Cupcake Vet Visit

The CBC/Chem is the bloodwork. The CBC is the complete blood count – the white blood cells are counted and their morphology(what they look like) is evaluated by the lab. A high white blood cell count would indicate infection. Cupcake’s was normal.

The Chemistry portion of the blood work is where the organ function is checked…so the liver, kidneys, glucose, etc were all normal for your bird.

The Gram Stain was the fecal smear they checked from your bird. In that we look at the bacteria – whether there is a normal amount of gram positive and gram negative, whether there is yeast in the stool or if there is Claudridium(a certain bacteria). Yeast and bacteria can cause a smell to the droppings. Cupcake had a normal gram stain result…mostly Gram positive bacteria and occasional yeast – though likely not a yeast infection, so that shouldn’t make the stool smell.

Are you trying the vinegar in the water? Vinegar in the water can help add acid and decrease yeast…which may help.

The other reason the stool may smell, especially if it is the first one of the morning, is because she is a female and has reached sexual maturity. Female birds do not defecate in the nest and will hold it all night. The stool sits in the GI tract and kindof stews…and the smell can increase. Be sure that she does not have a hide-hut(ie nest to her) to hide in within the cage. This can increase nesting behavior and make everything worse.. We can sometimes give hormone injections to get birds to stop being as hormonal, or even hormone implants where needed.

If you are trying the vinegar and you have removed any “nesting” areas and the stool still smells, please give the office a call to speak with Dr Sommer about the next steps.
But be assured that when her bloodwork and fecal gram stain were collected, it does not appear to be a disease process causing this issue.

JH
Practice Manager
Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services(SEAVS)
4105 Rust Rd
Fairfax, VA 22030