Very Scared

[Kellie]

So... for those who dont know I work at a Petsmart. Recently we got in a young sun conure and after his first week here we noticed he was not eating very well so we are now hand feeding him and by we, I mean me as I'm basically the only one who knows how... Anyways, onto whats freaking me out... At first I thought he just wasn't weaned properly but after taking him to the vet it turns out that he may have Psitocsis (sp?). Ahhhhhhhhh! We didnt catch it right away so he had been taken out of quarantine already so my birds, my boyfriends bird and the birds of the other people in my department may have been infected. We'll here back soon, but Im not going to be able to sit still until I know.

By the way... to preempt any people who may not like their local Petsmarts. It is likely that this disease was brought in not from the breeder but from a coworker of mine who bought their own baby sunconure around the same time as we got ours from a fairly shady breeder.

[Sun_angel00]

Oh how sad, I hope all of the birds arent infected!

[parrotsRmyLove]

That is scary. Wish I could offer you some kind of comforting words. Hoping the vet finds that is not the case.

[jokulhlaup]

that is scary! i hope it's not the case.
let us know how it turns out!

[di_dee1]

Thinking of you at this very scary time. Please keep us updated as soon as you know. I think this is every parront's nightmare, hugs.

[pixibubbles]

well he only said MAY.
fingers crossed it isnt.
If it is please please get yourself to the drs and your fids to a vet. recent research indicated it can lay dormant

when do you get the results?

x

[ellenant]

Chlamydia are just ****** bastards.
See my first bird, Alex.

Yes, they can lay dormant for ages, and then suddenly jump to action.
It will be to early for a test just yet.
You have two options--
either treat them prophylactically with doxycyclin for 45 (!!!!!) days,
or wait at least 2 weeks and then do a test.
The tests are the earliest positive (if the bird is positive) 15 days
after infection.
A test now (less than 15 days) is a waste of money.
Why you have to treat for 45 days?
Chlamydia are bacteria that live INSIDE monocytes/ macophages
and they only come out when the cell dies.
The average live time of such a cell is 45 days.
Thats why you treat for so long, treating less would be plain
stupid, because the antibiotic can only kill when the bacteria
are outside the cells.

Anyway,
I wish you all the best!

[di_dee1]

It is so good having you here, Ellen. Your knowlege enriches us. I am so grateful that we have the likes of you and some others in different categories.

[pixibubbles]

TY for info ellen. i knew it could lay dormant for ages, but didnt know what the incubation was.

the good thing about it is Doxy is really easy. no nasty side effects, inexpensive, and (in england at least) comes in a powder that goes in the water. sorted. Only thing you have to be careful of is yuo have to use de-ionised water as minerals in normal water can effect the absorption. again not a problem though.

Maybe you can talk to the vet your store uses... whatever the result of what is making this conure poorly, make sure he knows you have your fids, and get advice. never know, maybe your boss will contribute or include your birds in any treatment needed.

Still hoping for a different answer from the tests though x

What is it people say here? Prepare for the worst and pray for the best?
((((((((((((((hugs!)))))))))))))))))

[Kellie]

Wow, I didnt know testing right away would be useless... Definitely good to know. I'm still super hopeful that it will come back negative. I was convinced it would until I found out exactly what it was they were testing for... now I'm super paranoid. Does anyone know how long the test usually takes? The birds at work were tested on Monday.

[Kellie]

The bird at work came back clean!!! Hurrah!

[Skittles]

YAY!!!!!!

Kellie that's awesome! Glad to hear!

[Shannon]

I'm glad to hear that! I definitely would have held my employer and/or the co-worker monetarily responsible.

[McDenny]

Thats good to hear. It's too bad big chains like PetSmart and PetCo aren't more responsible about where they get their birds!

How is the little Sunnie doing?

[Kellie]

He's still massively underweight but steadily improving *crosses fingers*

[DaiseesMom]

Yay!!! I am so glad for you and your sun, I hope he has a quick recovery, and gains weight quick.

[crouton]

sounds like the sun is VERY lucky to have you watching over him

[pixibubbles]

ohh thats great news
did they say what is wrong with him?

[Kellie]

No... they're going to bring him back to the vet to get more tests done but I'm still hopeful that he just hasn't been weaned so with a little work and cuddles he should be back on track.

[ellenant]

Wow, good to hear!
Psittacosis is just soooo horrible, I dont wish it to any bird!
I am happy for you!

I have to say, the pet shop that is part of the big chain here in NZ
here in my city is MUCH MORE responsible concerning the birds
than the other non chain pet store.
The later sold me my sick Alex...and after there was NO quarantine
at all, I suspect ALL their birds were positive for Psittacosis!
The problem is, this is a disease that can cause pneumonia in humans!!
Imagine a little child or old lady buying one of these birds!
So big chains are not necessarily bad, it depends on the people
who run the shop.

Helen, yes, the Doxy- powder is awesome.
It just makes the water go all poisonous green...
There are a few people out there who say treating birds
with powder in water is useless, but I did some research
on the medical database when Alex was sick
and I found an article that proved that it workes.

It was just much too late for my little baby...

[Kellie]

Animal lovers are constantly on the lookout for signs of mistreated which has thankfully forced a lot of the big name pet stores to put in strict standards on not only how pets within their stores are treated but where they come for. Sadly, a lot the pets I work with are quite possibly better treated in the store than they will be in their new homes. We pay attention little things like finches are not allowed to be out of timothy hay for nesting material, they get a wider variety of fresh food for which we never miss a day. Even our fish receive fresh foods daily, which they mostly ignore... but still. I have noooo doubt that not every store, or even every Petsmart is paying as close attention to detail but hey... its progress right?

[Shannon]

I, for probably the only time in my life, will vouch for the local big name pet stores here. While I was in the vet office today waiting to get Diego I was visiting with one of the vet's assistants. We got on the subject of chain pet stores, and I made a comment about Banfield vets, which is tied to Petsmart. I never saw a vet office in the store until I moved here...The girl told me that they claim to have vets, but that Dr. Rich treats all small animal cases they have in the area. That part does make them shady, but...

She said that the Petco stores located in Metairie (where I live, a suburb of New Orleans), and Kenner, right next to us have all of their animals seen regularly. She also said that the Petsmart I go to has a VERY picky manager that brings birds in when there's any sign of illness. She even has the expensive work ups done, and will bring them in for check ups. I was very surprised to hear this, and it made me happy. I know for one good store there are 1000 that are bad, but it still made me feel good that there is someone out there that is pressuring her corporate bosses to do things properly and humanely. She even refuses to sell a bird she suspects might be sick.

[pixibubbles]

GREEN? ellen mine never coloured the water, only clouded it slightly... interesting
i KNOW doxy works... would've lost sparks without it. Love the stuff #

[ellenant]

Oh well, the stuff they use here is called "Psittavet".
I dont know exactly if it is from the States or from Oz.
But I realized that the people here LOVE to put all
impossible colours into their meds.
In Germany, everything is pretty much clear, yellow at the most.
In Oz, suddenly colours like blue, green, red, ....
appeared.....

[pixibubbles]

i guess it helps tell them apart.
it's called ornicure here.
and most of our meds are clear or yellowish too. although i can think of a build up powder for rodents and lizards that's sludge green. lovely and appetising huh? smells like liqurice and tastes like bugs

onkly other coloured one i know if silver nitrate... stains your skin black, and colours water purple.... but i think that's the chemical itself... and you dont ingest it.