kathis** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:36 pm

This morning OG was nearly crippled. She could barely walk and was sleeping at the bottom of her carrier, rather than on the perch. She was also very quiet and looked half asleep. I called the vet to let them know her condition was worsening and to find out if the heavy metal test results were in. The vet had to call the lab to get the results and called us back right away. Apparently OGs lead level is normal but her zinc is very slightly elevated. The vet didn't think it was elevated enough to cause her symptoms but wanted to treat her for it. Of course we are all hoping that it is the zinc that is making her so sick.

We brought her in and they admitted her for treatment. She will have two shots a day for the first five days. Since our vet is a 100 mile round trip drive for us, we had to leave her there for the treatment. The vet also wanted to provide supportive care with tube feedings.

My husband and I both left the clinic sobbing. We know that the treatment for zinc may save her life, but on the other hand, if it is not the zinc making her so sick, we may not be with her for her last days. Our home is empty without her presence and our hearts are aching.

Hopefully, I will have better news to report tomorrow.

by **el-parrot** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:41 pm

I am so very sorry to hear that you both are going thru. This must be killing you... I really hope and pray that you will get more positive news tomorrow!!

by **a.susz** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:18 pm

i am hoping for positive news as well, this must be so hard for you to go through. my best wishes to OG. :airmail:

by **GooseBlossom** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:28 pm

I am so sad for you. How heartbreaking. I know I questioned this before but has the vet absolutely ruled out B vitamin deficiencies?

It may not be common given the variety of nutritious foods available, but it happened to me.

Years ago I had a different species of bird but he exhibited similar symptoms with the addition within a day of head twitching. The head twitching became increasing worse. Of course, the little bird could not or drink at that point. A late Sunday night emergency visit to an awesome vet resulted in the vet observing the bird and without any testing, concluding that it could be B vitamins. (I don't remember specifically which one.) He gave my bird an injection and the recovery was almost immediate. I had to drive my baby to the vet every Saturday afterwards for 6 weeks for weekly injections, but he totally recovered and lived a long life. B vitamins are water soluble so it doesn't seem like it would hurt to try.

I'm sorry if I am being overly simplistic. I do not take the condition of your little baby lightly and will pray for her recovery. I just wanted to share my experience in case it might have been overlooked.

by **Azure Hanyo** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:59 pm

I'm so sorry.

I will be thinking of you.

by **kathis** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:02 pm

Thank you all. This is a gut-wrenching experience for both my husband and me. We are just praying that OG comes home and that the chelation therapy will bring her health back.

Vitamin B deficiency was ruled out with the first set of labs. She was only low on calcium and albumin levels.