The new guy on the block

[Farlie]

Hi all,
I'm Rick, retired, and the slave to a beautiful 6 mo Sun Conure named, Farlie. Unfortunately Farlie is sick right now and it's breaking my heart for he once was a very happy and active parrot.
We've been together now for about a month or so and were bonding pretty well together, but now he's down and droopy and screams all the time. Doesn't play much anymore and obviously just doesn't feel very good.
The antibiotics the vet has prescribed don't seem to be working and I just hate to administer them cuz I have to grab and hold him and jab a syringe down his mouth and he hates that.
Anyway, we're here for awhile anyway... :th_smile:

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[Dragonlady2]

Why is he on antibiotics? You could try giving him the medicine on or in one of his favourite foods. Farlie may be reacting to being “grabbed” and having the medication force fed to him. Try to find a way to bribe him into taking the medication.
By the way, welcome to the forum!:th_smile:

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Welcome to both you and Farlie. If Farlie likes sweet stuff try mixing his meds with what in the UK we call custard but my research tells me is called pudding in the US. It works for Casper, as does porridge (oatmeal).
Casper takes his from a teaspoon but Farlie might need you to hold it for him.
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks] ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])
Porridge ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr

[Farlie]

Oh yes, I do camouflage it in apple juice and mango juice. He won't take it off a spoon or any other way that I've tried. The problem is that we don't know each other all that well yet. I'm still new to him and still trying to bond. Unfortunately he got sick at the wrong time in our relationship, before complete trust was established. So, I'm struggling between being his best friend and the enemy with this medicine.
We have a vet appointment Saturday at 8am so we'll know something then I hope.

[Dragonlady2]

Please let us know how he is doing after the vet visit. Hope he feels better soon.

[Farlie]

Please let us know how he is doing after the vet visit. Hope he feels better soon.

OK, will do. :th_smile:

Boy, Farlie was a real stinker yesterday. He wouldn't stop screeching and these guys are loud. Even a neighbor mentioned it to me and that is not a good thing cuz it could cause one of us to get evicted. :grumpy:

[Dragonlady2]

Lol...yes, Suns are known for how loud they are. Thank goodness I have a Crimson bellied and a Peach front. Generally, they are both pretty quiet.

[PlaxMacaws]

Welcome Rick. I hope Farlie starts feeling better soon. Why did the vet put him on antibiotics?

[Farlie]

Welcome Rick. I hope Farlie starts feeling better soon. Why did the vet put him on antibiotics?

She thinks it's a respiratory infection cuz of his head bobbing.
So far there has been no improvement with these meds.
He just keeps sitting on a perch, fluffed up while bobbing his head up and down and screeching every 10 seconds or so, constantly. :(
I've been covering his cage and turning out the lights to help 'calm' him down. :shrug:
Maybe tomorrow's 8am vet appointment will find more answers.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Make sure you aren't using any unsuitable cleaning products, perfumed sprays or incense candles in the room. An air purifier is a worthwhile purchase, but not one that has an ioniser which can't be switched off.
We use F10 to clean Casper's cage, it was recommended by our vet after we made Casper ill through our inexperience when he first came to live with us.

[Farlie]

OK, it's Saturday and the vet said there is a little improvement from the last visit but not much. I suggested X-Rays to 'look inside' the little guy. Vet said his digestive track looks fine [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks] but his respiratory track is still clogged so the vet changed the medication to, Doxycycline, 10mgs twice a day. This stuff knocks him out, poor guy and he doesn't like it either. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
I'm glad he didn't eat anything bad like all the colored stuff wrapped around a bread wire-tie or the cotton strings from the frayed perches. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
We'll have to wait another week or so till we see the vet again. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Dragonlady2]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully this medication will work for him.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We are all sending positive vibes and hoping he recovers soon. Has he still got his appetite or are you having to feed him with a syringe?
It is always a relief when we hear that it is not our fault they are poorly, we have so much to learn about their care and welfare.

[PlaxMacaws]

I'm glad he didn't eat anything bad like all the colored stuff wrapped around a bread wire-tie...Please be warned that the bread wrapper twist-ties with a metallic core contain lead. I wouldn't use them at all.


We'll have to wait another week or so till we see the vet again. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks] his condition will have improved by then. I too am curious as to whether he has been eating enough on his own, or whether you are syringe feeding him?

[Farlie]

He was eating like a little piglet but these past two or three days he's lost that piggy appetite he had. (Lost 6g in 10 days. From 101 to 95) He is still eating on his own tho, thankfully.
Today was the first day he didn't want any spray millet. I would offer him a small 'knob' of it thru the bars and he would come running but today he just walked away. So, I'm keeping my eye on his eating habits now too.
I sure wish he'd get over this thing... :'(

[Dragonlady2]

Try feeding him some warm mashed sweet potato or oatmeal. He needs nourishment at times like this. He would also benefit from some hand feeding formula off a spoon. Even sunflower seeds is better than him eating nothing. He should go back to the vet asap if there is too much weight loss.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Well done for keeping a check on his weight, it is always a good sign of a birds wellbeing. Helena has some great ideas there, Casper loves oatmeal and sweet potato warmed through (and would probably eat them mixed given the chance). Anything to keep his appetite up.
Once he is on the mend try him on a diet of fresh stuff and Harrison's High Potency fine or ultrafine whichever grade you think suitable.