[Search for users]
[Overall Top Noters]
[List of all Conferences]
[Download this site]
| Title: | Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN! |
| Notice: | INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.* |
| Moderator: | VIDEO::PULSIFER |
|
| Created: | Mon Oct 10 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jun 03 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 942 |
| Total number of notes: | 6016 |
918.0. "tilted head (ear infection?)" by MPGS::CARBONEAU (fiercely independent) Fri Jun 07 1996 21:05
Last Friday morning I found that one of my Fischer lovebirds was keeping her
head tilted to one side. When I called the vet they said it was most likely
a middle ear infection. I brought her in for them to see her. They put her
on an antibiotic. She didn't seem to get much better or worse. I happened to
be back at the vet (for a cat checkup) on Tuesday, and they gave me a
different antibiotic, with vitamins in it, for her. She's in a little cage by
herself for now. She's eating and drinking. She started sleeping on the
floor of the cage two nights ago, which was very worrisome, but is otherwise
the same. She can move her head any way she wants, but usually keeps it
tilted to the right. If upset, she spins in circles.
I hope she recovers. I understand that it may not be an infection at all, but
perhaps some sort of trauma.
If she survives, but stays this way, should I keep her separated permanently,
for her safety (from attacks)?
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks,
Wendy
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 918.1 | | SUBSYS::MISTOVICH | | Mon Jun 10 1996 16:39 | 0 |
| 918.2 | | SUBSYS::MISTOVICH | | Mon Jun 10 1996 16:39 | 0 |
| 918.3 | This sounds very serious to me | SUBSYS::MISTOVICH | | Mon Jun 10 1996 16:55 | 26 |
| Maybe she's staying on the floor because she has trouble keeping her balance.
You didn't say who the vet was...did they do any testing? Which antibiotic did
they put her on? How long has she been on the antibiotics? In the meantime,
keep her warm (85-90 degrees) to conserve her energy and stimulate her immune
system.
Birds will frequently look like they're staying the same when they are actually
getting worse -- they're just good at hiding it. And once they spiral down, they
go down fast.
I expect improvement to antibiotics within 4 days. If they get worse within 4
days (and moving to the floor is a sign of getting worse, along with the
spinning around) or don't show significant improvement at and after 4 days, I
would take further action.
FYI, I strongly recommend Dr. McMillan of Windhover Clinic in Walpole. She is a
consulting avian veterinarian (other vets consult with her) with an
international reputation in avian diagnosis and one of the most experienced
avian vets in New England. Her rates are the same as other avian vets. She
makes it a policy to call back same day test results come in. Your initial bills
may be higher because she does a lot of tests at once...but my experience is
that there will be fewer visits -- and ultimately less time and money wasted --
to get results because she is very intuitive about what she is looking for. If
you are traveling a long distance (it takes me 1 1/2 hours to get there) she
will call prescriptions in to your local pharmacy (so bring the # with you to
save time). She also treats small birds with the same care as the large ones.
|