Parrots with breathing problem

Re: Parrots with breathing problem

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:55:16 GMT

[quote user="karen jones"]Thanks have passed information on , why do these things turn up at night ?

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I apologize if i sound harsh, but it's probably been wheezy and off color for days, and the owner's been either not noticing it, or waiting for it to get better on its own. Warn the vet to tell the owner to expect the worst, and if you've mentioned the lack of bird experience to the owner, also say you've been in touch with expert opinion. Trust me, if the bird goes south and dies, there is a fair percentage of owners who will try to blame it on your practice.

Keep muttering about grave prognosis until the bird is discharged after recovery, and warn about sudden relapses. (not fooling!)

(Bird medicine is challenging and rewarding, but the owners can be VERY touchy. Handle with care. )

Re: Parrots with breathing problem

karen jones — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:47:56 GMT

Thanks have passed information on , why do these things turn up at night ?

Re: Parrots with breathing problem

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:43:41 GMT

[quote user="karen jones"]The vet on call tonight was rather miffed. The nurse has got out the aerokat and they're going to try that. Maybe the other vet should have seen the parrot. We don't pretend to be exotic experts and refer anything out of our scope but we're rural and there's not much we can do at night. Thanks for help

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In fairness, the oxygen isn't a bad idea if it's really stressed. Humidifier will also help. It's critical to get the ambient temperature up; it's been very cool the past few days and i don't care how long their mother/uncle/ex-boyfriend has been keeping African or South American parrots at UK room temperature, it's still wrong. 20 celsius/70-75F (I like warmer, 80-85, but don't want to warm up too fast) if you can.

Antibiotics aren't wrong while you're trying to work out if it's aspergillus or a bacterial infection. Time is NOT your friend if the bird is in serious respiratory distress. As it is, birds in respiratory distress are on extremely borrowed time.

Heat, humidity, oxygen. clenbuterol is a bronchodilator i've used in birds, but mixed in saline and put in a humidifier.

Good luck. Bad prognosis.

Re: Parrots with breathing problem

karen jones — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:30:47 GMT

The vet on call tonight was rather miffed. The nurse has got out the aerokat and they're going to try that. Maybe the other vet should have seen the parrot. We don't pretend to be exotic experts and refer anything out of our scope but we're rural and there's not much we can do at night. Thanks for help

Re: Parrots with breathing problem

Utlendigur — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:19:30 GMT

[quote user="karen jones"]Apparently the owners have spoken to a bird expert vet in knutsford who told them it needs antibiotics oxygen and bricanyl and to take it to their local vet.[/quote]

After diagnosing it and prescribing treatment over the phone....!

[quote user="karen jones"]We don't have bricanyl and how do you give a parrot a bronchodilator?[/quote]

I assume it's a human bronchodilator for nebulisers so an OOH pharmacy might stock it. Could you use an Aerokat? Or just phone the vet in Knutsford and ask them