Hi BYC friends,
I’m hoping some of you have/had parakeets and would be able to help. I have a sick, old, female parakeet. By old I mean she’s about 6 years old or more (guessing). She’s old enough that her eyes have that milky look to them (like what happens when a dog gets older). So I know her age already puts her at risk of potential health issues.
Her symptoms are below:
-dirty vent (and squatting a little as if she’s trying to poop but nothing comes out...I just noticed this today, so this is a new symptom)
-quick breathing (and a slight whistling sound with her breathing)
-puffed up feathers, tail bobbing (I know tail bobbing means respiratory distress)
-still eating/drinking as usual
-no changes to her environment
-her two cage mates aren’t showing any signs of symptoms, so it’s not contagious
She’s been showing signs of breathing issues for a couple months now. My guess is she might have a respiratory infection, but again her cage mates aren’t sick so I’m not sure. It would have to be something not contagious.
I haven’t been able to get an appt with the vet due to the quarantine, and it’s the only vet in the area with avian experience. So up until today I’ve just been trying to make her comfortable.
Until I can get her the vet, is there anything I can do? Is a vet even a good idea at this point given her age/the level of stress a vet visit often causes small birds?
One thing I thought of today that I wish I’d thought of sooner is Tylosin (Tylan water soluble powder). I have some from when i treated a respiratory infection in one of my hens. Apparently it can also be used for exotic birds like budgies. Has anyone used it for their budgies before? Is Tylan/Tylosin okay for non-sick budgies (her cage mates) or does she need a separate waterer?
Thank you, any input is helpful!
@Nifty-Chicken can you please delete the first post I made in the Emergencies/Illnesses/Diseases forum? I realized I put it in the wrong forum and don’t want to double-post. Thank you!
I’m hoping some of you have/had parakeets and would be able to help. I have a sick, old, female parakeet. By old I mean she’s about 6 years old or more (guessing). She’s old enough that her eyes have that milky look to them (like what happens when a dog gets older). So I know her age already puts her at risk of potential health issues.
Her symptoms are below:
-dirty vent (and squatting a little as if she’s trying to poop but nothing comes out...I just noticed this today, so this is a new symptom)
-quick breathing (and a slight whistling sound with her breathing)
-puffed up feathers, tail bobbing (I know tail bobbing means respiratory distress)
-still eating/drinking as usual
-no changes to her environment
-her two cage mates aren’t showing any signs of symptoms, so it’s not contagious
She’s been showing signs of breathing issues for a couple months now. My guess is she might have a respiratory infection, but again her cage mates aren’t sick so I’m not sure. It would have to be something not contagious.
I haven’t been able to get an appt with the vet due to the quarantine, and it’s the only vet in the area with avian experience. So up until today I’ve just been trying to make her comfortable.
Until I can get her the vet, is there anything I can do? Is a vet even a good idea at this point given her age/the level of stress a vet visit often causes small birds?
One thing I thought of today that I wish I’d thought of sooner is Tylosin (Tylan water soluble powder). I have some from when i treated a respiratory infection in one of my hens. Apparently it can also be used for exotic birds like budgies. Has anyone used it for their budgies before? Is Tylan/Tylosin okay for non-sick budgies (her cage mates) or does she need a separate waterer?
Thank you, any input is helpful!
@Nifty-Chicken can you please delete the first post I made in the Emergencies/Illnesses/Diseases forum? I realized I put it in the wrong forum and don’t want to double-post. Thank you!
