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Post by aaron on Nov 5, 2015 18:32:08 GMT -5
Oh thank goodness! Things sounded pretty grim there... Really happy to hear this news. So happy for both of you!
Do they know what the blockage is/was caused by?
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 5, 2015 19:48:09 GMT -5
He is not out of the woods just yet - saw the xray and there is still a big mass in there but it is definitely breaking up. The vet gave me his home phone number in case anything happens but I am hopeful that the worst is over. The vet said it appeared to be from a millet spray. He has been eating them for years but the current batch don't look as fresh as usual so he has taken one of the sprays to test it. Plus he has giardia (or however you spell it) which makes his intestines very sensitive. Anyway, I will do everything in my power to get him through this and back on the road to good health. I said to the vet that I didn't think I would be bringing him home - and the vet said that after the second xray showed the blockage was still there, he also didn't think he would make it. So we are both happy that my beautiful Pippin is still with us. He is nearly 15 years old - I got him when he was 2.
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Post by cnyguy on Nov 5, 2015 21:20:53 GMT -5
Glad to hear that things are looking more encouraging now. Another batch of positive thoughts and good wishes are on their way to you and Pippin.
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Post by aaron on Nov 5, 2015 23:53:16 GMT -5
Hmm... millet spray, eh? Cupcake adores millet spray. Do you know how common it is to have side effects from a stale batch?
So glad things are looking up. We'll be sending positive thoughts for you and little Pippin!!
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Post by biteybird on Nov 6, 2015 1:19:55 GMT -5
Phew, Jan! You have sure had your share of drama recently. I hope he continues to improve.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 6, 2015 3:10:17 GMT -5
He's not looking too good tonight. I don't know if he should have come home just yet. But he is probably extremely tired and exhausted. I think as Pippin hasn't been too good lately, it was just an unfortunate thing that the millet spray got jammed up. He has been eating them for years with no ill effects at all. They got the barium all over his face and I have tried to get it all off without success. I don't want to hassle him too much at the moment. I am just hoping that he starts to eat and drink soon.
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Post by easttex on Nov 6, 2015 4:45:38 GMT -5
I hope he is just tired. He had a lot of things to stress out about. You, too. I truly hope things will settle down for you now!
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Post by siobhan on Nov 6, 2015 12:06:19 GMT -5
Hooray! These birds really put us through the wringer, don't they?
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 7, 2015 4:50:45 GMT -5
He is not improving - he is sleeping a lot and doesn't appear to be eating. I am going to give him some vegetable mash tomorrow morning to see how he goes with that. His eyes are still bright. However, I have come to a very difficult decision - take him back to the vet who will do another barium xray and purge him again or put him down. I really feel he has been through the wars since July - he has always been a very healthy and robust bird but since he got the first blockage, he has never recovered his health. I just don't want to put him through the stress of going to the vet and having things shoved down his throat anymore. But I will do what I can to get him eating again. So it is in the lap of the gods as to his destiny. I know some wont agree with my decision and that's okay. I cant stand to see him go through what he has just been through ever again. He had 3 barium xrays and at least 5 purges in 2 days. It is too much for him to cope with. So please say prayers for him that he will pull through - I will be doing everything I can to get him eating again.
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Post by easttex on Nov 7, 2015 7:02:20 GMT -5
I, for one, completely understand your consideration of all options. I've been kicking it around myself lately. I think there are a couple things yet to try with Peppy, but at some point I expect I will have to decide about surgery. And I'm not sure I want to put him through that. A little procedure to insert long term hormones, yes, but exploratory surgery? I'm not so sure.
You have to do what you think is best for Pippin. At some point, you reach a stage where you are being selfish, putting them through too much because of your own needs. I know I have done that in the past, anyway. And, honestly, the finances have to be considered, as much as you don't want to make that a part of the decision. You have to think about your other animals, too, and what would happen if there were another emergency.
So, I fervently hope that you can get him eating. Can you try baby parrot formula? There have been times when that, and some scrambled egg with cheese, have been all I can get Peppy to eat for days. I think some sick birds may derive comfort from the syringe feeding, like they got when they were babies. And it should be very easy to digest.
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Post by biteybird on Nov 7, 2015 19:42:56 GMT -5
Hi Jan, sorry to hear he's not getting better yet. Whatever you decide to do I'm sure it will the best thing for Pippin and for you (and as Easttex said, the rest of your animals). Maybe you could give the baby parrot formula a try...fingers crossed he starts to eat again soon. We are all thinking of you.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 8, 2015 3:40:27 GMT -5
I tried syringe feeding him this morning - without success. He stood in his seed bowl and just moved his beak from side to side - not eating. I am wondering if he has a sore throat and cant swallow. I am in the middle of Tellington Touch training for horses so I told the instructor about Pippin. She has given me a couple of bodywork exercises to do on him so I started tonight. He is very light on, is definitely not well but his eyes are still bright and he has some energy. He is still sleeping a lot. He does not appear to be in any pain so I will continue trying to encourage him to eat. While I think he may be past the point of no return, I am definitely going to give it my best shot to get him through this. Thanks Easttex and Biteybird for your words of encouragement.
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Post by easttex on Nov 8, 2015 4:17:35 GMT -5
I hope you succeed. It's awful to watch them starve themselves. I thought I was going to have to wean Peppy from the formula, as he seemed to like it so much, but as he starts feeling better he eats less and less of it. I'm so glad my first vet suggested it, because I think it really helped get us through some very bad spots.
If it is just a matter of getting him to eat so he can maintain his strength, you could consider having the vet gavage feed him. I don't think it is as hard on them as it seems to us. It should be pretty cheap if that is all they do, but it would mean the stress of the trips. That may not be practical for you. Just a thought.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 8, 2015 15:04:21 GMT -5
I did the Ttouches on him last night. He actually drank 2 mouthfuls of water (which is loaded with all sorts of things for him). I did the touches again this morning and he took two tiny mouthfuls of pureed apple from the syringe - under protest. When I put him back into his cage, he went straight to the seed bowl and had some seed. This is incredible. I am not saying he is out of the woods - far from it - but he has started to eat again - not a lot but at least it's a start. Unfortunately, he doesn't like fruit or vegetables (even though they are in the cage and Spike eats them) so I need to look into what I can get him to eat that will fatten him up a little bit - and that he likes the taste of it. Please keep saying those prayers for him  |
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Post by msdani1981 on Nov 8, 2015 23:32:32 GMT -5
Praying for you and Pippin!  |
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