Help? Emu is acting funny

[ryo92]

So one of my emus, Jesse is acting very strange today. Normally she doesn't like to be pet and runs away from me. Well when I went to feed the 2 emus today, she was laying down, which in itself is abnormal because they are usually waiting for me in the mornings. So I went up to her expecting her to get up and she just layed there. So I touched her, no reaction. Her head is up, eyes clear and she is very alert with no discharge from her nose or anything. So I tried to get her up, and after pretty much forcing her up, she got up. She walked around a little bit, then layed back down. Once I filled her water however, she went over drank a little bit, and then layed back down. She is standing right now, but she just isn't acting right. Also she wouldn't eat. Any ideas as to what might be wrong? She definitely wasn't acting like this yesterday.


Thanks,

Ryan

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Ryo92,

no wound out of sight under her feathers? no ticks?

S.E.

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't know anything about emu's but, could she be preparing to lay an egg?

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Egg-laying shouldn't cause behaviour like this. You are on the right track, ryo92. Laying down --- being unconcerned about 'safey zone' -- is a bad sign.

Has Jesse managed to ingest a poison or a sharp object? Is her stool normal?

Keep us postetd.

Supreme Emu

 

[ryo92]

Jesse unfortunately passed away this morning. :'( Jagger is now displaying the exact same behavior. I think Im going to lose him too. There aren't any wounds or ticks any where on either of them. I literally went through every inch. I dont believe that either of them had the opportunity to swallow posion or sharp objects. Its been raining here during the days and very cold at night. Could that have something to do with it?

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Oh, Ryo92. I’m so sorry.

My knowledge is truly basic. Logic suggests that if both birds have/had the same symptoms, then the problem is more likely an infection or virus than, say, a concealed puncture wound.

Is there a warm dry ‘isolation ward’ that you can put Jagger in? that is, physically remove him from the possible infection-site?

Keep us posted.

Supreme Emu

 

[ES Emus]

Sorry for your loss...I have a friend that lost one of her birds with similar symptoms a while ago and the cause of death was never able to be determined...

 

[chickenzoo]

So very sorry. If both were fine then were lethargic but no other symptoms and passes, I would think it was due to eating something poisonous. Poke berry and such are known around here for causing death in emu and other animals. Drooling can also be from a respitory illness. I would get a vet out for the other if he is still with us. ..... Emu can be so hard to diagnose.

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

How is Jagger?

Supreme Emu

 

[ryo92]

Jagger is still with us. His state declined yesterday around noon, so I got LA-200 and dosed him with that. Gave him Vitamin D and Vitamin C pills orally and forced him to drink water. He still has diarrhea however it is beginning to show signs of improvement. He still wont eat on his own, but is very alert and will actually stand up and walk around. I have literally brought him inside of my house. I slept right beside him last night and the night before, and am going to do the same thing tonight. His overall state has been on the climb. I have been monitoring his heart rate as well. Which is now back in the norm. Oh, I also administered Kaopectate for the diarrhea which seems to be helping.


Ryan