very sick tiel... suggestions??

**jesser17** · 09-01-2010, 11:37 AM

Hi all,

Well, I had to rush Horseshoe to the vet this morning.

She's been regurgitating all over these past several days. I had just been getting her started on pellets, so at first I assumed they weren't settling well with her. I stopped feeding her the pellets, but the regurgiation continued. I realized something was wrong, and I was going to call the vet this morning to make an appt. But when I woke up, she was in TERRIBLE shape... face covered with partially digested seeds, puffed up, and very very weak. She stumbled around, trying to come to me. She's normally an excellent flier, but she flopped to the ground, couldn't even gain lift.

The avian vet was great with her. Horseshoe is very underweight -- only 64 grams! The vet took a gram stain, found nothing wrong there. She says it's likely something wrong with her crop. I'm keeping Horseshoe there overnight. They'll keep her warm, put her on fluids, and hopefully find out what's wrong. Needless to say, I'm pulling my hair out with worry!

Is there anything I can do right now? Does anyone have ideas on what could have happened? I'm really really worried about the poor girl! I'm calling the vet for an update around 2 today... praying they'll have good news for me....

**boomer girl** · 09-01-2010, 12:30 PM

I am sorry Horseshoe is sick and hopefully the vets will be able to figure out what is bothering her and get her better for you. It is so hard when they get sick like this and even harder when you have to leave your loved fid at the vets but I am happy you did it because they are the only ones right now that can help her.

No advice really except if they cannot figure it out or see anything in her crop that might be making her sick it "could" be yeast. Many of the lovebirds here have had issues with Avian Gastric Yeast (megabacteria) and many of them were not diagnosed with it but all the signs pointed to it so they were treated for it and got better. It could make them sick like your girl is but then so could many other things.

Hugs to you and I will be sending Horseshoe many get well thoughts.

**jesser17** · 09-01-2010, 06:22 PM

Thank you for your reply, boomer girl!

It's been a very long day, waiting for news. I just heard from the vet a couple hours ago. The prognosis is not good. Horseshoe has not shown any changes since I brought her in this morning, despite the incubator and fluids. The vet also said she refused to eat the Avi Cakes that she gave her. I recommended trying sunflower seeds, since they're her favorite, and the vet agreed to try them. Horseshoe's crop was checked, and the vet found nothing obviously wrong. Her guess right now is a bad infection -- such as yeast, as you mentioned -- or an obstruction further down in her stomach. The vet started Horseshoe on antibiotics, and is considering anti-fungal medication as well. And before leaving today, Horseshoe was given another round of fluids, as well as food from a syringe (sort of like formula, I think). IF Horseshoe eats, and IF she keeps it down, she may have a chance of making it through the night. But the vet sounded very worried.

I am hoping hoping hoping that Horseshoe will make it! If it is indeed an infection, the vet's care may have bought her enough time for the antibiotics to work. That's all we can hope for right now. Tomorrow is the vet's day off, but she assured me that she will be in to check on patients like Horseshoe. I'm expecting a call from her between 9 and 10. I'll let you know how things go.

Thinking healing thoughts....

**boomer girl** · 09-01-2010, 06:46 PM

I am so sorry it wasnt good news, just awful news to hear really. My boomer had yeast and it ended up causing such damage to his crop he couldnt eat anymore that is why when you mentioned the vet was thinking the crop area I said yeast could be it. If the vet thinks perhaps this is yeast they need to treat Horseshoe for it. It took boomers vet over a year to finally find boomers yeast, it hides so deep inside of some of them they never find it. There have been so many other lovies on this board that had AGY that went undiagnosed as well. If the vet treats Horseshoe with yeast meds within two days it would be a dramatic change and if it is yeast it would save her life. Spray millet would be good to try too, it is one thing most of the lovies who had yeast ate and its easy for them to digest.

Again I am so sorry, it is so sad when birds get sick

Big hugs.... and sending many healing thoughts to Horseshoe.

**Courtney** · 09-02-2010, 07:52 AM

Oh no, how horrible. Horseshoe is in the best care right now and I hope he pulls threw the night. Keep us updated, Im very sorry this is happening. Infections can happen really fast. My thoughts are with you and horseshoe. We all hope he makes it, your in a really tough spot right now.

**kyrasd** · 09-02-2010, 08:40 AM

we will pray for horseshoe

**jesser17** · 09-02-2010, 05:55 PM

Thank you very much for your kind replies, everyone.

But I'm afraid that Horseshoe didn't make it through the night. She was just too weak. She went downhill so fast... only two days ago, she was flying through the house to greet me after work! We never could find out what was wrong. The vet strongly suspected a severe infection, perhaps in her stomach. But there's a chance that Horseshoe had some sort of obstruction as well (though from what, I have no idea). The cause could have been anything, really.

She is already very missed. She was thirteen years old, and I was there from the day she hatched. The two of us grew up together, and it's hard to imagine life without her. This is the first time that I've been without a tiel since I was 6 or 7. Horseshoe had a very strong personality -- my roommates and many of our friends only knew her for a few short months, and they are devastated by the news. Horseshoe showed them and everyone what intelligent and loving animals cockatiels and parrots really are. None of us will ever forget her beautiful spirit.

RIP Horseshoe, rise and soar

**kassidyb** · 09-02-2010, 06:33 PM

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. You don't have to worry now, Horseshoe is Flying Free Forever now over the Rainbow Bridge.

F.F.F. Horseshoe

**Cockatiel132** · 09-02-2010, 06:53 PM

aww thats terrible news

..im so sorry to hear this..i know how you feel, my first tiel, cooper was so tame, she would fly to me, and when she died at such a young age, i was devestated. I hope you feel better and you did the right thing taking her to the vet. lots of people wouldnt have done that and just stayed on a forum asking what to do and saying they cant take it to the vet. ill keep you in my thoughts and prayers

**CharleyCockatiel** · 09-02-2010, 07:54 PM

I'm really sorry to hear that Horseshoe didn't make it. It sounds like she was very special.

RIP Horseshoe.

**boomer girl** · 09-03-2010, 03:07 PM

I am sorry for your loss, it is so hard to lose our loved birds. It sounds like Horseshoe was very much loved by you and had a good long happy life. Big hugs to you.

Fly free Horseshoe

**Courtney** · 09-04-2010, 08:53 PM

Oh no, Im so sorry. My thoughts are with you. It's going to be tough for a while but if you need us we are here and understand.

**jesser17** · 09-08-2010, 10:14 PM

Thank you so much everyone for your support and understanding!

I can't believe it's been a week now. I still walk through the door expecting her to start chirping. The house is very quiet now. But I'm starting to feel at peace with everything. The vet told me that, had she made it, Horseshoe would have probably had a long and difficult road to recovery. I'm very glad that she isn't suffering anymore. My only wish is that I could have been with her in the end. The thought of her alone at the vets is just so hard... but then, it was the only chance she had, so I don't regret it.

Thanks again, everyone. I know that I'll get another tiel sometime, perhaps soon, perhaps later. I'll know when the time's right. So you'll be hearing from me sometime, probably looking for advice for a new bird