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Everything posted by katana600
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You really caught my curiosity here, I thought it was a lead in to a joke or something. Nope, no joke, just amazing. I have to fight to get any of mine wet and they let me know about it for a long time afterwards. Lucky Lester! How much is too much is a good question due to chlorine in most of our tap water, yours might be different. I really can't answer your question but I am thrilled for you to be asking it because Lester is a water baby. Way cool.
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Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement. Things are looking up. Java eats such a small amount of anything and her appetite is still not back. Also, her dose is so tiny that her entire ten day supply is in a tiny vial about the size you might get for a sample of perfume. I am a little afraid to waste a drop. Her dose is only one tenth of one third milliliter. My technique and her cooperation is getting better. Today I was able to reach right in and scoop her up in a fleece square and had that syringe ready, gave it a squirt and had her free again in about thirty seconds. My new syringe was intact! Phew. I think she is also feeling so much better that she is more agreeable. She is definitely improving. The vet told me today her white blood count is up, we will continue the course of antibiotics. She has a couple more tests that haven't come through yet and he will call me about those. The fact that she is getting better leads him to believe it was some kind of infection and I am not going to worry excessively. It is so good to see her gaining strength and eating a little today.
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We have had other members who brought home the first child into a home with established parrots and although it was a challenge to give everyone attention all at the same time, it seems, it went just fine in the long run. Our rehomed TAG was not let go because of the baby and got along for two and a half years and there were three older kids under eight in the home as well. He still makes a soft baby crying sound when we scratch his head. It seems like he uses that in an endearing way. You sound as if you are thinking out loud and just planning for anything that comes your way. The only thought I have is maybe to have time set aside for Charlie to be in his cage just a little bit more and find toys and things that entice him to be in there so that when the baby does come, he may not connect the two or feel like he is being deprived by cage time. I am just guessing. Hope it just goes like clockwork. Congrats on your new baby!
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Thanks Mark. The vet clipped her toenails Friday and I was worried because it made it harder for her to hold her perches. She just switched to the rope perch and is doing fine with that though. Her strength is improving and I do hope to have some answers tomorrow plus have Gilbert checked out of an abundance of caution. After the overnight vigil and vet visit and worry, all I could do is cry because she looked so sick and I was helpless waiting for the vet to open. You really are lucky to have had the after hours emergency center, I went through a lot of searching with my other sick birds and I feel like we have the best to be found during the daylight hours. All the tender care you gave to Anya was inspirational. We just keep working to give our little feathered friends the best we have to offer and take one day at a time.
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It is scary as all get out trying to figure out the best thing to do in any circumstance. Good observation on your part, it must be hard to see that spot when she is perching or flying due to the location. Also for you to get that photo she must really trust you. I hope it heals right up on its own and she is as good as new soon.
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I don't know enough about these two and their history, nor about macaws in general to offer advice but I do wonder about them having been buddies in the same home and then separated. Maybe they are afraid they will be taken away again. If that is a possibility and since Oliver is shining with being reunited they might relax after a bit of time together. They look so beautiful in your photos. I am sorry you have been bitten though, I can't begin to imagine. If you still have access to the previous caretakers, they might be able to offer you some insight to how much time Bubba and Oliver were together and what the best techniques were to give them one on one attention. It might be that Bubba was so attached to Oliver that they looked to place him with you as well because he missed him so much. Meanwhile, Oliver was taking in everything new with you and wasn't so preoccupied to pine over Bubba. Just guessing. I just love that you are seeing them happy together, but understand the concern about being able to handle each of them apart as well.
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Happy birthday to Gracie! Wow is right, that seems like a blink of an eye. Since Gilbert has had many people in his life, he says different things in different "voices", some sound run together and harder to decipher. The funny thing is, he says a lot of things that make him sound just like Dan and Dayo's voice. I love that. The only thing close to my own voice I hear is asking the dogs if they want a "treat". Gracie is still ahead of the curve in her talking and I am thinking she will probably say a lot of things in different voices. I have heard the robotic or cartoonish speaking from Gilbert and then I will hear him say something else so clear, so enunciated, that I am sure someone else is in the house with us. As she gets you trained, Gracie will find out what works on you too. LOL. I love that she is talking to you and there is much more to come.
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Thanks Judy. Of course my mind goes to the catastrophic possibilities, but no matter what, we have what we have and will deal with it one day at a time. Java was still droopy last night, but this morning she is holding her wings up on her own, has been talking more and I see evidence she is eating. I went from store to store yesterday trying to find her favorite pellets. I have always mixed a couple brands after discovering how hard it is to find the kind she really likes. We were getting to the bottom of the barrel and I was hand sorting to find the ones she likes. Finally, I found a bag and they are fresh and she is eating. Getting the antibiotic down her beak is a battle, she is reinventing herself after the description of feisty. As the vet suggested she might, she bit the end right off the tiny syringe. It is smaller than a cocktail straw. She bit me several times in the process but she did get her meds. She is one step ahead of me every moment and I feel like I have to meditate to get into a calm mindset to get ready and I am ever so grateful that it is just once a day. I go in with a fresh outlook every time and ask her for cooperation and even when she fights it, it makes me just a little happy to see that she has that kind of strength and willpower.
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What a happy little guy you have. Love that he is enjoying your attention nearly as much as you enjoy his. It never fails to amaze me when either of my parrots says just the right thing at the right time. You have a great relationship with Charley.
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Oh mylanta!! He's talking already and he's only 14 weeks old!!!
katana600 replied to Darwinsmom's topic in The Nursery
The last weeks of waiting are hard and we didn't have the added excitement of wanting to hear all the first words. My oh my is right. I had to laugh when you said your daughter wasn't near as amused about the first child prodigy. LOL. It is wonderful that you not only get to visit often but your daughter is also right there with him every day too. -
It is natural for us to get so excited to bring home our baby we want to do everything right and keep them happy and healthy. Our breeder told us how important it is today to train them in the beginning to have cage time and to learn to play independently so they don't become "velcro" birds. It is also natural for us to feel guilty when we are doing our own thing and want just a minute of peace but it really does do him some good to learn that cage time isn't really separate from you. You are finding balance with Alfie and it will all come together. As he gets settled and accepts cage time you will have some time to do the things that require more attention or the safety factor of having him in his cage while you are cooking or otherwise focused. It will get better.
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Nice picture of Sondheim. I was admiring his shiny black beak and the lovely trim on his nails. No matter how many pictures I see, every grey seems to have a similar look but totally unique "self" and identity. He looks like he is pondering something profound.
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Ah, I found it, Bongo is Stewart's "alias", I have heard of a lot of "inmates" have two or more nicknames to confuse the guards and have an inside code. LOL. Bongo it is.
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In the midst of laughing at their antics and being just a tiny bit, just for a second, thankful that my hands are only as full as my own two "angels", I saw a name I couldn't recollect. I remember Stewart, Oliver and Bubba, but can't place Bongo. I will take some time to go back to a few threads to jog my memory, but did I miss Bongo or am I just losing my mind? LOL... truth is, those two things are not mutually exclusive, sooooo. You made me smile today and I say bless you, the inmates have definitely banded together to take over the asylum or zoo or what have you.
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Java is definitely showing signs of improvement and regaining strength. It came time for me to give her the first home dosage of her antibiotic. She has proven to me that while she is at her worst one tiny little 136 gram bird can take me both physically and cognitively with one little talon tied behind her back. First I took her to the smallest room in the house so if she got away she would have less space to fly around and stress her out. I asked her nicely to take the liquid from the syringe and she was not going to cooperate. Next, I tried to get her on my lap so I could whisk her up in a favorite cuddling fleece square. Nothing doing. Next I got her interested into going into her travel cage so we had less space to struggle and I was able to reach in like the vet tech to scoop her up with a minimum of drama. Then she held her beak tightly closed and I swear she can turn her head several complete revolutions. Finally she opened her beak to loudly protest and to attempt to fight and it was one quick little squirt and she has been medicated. For a moment, I felt a sense of accomplishment. After that I made her breakfast, and she was more than happy to go back inside her big cage but she is not yet willing to eat. Her weight is still fine so I suspect she is eating and drinking while she is not being watched. I am quite relieved to double check the dosage information and need only to do one dose a day for ten days. I think she is going to be okay. She still looks worn out and weak but it definitely is a huge improvement from Thursday night and Friday morning. Hopefully by Monday afternoon at the latest we will have some clues to this health mystery. Thanks again for all of you giving me strength during a flashback to some scary times.
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To know you are willing to give up your time with Xandir to give him the best possible chance of long term specialized care is commendable and shows you have compassion and insight. It has to be an agonizing choice. I am so sorry you are enduring this loss.
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So far, so good. Java is holding her own this morning. She is responding to the antibiotic and I am just grateful to get up in the morning and find her on her perch responding to my voice and touch. I have some ideas and will discuss it with her vet and see if anything makes sense. I will keep you all posted as soon as we get any word but for now I am feeling optimistic and hopeful. Who knew how much a quarter pound of feathers and sharp and scary beak would mean to us? She has all of our family, and our forum friends on edge cheering for her recovery and to bring back the smiles and laughter she is known for. Thank you all so much for sharing this experience. I have to admit I was brought to my knees and humbled at my limits while the critical hours are slowly changing to the light of recovery. Your thoughtfulness and caring lifted us through once again. I treasure our forum family.
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She is responding to the antibiotic and I am responding to all your uplifting and much appreciated encouragement. Sometimes just when we think we don't have the strength to handle the tough stuff, our friends make it all worth fighting the good fight. Dr. Hutchison said he would do what he could to get an answer from the lab work and blood counts that were sent out and call me tomorrow afternoon. Gilbert and Java have been talking a little bit back and forth. It is so sweet to see him sitting on a perch closest to her cage where he seldom goes and he just was quiet last night and today and when she started talking, it was the first time he came out to the cage top and interacted with us too. She isn't accepting my offers of food, and she wouldn't eat her almond but I have seen evidence in her water bowl that she was dunking some pellets, so I will weigh her in the morning. I don't cry much, but all of you have welled up happy tears that help wash away the scariness and stress of this day. Thank you all so much. I would love to have answers about what this is and know that we can make her all better but I have learned that even with the best of medical care, we don't always get answers. My goal is to live every moment and love her through good times and the hard times, to trust that her vet is doing his best and he is the best I can find. Thanks to every one of you for caring.
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Some things just work better the second or third time around. Just try try again. This time it let me sign it. Thanks.
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The fun but frustrating dance with Spencer.
katana600 replied to oblivion's topic in Rescue Bird Haven
I guess he showed you how little you can thwart him unless he wants to let you get away with it. Gotta love Spencer's determination. -
We had Java first, for almost six years now. We got a baby CAG and he had PDD. This may be something totally unrelated of course and I am not jumping to conclusions. This is how it started with both our other ones who had PDD. Nothing shows on the quick blood panels and PDD is one of those things that gets diagnosed by ruling other things out and watching the symptoms develop. Her sudden drop and the vomiting afterward and the dilated pupils is very much a reminder of the seizures our boys had as things progressed. We can handle anything that comes but it sure is a lot easier to have all of you rallying around, praying for her recovery and I am happy to tell you, it is helping her too. She rallied just about an hour ago. She was whistling and talking to my husband when he came in the room. No doubt tattling on me for letting the vet poke her and such. She isn't eating and I have offered her all of her favorites plus the warm mushy comfort foods recommended for sick parrots. She is still able to perch but her grip is really weak. I am so familiar with the safe warm environment to set up our own little hospital environment. It is just sad that we have had to practice it so much in such a short time. I am going to hold all your positive thoughts and encouragement close to my heart and just hope this goes away on its own. I didn't get that vet call to say we have any news, maybe tomorrow morning. It is just good news to hear her talking and grumbling away.
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Thanks everyone. I really hesitated to share with you and have you dreading the next post the way I was dreading the walk to her cage this morning. Hopefully we will have good news and a turn around. Timbersmom, I don't think it is a coincidence that when I called a friend to cancel plans today, she said those words almost verbatim. You all are so quick to be there for me, I have to admit it was selfishness on my part to post and ask for prayers and the love and energy of my friends. You are all there for each of us during the rough times, when we don't quite know what to say, it is enough just to click on thanks that says "I have been here, I hear you." I can hear the Acapella song, "just breathe" and I can get through anything in store for us. When I feel panic rising, I can just breathe, take one step at a time, keep Java warm, comfortable and wait for what is meant to be. I desperately want to hear my phone ring with the vet telling me, it is a bacterial infection and we caught it in time. For something to soothe our fears and hurts, when Java didn't want to be messed with any more, I offered to take her to her cage and I kissed her on the head. As she stepped onto her heated perch she made a cute little kissy sound back to me. We are going to be okay.
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Thanks. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder what to do next with him and at the same time feel so blessed to have the lil "cussin' cajun" in my life. We had a bad turn with his little buddy Java last night and I have been gone half the day to the vet. Gilbert will go for his own vet check Monday morning just to be on top of things and check his annual progress. Funny how even when he is grumpy with me, a minute later and he is calling her and telling her she is a pretty bird. While I was gone, he also spontaneously offered my daughter a step up and when I came home they were sitting together for the very first time. We all come together as a family through thick and thin. To add just a little levity to our day, when Java was at the vet, he was toweling her gently to examine her crop etc. and she fought like a demon. She escaped his grasp and put a wicked bite on him. There was a lot of screaming... mostly on her part. Then she got a toenail under his cuticle and the vet was the one loudly protesting. When he was all finished and I asked to bring Gilbert in Monday, I warned him that Java was the easy one. He looked very apprehensive for a moment. God bless the vets and techs who see our little angels at their worst and still dedicate their lives to caring for our flock. It is one thing to be beaned on the head with an empty almond shell, entirely less cute when a bite can be really serious.
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Last night in the middle of a happy time of snuggling Java and giving her our routine night night almond, she was vibrant and healthy and did a circle of the house. In one moment, my day changed. She was about four feet in front of me heading to the top of the refrigerator while I was getting her almond when she suddenly dropped to the floor in mid flight. She just sat there with her pupils so dilated that I couldn't see the red of her iris and it went downhill from there. She couldn't grip my hand, all her feathers looked loose and slack and I just held her until 2 am while she was limp in my hands. I stayed awake, kept her warm and had her at the vet as soon as they opened. She had a panel of bloodwork, culture of her droppings and nothing shows so far. Our vet said she is not dehydrated, doesn't present with anything obvious but she is vomiting and something bad is happening. All we can do is start her on antibiotics because it is a weekend and we won't get any test results back until Monday. The vet says if it is some type of bacterial infection, we have caught it early. Her weight is spot on normal. I am so scared for her and trying hard not to jump to conclusions. All I can think to say right now is that anything can change in our lives in a heartbeat so treasure what you have and be strong through the hard parts. Before I take a much needed nap, I thought of all the good people in our forum that have our back when it is most important and share in our small successes and pray with us in the worst of times. My husband and daughter stayed up to support me last night and are with me, but no one understands like our forum friends what each of our precious little flock members mean to us.
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Your daughter's face is just lit up with pleasure at seeing you with this beautiful quaker. She must get her love of birds from you, she just has a glow about her. I hope this quaker is lucky enough to come home and become her best buddy. I have never seen a quaker, he sure is beautiful. What's his name? I hope he wins over your wife's heart too.