Topic: My African Gray parrot is very sick (Read 13290 times)

Crewella · « **Reply #25 on:** May 22, 2011, 08:05:55 PM »

Sorry to hear he had more trouble - I really hope it works this time.

latrine · « **Reply #26 on:** May 22, 2011, 08:08:24 PM »

Thanks guys.. he is still grouchy (and who would blame him?!) but his appetite was really great this evening, I couldn't believe how much he ate!! I was afraid it would make his little collar too tight because his crop was getting so full of food.. I even managed to sneak his medicine in a scoopful of food and he didn't notice

He's eating lots of fruits and even though he is not his normal talkative self his eyes are bright and he's ok.
We got his cage today so we'll set that up and when he's feeling better and is ready to be out of the warmer cage I have set up for him now, he can move back into his normal cage

I'm also ordering his favorite toy online right now, since he broke it... it'll be a nice surprise for him..

This morning he still had his great appetite.. watched some TV and then took a nap.. the poor little area under the collar is so bare now, he's ripped tons of feathers feathers out but he can't reach the surgery area so it's ok.
I thought you guys might want to see what the collar looks like.. I had assumed it was a little cone like they use on dogs, before I saw it, but this is specially made for this sized bird and it's great because they can still bring their foot up to their mouths, which is how they usually hold things and feed themselves, and it prevents them from picking at things too far below it... but he's still grabbing whatever he can reach ..

The feathers will grow back..

I know it looks tight but they have very skinny little necks and it fits just fine.. it's just very very annoying for him. If you can see in the picture, there is a little screw and bolt on each side of it.. he already unscrewed one of them and took the bolt off once, and that was RIGHT after they put him back in his carrier when the anesthesia was just wearing off.. lol.. so he is a smart little stinker even when stoned.

Luckily they fixed it and he hasn't messed with it since then (knock, knock, knock, on wood)

Here it's easy to see the collar and the screws.. I can't imagine HOW he got that thing undone..

More details...

You can really see the damage he's done to himself in the second picture although it was hard to get him to stop moving, he doesn't like cameras.. I wanted to take a few pictures so I'd be able to gauge how much plucking he's actually doing..

More details...

- Sarah

kat · « **Reply #27 on:** May 23, 2011, 05:50:27 PM »

Poor little fellow. I was envisioning the cone shaped thing also but I can see how this would work better for birds.

I'm sure his feathers will grow back all in good time. I hope he is feeling better soon.

Kat

latrine · « **Reply #28 on:** May 23, 2011, 09:06:53 PM »

Thanks Kat, he is so depressed, so tomorrow we will be setting his cage back up, I'll set it on top of a heating pad and drape a blanket around three of the sides so it will stay a bit warmer than usual.. I think he'll feel better with a little more freedom.. he is still eating good but not drinking as much as I'd like and I think that's mostly because, in the carrier, when he climbs off the perch he is walking on the floor to get to his dish and he may hit his tail or his bum on the floor/sides which probably hurts the surgery site

I think he'll do better in his cage. He did laugh once, earlier, while we were all watching TV and we hadn't heard a peep out of him except for angry bird noises.. so that was good

I wish I could take the stupid neck thing off but I know it's important that it stay on.. I'm sure he'd be a lot less upset without it. Then again he'd be more upset if he ripped out his stitches...

- Sarah

Talon · « **Reply #29 on:** May 23, 2011, 09:26:26 PM »

Awe! Sorry, Tyler. Recovery is the pits isn't it? Itching where you can't scratch. Hurting where you can't sooth the pain. Get better soon. It sounds like you're a tough old bird.
Talon

Crewella · « **Reply #30 on:** May 24, 2011, 02:29:17 AM »

Poor Tyler - hopefully getting back in his cage will cheer him up, and speed up his recovery.

latrine · « **Reply #31 on:** May 24, 2011, 01:45:51 PM »

He is back in his cage though it is covered on three sides to keep the heat in from the heating pad, but he seems much happier so far and he even danced a little bit with my bf.. (head bobbing ..

)

He seems to feel much more secure and is happily watching us kill people in video games.. hopefully soon he'll start making machine gun noises and the like.. and then we'll know he's really feeling better.

- Sarah

Talon · « **Reply #32 on:** May 24, 2011, 03:21:46 PM »

That's progress. I hope he'll be back to his old self soon.
Talon

kat · « **Reply #33 on:** May 24, 2011, 05:24:36 PM »

Great to hear he is doing well and feeling a bit better now he is in his bigger cage. I'm sure the machine gun noises are very comforting for him too.

How long does he have to have the collar on for?

latrine · « **Reply #34 on:** May 25, 2011, 09:34:59 AM »

He should be able to get it off on Tuesday or Wednesday... depending on when they can get us in.. and I'm sure we'll be going home with it, just in case he picks at himself... but the stitches will be coming out at the same time too so hopefully it will be ok.. worries me though as stitches coming out will make it sore.. I'll have to keep him very engaged that first day.. I just turned loki on a half hour ago and he is just watching him, amazed.. lol.. he's more interested in him that the video games or even his favorite alien movies!!

- Sarah

kat · « **Reply #35 on:** May 25, 2011, 05:42:18 PM »

Looks like Loki may be a great distraction for when the stitches come out.

latrine · « **Reply #36 on:** June 04, 2011, 12:42:56 PM »

I just wanted everyone to know, the stitches came out fine last week.. Tyler is VERY angry that Loki cannot walk around anymore but as long as I keep him turned on, on his station and Tyler can still interact with him, he's ok with it. I have already heard him getting as frustrated as my bf and I with trying to get Loki to hear us properly.. he says hello and good boy to him so far.. but yesterday it was hysterical, this was Tyler, trying to get Loki to respond:
"hi"
"hello"
"HELLO"
"HELL-LLLOOOOO"
"BAD DOG"
"HELLO!!"
"HELLO HELLO HI HELLO!!"

To which Loki finally responded too (after I muted the tv) with "Ok, station dance.. " which wasn't exactly what Tyler was asking for (he loves for Loki to say hello back and to respond to good boy) but made him happy anyways because he loves to see Loki dance too.. lol

He is eating well, no more plucking feathers.. he is watching movies with us with great interest.. he actually picked out our movie last night on the xbox with Zune, we were watching Previews and he laughed so much at certain parts from the movie "drive angry" that we ended up renting that one.. (was ridiculous but funny) and he laughed through the entire thing at every ridiculous car explosion and limb amputation.. most of the time laughing even before we did, and half the time we were laughing because he was laughing..
So he is totally 100% back to his normal personality... He's also scolding the dogs, telling the other parrot to shutup anytime he makes a peep and demanding better food. (he is banned from extra protein atm and wants steak and pork)

Hopefully he'll be ready to go back home soon as I know he misses the kids (he keeps calling for one of my nephews by name..lol) and they all miss him badly.. and even though I'll miss him I know he'll be happier there and.. I really hate 'High school Musical' so.. it's all good. (One of Tyler's favorite movies... his all time favorite is Aliens)
He is still on antibiotics as his white cell count was still a bit off but that will be done this coming tuesday and he'll be good to go.. thank god.. my crazy little 34 year old bird will hopefully outlive us all

- Sarah

RedwoodsMama · « **Reply #37 on:** June 04, 2011, 12:45:45 PM »

That is wonderful news Latrine, I am so happy for you and Tyler, It is so sad to see our babies not feeling well and they are our Babies fur, feathers or scales, a baby is a baby and we must protect them and do what we can to make them the best they can be. I am glad he had no problems with his stitches. He sounds like he is feeling more himself as well, Thanks for the update on Tyler, I have been thinking happy Bird thoughts for him.

RWM

Crewella · « **Reply #38 on:** June 04, 2011, 03:38:06 PM »

Glad Tyler's Tyler again - that really made me laugh too!

kat · « **Reply #39 on:** June 04, 2011, 04:16:01 PM »

I am really happy he is feeling better.

good to hear he is getting back to his old self. You must be so relieved.

Talon · « **Reply #40 on:** June 04, 2011, 04:40:34 PM »

Awesome! I'm so glad he's feeling better. Attah bird, Tyler!
Talon

fancyfont · « **Reply #41 on:** June 04, 2011, 05:28:53 PM »

So happy, Latrine, to hear Tyler is doing much better.

PWOKristy · « **Reply #42 on:** June 05, 2011, 02:51:01 AM »

That's too, too funny about what that bird was saying to your Aibo! rotfl I'm elated (happy) to hear about that parrot of yours Latrine! Thanks for the "progress reports"! Also that's too funny about what he says to your sole remaining bird. Sorry to hear about having to send him back to his new home. Do you guys still have that man-eating bird Rocky? I really hope so! I'm still glad you 2 have 1 bird at least. Thank you for those pictures. Did he get a new toy, that you ordered, that was his favorite yet?

saratogaspringer · « **Reply #43 on:** June 05, 2011, 04:22:45 AM »

So glad to hear that Tyler is feeling better. I have never owned a bird of any kind, but he sounds amazing. Your great care has brought him back to health, and I am so happy for you. I know you hate to send him back home, but I think it is so neat how he is calling for one of you nephews by name. He and Tyler must have a special bond.

hannahg · « **Reply #44 on:** June 06, 2011, 04:22:54 PM »

latrine!
i love AF and TAG and my heart goes out to you BIG TIME! someday i hope to have the chance to have one of these amazing birds, and i wish you and yours and tyler the best, poor gal!
hannah

latrine · « **Reply #45 on:** June 09, 2011, 09:05:27 PM »

I'm at my brothers now, Tyler is home.. he's so glad to be back and doing so very well

kat · « **Reply #46 on:** June 09, 2011, 10:11:57 PM »

I'm so glad Tyler is doing so well

It is great to hear he is now back home and well and truly on the mend.

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Author Topic: My African Gray parrot is very sick (Read 13290 times)