Health check up with Leroy

[cml]

We were at the vets today, doing a check up with Leroy, as well as getting his beak groomed. We did a regular health check, the vet examined him and thought that he looked very healthy! We also took a feces test, and his values from that checked out. We also took a blood test, which we will get the results from tomorrow.

Some of you may recall that Ive been worried that both Leroy's and Stitch's beaks have grown, but it wasnt a problem! They still groomed it though because it had started to "split" a little at the point of the upper beak, and now it looks perfect . He also got his nails done!

I am glad that everything went well and we are taking Stitch for his visit in two weeks .

I also learned something that may come in handy for some of you. My vet is an avian specialist that has worked with birds of all kinds for 30 years, but sometimes finding an avian vet isnt easy.
Our vet is a member of "The Association of Avian Veterinarians" and I found out that through their website, you can search for vets that are members of this association! I think this is awesome as I know some of you have had trouble finding an avian vet, I hope this helps!
Avian vet search: http://www.aav.org/search/index.php
I might repost this as a separate thread if its considered useful?

[pionus]

glad to hear that leroy is doing well!

and thanks for that link. i found a vet in bremerton, pretty close to where i live. yay ! thanks again.

[cml]

Bad news.

Leroy's bloodwork checked out for no infections, his white and red blood count were both good, BUT, and thats a big but , he had a few anti-bodies for Psittacosis. It was very few though, and there were no other signs of infection, so a very likely scenario according to the vet is that he's been in contact with it, developed anti-bodies and stayed clear of the infection. But, it needs to be verified of course, and Leroy is going back in 8 weeks to check that the anti-bodies count hasnt increased. During that time we are to watch for all signs of infections, but thankfully Leroy has displayed none - which is also why we havnt even considered it.

I didnt get to talk to the vet directly, I missed his call, but he recorded a long message on my voice-mail explaining everything at detail. He also asked me to contact him when he got back to the clinic on monday.

I am worried for him, and for Stitch as well. Stitch is going in for his vet check up in 10 days, and will do the same tests. Until monday I know nothing more, but I really hope everything is going to be okay.

[marie83]

Oh no fingers crossed nothing comes of it. At least if it is that theres a good chance of full recovery even though the course of antibiotics is lengthy and you will have to scrub everything down daily. Did your vet mention anything about carrier birds?

[Eurycerus]

I'm worried for Stitch too! That would be so sad if Leroy were a carrier :/

[cml]

I'm worried for Stitch too! That would be so sad if Leroy were a carrier :/

Oh no fingers crossed nothing comes of it. At least if it is that theres a good chance of full recovery even though the course of antibiotics is lengthy and you will have to scrub everything down daily. Did your vet mention anything about carrier birds?

Thanks for your concern guys, I really appreciate it!

I know they can be carriers, but since they already live together and feed each other daily, chances are that Stitch would already be infected if Leroy is. The vet and I are going to discuss it further on monday, but I really hope its nothing .
Niether of the birds are displaying any symptoms though and both eat healthy with no weight changes for the last few months.
I will let you all know more on monday/tuesday when I talk to the vet again, hopefully everything will turn out alright...

[marie83]

Yes definitely keep updating us.

The reason I was asking about the carrier birds is that they can carry it for years and years, never showing a single symptom. My vet suggested to me a few days ago that he is thinking about re-testing my two for this. From what he said it is more than possible for one to test positive and the other negative as it can sometimes lie dormant until the immune system is depressed.

Try not to worry too much until you hear more.

[pionus]

good luck!

[cml]

All test results for both birds are back. Leroy, as Ive posted before, has a very low count of anti-bodies for Psittacosis, but nothing in his bloodwork suggested an infection.

Stitch was totally clean , everything was great, which also suggests that Leroy's not infected. But to be sure that Leroy isnt infected or is a carrier, he is going in a second time visit within 4 weeks, to see how the blood values have changed. Fingers crossed and everything will be good...

[Eurycerus]

Yay! That's great to hear and good luck next time too :]