kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11 
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Post by kiwikong on Sept 23, 2014 6:44:23 GMT -5
 Hi, I have a 19 year old Quaker that has been diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease.  He is not over weight, he's been on pellets his whole life, and he does get fruits and vegetables daily. I just got him back from the vet last night, according to her, he is my miracle baby, because she does not know how he is still alive, but that's my stubborn boy! He's currently on milk thistle and lactulose 3 times a day, and will probably be on this for several months. The vet has ordered a special diet food from Roudy bush to start him on, but we have not received it yet, so currently he is on Zupreem. Is there anything else I can do for him to help him get better? Any veggies better for him than others? Per vets instructions he is kept at about 78 degrees, so he is nice and toasty. I've been told he can come out of his cage 3 times a day, but only for 30 minutes and then he needs to be put back to rest. I've had Kiwi since he was about 8 weeks, and he very rarely gets sick, so this has kind of blown me away. Any suggestions are appreciated! We go back next Monday for blood work to see how he's doing. I'm having such a hard time not "hovering". Oh, and for those curious, vet has no idea why he got this disease, her best guess, genetics, but he is 19, so who knows. |
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Post by Caseysmom on Sept 23, 2014 8:04:41 GMT -5
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kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11
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Post by kiwikong on Sept 23, 2014 9:35:18 GMT -5
Thanks Casey! I've reached out to Shelly too.  |
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Post by nikib5 on Sept 29, 2014 14:47:09 GMT -5
As another member with a 19 year old Quaker I feel for you! What are his symptoms? I'm just curious if there is something I should look out for.
I'll keep Kiwi in my prayers.
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kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11
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Post by kiwikong on Sept 29, 2014 21:39:10 GMT -5
Hi Niki, The only thing that tipped me off, was he was fluffing up more than usual, and when I told him I had his fruits and veggies, he basically told me he didn't want them and preferred to sleep. So, all he said, was "No, night night". In all the time I've had him, he's never turned down his yummys...so I called the vet, told her what had happened. She's an avian vet, and has known KiwiKong his whole life, and said, "bring him now"...So I did. He's not overweight, he's always been on pellets, and he's always had fresh fruit, or veggies...only thing she can think is it's genetic. He didn't look bad to her that first day, but she kept him to be safe, and he went downhill from there. Was at the vets for 11 days...sigh. It was a rough 11 days. She told me repeatedly that she didn't think he would make it...like I said, rough 11 days. We went back today for a recheck, and blood work to see how his liver is doing. I should know something tomorrow evening or Wed morning. She did say he looked GREAT, especially for what he's been through. Told me again today, that there were several times during his stay where she didn't think he was going to make it. According to her his initial lab work was so bad, he shouldn't have been breathing when the blood was taken. She calls him, Miracle boy. Thanks for the prayers, he does need them. He's on a special pellet now, and I've started sprouting as well. Shelly recommended that, so I'm going to try it. He still sleeps more than normal, but Vet says that's to be expected. So, we are just taking it day by day, working on making sure he eats foods that help the liver, and that he gets plenty of rest, and most importantly, that he knows how much he is loved. |
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Post by easttex on Sept 30, 2014 3:30:46 GMT -5
Really intense. This is a good reminder that I need to take Peppy in for a vet check. I've had him for several months now, and as far as I know he's never seen one. He rejects all fresh veggies, and I live in fear of liver disease, though he doesn't show any symptoms that I can see.
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Post by nikib5 on Sept 30, 2014 9:36:32 GMT -5
Thanks for letting me know what to look for. He must be a tough old bird! Niki is the same way. I don't know about Kiwi, but Niki has gotten hard to read at times because as an older bird he does sleep more. As a matter of fact yesterday when I got home from work he wasn't his chipper self and had a different "look" to him. I thought he might be getting sick ,but he snapped out of it. These are times when he goes "into the zone" as I like to call it. He zones out, his eyes glaze over and then he will suddenly snap out of it.
Someone need to write a book about "Caring for your elderly bird" Maybe there is one. I need to check!
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Post by easttex on Sept 30, 2014 10:11:59 GMT -5
Two 19 year-olds, and mine is 21. Maybe we could write that book if one doesn't already exist. |
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Post by nikib5 on Sept 30, 2014 14:32:56 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing!
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kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11
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Post by kiwikong on Oct 2, 2014 6:50:34 GMT -5
Good Morning, It is true, caring for the older bird is a little different that caring for a younger one. I've seen Kiwi do the "stare" thing too...just weird. So the vet called back regarding Kiwi's blood work. I swear the ole cuss can't get a break to save his life. His liver is regenerating, so YAY!!! However, some other number from his liver was the highest she's ever seen it on a living bird...Really?  She want's to do a liver biopsy on him...and I'm thinking No.....First of all after every test she has administered, she rants about how he shouldn't be alive...but even she admits from outward appearance, he seems to be better. He is eating, drinking, and talking. She doesn't understand how, and even with the biopsy, she's not sure she will know what's going on. I'm not putting him through it...he's not a lab rat. If she told me she could fix it, or she thought there was a good chance she could fix it that would be different, but she just doesn't know. Very frustrating to say the least. I told her I was beginning to question the integrity of the lab she used. So, what I've decided is, we are going to continue to treat with the milk thistle and lactalose 3 times a day. He's on Roudy Bush special diet for birds with liver disease. I bought a sprout kit, and just finished growing his first batch of sprouts. I'm a new to that, so I'm actually eating a couple pieces to ensure they are good, and Kiwi, being the trooper that he is, is eating it, not his favorite at this point, but he'll eventually get to eating it primarily. If your bird is not a veggie or fruit eater, I would recommend the sprouting, as it is basically bird seed that you grow into sprouts. I just learned about this. The vet said, he has improved enough to not need the heat on his cage anymore, but I've left it at 78 degrees, as he seems to be comfortable at that temperature. He is still sleeping a lot, and from what I've read, that's a good thing, as it's primarily when the liver regenerates. Anyway, we will take it day by day. I'm taking every opportunity to be with him. He has no problem telling me "Mommy, night night", when he wants to go back to his cage and sleep. He still only wants out for about 30 minute intervals then he's ready to go back. I'll update more as I know more, but at this point, it's just prayers, meds and giving him lots of my love. |
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Post by cnyguy on Oct 2, 2014 20:21:25 GMT -5
Sending lots of good thoughts and good wishes to Kiwi for continued improvement. It sounds like you're doing a super job of caring for him. |
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kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11
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Post by kiwikong on Oct 2, 2014 20:33:37 GMT -5
Thanks, I needed to hear that. He's just finished eating his dinner and we are snuggling before bed. |
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Post by biteybird on Oct 2, 2014 21:00:20 GMT -5
Anyway, we will take it day by day. I'm taking every opportunity to be with him. He has no problem telling me "Mommy, night night", when he wants to go back to his cage and sleep. He still only wants out for about 30 minute intervals then he's ready to go back. I'll update more as I know more, but at this point, it's just prayers, meds and giving him lots of my love. Poor Kiwi, he's really been through the mill. I think you are doing a great job and I know it's tough trying to decide what is best. Good on you for not putting him through endless testing at the moment...11 days at the vet was a long time & I'm sure he is much more comfortable and happier with you. If he gets worse again you can always reassess. He sure is one tough little boy. Hope things improve soon. |
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kiwikong
Hatchling
A mustard seed of faith can move mountains
Posts: 11
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Post by kiwikong on Oct 3, 2014 6:59:56 GMT -5
Thanks Biteybird, LOL...love that name! It is slow progress, but it is progress, so that's what we are going to focus on. |
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Post by nikib5 on Oct 3, 2014 9:36:40 GMT -5
You are giving Kiwi great care! I would have done the same thing with regards to the biopsy. It is an invasive procedure and could cause not only stress, but physical harm. It sounds to me like he is improving. Those lab results are very strange. I wonder if something else is affecting the numbers. The liver is a remarkable organ and I'm sure Kiwi is going to continue to improve. It just takes time.
Meanwhile Niki looks to be getting a bacterial or yeast infection again. He started scratching at his head and is losing the feathers around his ear. I will be watching him, but I'm sure we will be going to the vet again soon.
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He is not over weight, he's been on pellets his whole life, and he does get fruits and vegetables daily. I just got him back from the vet last night, according to her, he is my miracle baby, because she does not know how he is still alive, but that's my stubborn boy! He's currently on milk thistle and lactulose 3 times a day, and will probably be on this for several months. The vet has ordered a special diet food from Roudy bush to start him on, but we have not received it yet, so currently he is on Zupreem. Is there anything else I can do for him to help him get better? Any veggies better for him than others? Per vets instructions he is kept at about 78 degrees, so he is nice and toasty. I've been told he can come out of his cage 3 times a day, but only for 30 minutes and then he needs to be put back to rest. I've had Kiwi since he was about 8 weeks, and he very rarely gets sick, so this has kind of blown me away. Any suggestions are appreciated! We go back next Monday for blood work to see how he's doing. I'm having such a hard time not "hovering". Oh, and for those curious, vet has no idea why he got this disease, her best guess, genetics, but he is 19, so who knows.
She want's to do a liver biopsy on him...and I'm thinking No.....First of all after every test she has administered, she rants about how he shouldn't be alive...but even she admits from outward appearance, he seems to be better. He is eating, drinking, and talking. She doesn't understand how, and even with the biopsy, she's not sure she will know what's going on. I'm not putting him through it...he's not a lab rat. If she told me she could fix it, or she thought there was a good chance she could fix it that would be different, but she just doesn't know. Very frustrating to say the least. I told her I was beginning to question the integrity of the lab she used. So, what I've decided is, we are going to continue to treat with the milk thistle and lactalose 3 times a day. He's on Roudy Bush special diet for birds with liver disease. I bought a sprout kit, and just finished growing his first batch of sprouts. I'm a new to that, so I'm actually eating a couple pieces to ensure they are good, and Kiwi, being the trooper that he is, is eating it, not his favorite at this point, but he'll eventually get to eating it primarily. If your bird is not a veggie or fruit eater, I would recommend the sprouting, as it is basically bird seed that you grow into sprouts. I just learned about this. 
