Somebody give me a hug :'( *UPDATES*

[Grey_Moon]

All righty, just got in from the vets.

Blood results should be in at worst by Wednesday.
She's been put on Harrisons Bird Bread (hot pepper for the circulation boost!) for now as me n the vet felt it was the best of the worst being lower-fat n lower-protein ---am looking into the Lifetime Mash asap. But she's used to eating birdie-bread so it'll be a transition first.

She's feeling pretty spunky and just doing her thing So I'm hoping the blood comes back clean-ish.
I'll know my plan of attack more once the blood results are back in, I've got a consultation scheduled with the vet to discuss herbal options/meds/supplements then.

*goes back to the drawing board*

[Eurycerus]

I am so sorry to hear the news. Reading your journey and maries is really updating (upsetting darn Swype). Your girl is too young to be having such troubles but she sure lucked out that she has you on her side! How did she injure herself?

[Grey_Moon]

Thanks

Well she isn't used to having toenails that aren't crazy long (its taken *years* to get them even semi-appropriate length) so right now its that she is having to relearn a whole new way of using her feet and toes each time the nails get shorter. She is also having to rebuild and strengthen muscles in her feet she's never used because she used the nails as hooks or props instead of something to just steady her grip.

And in scrambling down her cage to get to my hand one day she slipped and caught herself in a weird way, injuring her foot.
I can't say for sure but thats my best guess.

[Eurycerus]

Oh gosh. :/ that makes sense though. The lady i bought nika from said i should get her nails trimmed so i did but she fell off her perch, showing off, so many times (she seemed okay but it was scary) until she figured it out or her nails grew. It was horrible! I could only imagine with a larger parrot and health problems in the mix. Hopefully you can figure out a way to deal with the calcification. Is it genetic or based on her living conditions when she was young?

(sorry for the terrible errors up there. I forgot to reread. Darn Swype)

[GreenWing]

Hugs to you and your bird, Grey_Moon. I hope your little guy is doing much better now.

[Grey_Moon]

Thanks GreenWing, unfortunately the journey's just begun---but Jacko's tough and I'm wily---I'm determined to find a way to reverse the condition. If there's a way people can reverse hardened arteries, and if lab mice can do it---I'm sure Jacko can.

Eurycerus---this far into the game I don't know. It is most likely because of her early living conditions---however---she did have a period with me where she ate high-fat Harrisons and probably too many eggs and walnuts. So it could be a bunch of things. Heart disease such as this is also an epidemic amongst greys in particular---with many (such as the infamous Alex) dying of heart attacks due to hardened arteries. Why this is is unknown, a combo of captive factors and genetics most likely.

I'm making her new Harrison's bird bread tonight---with applesauce to replace the eggs and oil and some pomegranate juice instead of water. Pomegranate has been shown to reduce and reverse atherosclerosis in mice studies---so here's hoping! There's also cayenne powder in the bread mix to get her circulation going.

Next month I'll be switching her to the Adult Lifetime Mash---its not perfect---but minus the soy flakes I can live with with and its as good as I'm going to get.

I'm *hoping* we caught this early enough (of course, it would of been best to of caught it last fall when it was barely there) that its not too extensive or widespread yet.

[Eurycerus]

Well good luck! It sounds like you're going to need it. it's really too bad they didn't see it earlier :/ i always had the impression that vets were on top of everything but it skins like they are as useful as a human doctor which is minimal.... You have to be so proactive.

[Grey_Moon]

Hey guys,

Vet called----her blood work is clean and good, cholesterol is normal. Bit freaky for me as my mother was also struck down with severe atherosclerosis despite having normal (even low) cholesterol.
Frustrating because there's nothing I can do medically or diet-wise.

Her poop is getting a little strange again so she'll be going in tomorrow to be looked at---its probably just the metacam/diet switch but just to see. Plus I can talk diet and whanot too (but it was a relief to hear that my DIY wasn't hurting her and actually may have done her some good).


Other than that I called the specialized clinic today and am waiting on a call-back from their exotics specialist in regards to the cardiac ultrasound.

[Eurycerus]

Nika's poop changes dramatically when I change what veggies and stuff she is fed so I'm sure you're fine! ^_^

It is good to hear that what you have been doing has actually helped. *crosses fingers*

[marie83]

whew, so thats good news about the bloods at least.
Hopefully the specialost will be able to give you some more answers when she has her scan.

keep strong.