Kidney issues

[Birdcrazy]

Anyone had to deal with kidney related issues before?

Thrusday night I came home from work to find Benny my 10 year old cockatiel not acting like himself. Friday morning we headed to a highly recommend avian specialist. Loads of test later it's been found he has a slight imbalance with his kidneys. So he'll have them both flashed and a course of antibiotic. If nothing comes back from the other test tomorrow he gets to come home Monday but has to return in two weeks to have the blood work all done again.

I just really worried although its not a massive issue, we're moving to the otherside of the country come October which involves a four hour flight. The vet was telling me any animal must have a complete clean bill of health before it can be flown anywhere.

[marie83]

I've no advice at all but wanted to wish you the best of luck.
I've no idea about the rules but im sure if he isn't contagious and is well enough to endure the flight then he may be able to. Is there any alternatives to flying like one person travelling with him seperately in a car?

[liz]

If it is not contagiouse and would not hurt him to fly the vet should sign off on it. If he does not ask him why.

[Birdcrazy]

If he isn't well enought to fly I'll hold off until December. When I took him in I was expecting just a early stage repository infection due to him having a terrible moult with bad dust build up. Not something to do with his organs but I hope them being flushed out and the antibiotics clears it all up. I just want him home because I'm not sure who suffering worse from separation anxiety me or him.

[marie83]

I can imagine but at least you can get some comfort from that fact you have a good vet and that he is in the right place to get help before he gets any worse. That also proves you are a great owner, alot of people would have left it longer to get help unfortunately.

Keep us updated.

[liz]

I don't know if I could stand having my bird left at the vet. When I am away and I know that they are in their own home and cared for, I still miss them something awful.

[cml]

I don't know if I could stand having my bird left at the vet. When I am away and I know that they are in their own home and cared for, I still miss them something awful.

Sometimes you have to though Liz, we had to leave Leroy overnight once on drip. It feels awful though!

[Cage Cleaner]

K

[Cage Cleaner]

K

[Birdcrazy]

I'm sorry to hear you lost your bird.

Further research after the event showed that cockatiels can suffer from kidney related issues if fed on a pellet diet. This was information that I pulled off of lafeber's site, which is a company that makes pellets. So, it's something to pay attention to for sure.

I have read this before but after speaking to another vet a long time ago we converted both my guys from vetafarm pellets to Harrisons pellets plus a small amount of seed forging teats and more fresh fruit and veg.

In hindsight, I would have put him down when the kidney failure happened, instead of letting him slowly and unhappily fade out.

I spoke to the vet about this too but he thinks we got it early enough to correct it the imbalance.