yankeesfan81 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hello, I have had my AG for over a year and never had any problems. Well just recently we noticed that our AG was kind of breathing heavy and noisier than usual. And we just recently went over to the cage and noticed that he is losing his voice?!?!?! Is this possible? He tries to whistle but it doesnt come out great like usual. We did notice that he has been urinating alot more. THe feces is solid and normal color but the urine that comes out along with it has increased but then again his drinking has also so we thought it had to do with his increase in drinking. His appetite has increased a little bit. There is nothing visually wrong with any feathers or the cere. His weight has maintained and not decreased at all. There are a couple other symptoms that I am going to be looking for . But my main concern is his loss of voice? I didnt know if that was possible just like a human with laryngitis. Or whether it may be something serious. Any insight would be great. Thanks Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Well Matt, I would recommend you take him to see an avian vet, especially if he has not been in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Yep trip an avian vet is needed. Let us know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi Matt, a health check would be wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 Yeah we made an appointment this morning so we will be taking him in a couple mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Let us know how it went as soon as you get back, I am anxious to know about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibibi Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Very interesting. I hope everything checks out okay. Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Alright well we went to a local vet who had an avian specialist. Very nice people but the vet didnt really have an answer for us as to what the problem was without doing bloodwork. So she sent us to Cornell University, from what I hear the best avian specialists are there. And after a long day of traveling and vet visits, we came home empty handed. Rafikki is being held for testing for at least a day. The doctor told us that the 2 likely problems could be that he contracted Aspergillosis, a fungal infection, or that he swallowed something and the object became lodged in his throat near his trachea. My first thoughts were Aspergillosis because I heard that it can be contracted through eating shelled peanuts, but they must eat alot of peanuts. And we dont have small enough objects that he can get into and swallow. Unless it was a piece of food that got lodged. But we received a message on our voicemail when we got home and the Dr said that Rafikki is doing remarkably well, they have him in an incubator on oxygen. They are going to have the results from the initial bloodwork tomorrow morning and they are going to give us a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Gosh, Matt, this is a serious matter if it is aspergillosis and I feel your pain at the moment. I hope his bloodwork comes back negative and he gets better soon. It was a good thing you went on and took him in to see about this, I know he is precious to you and I pray that he recovers completely. Please update us as soon as you know anything else and I will keep you and Rafikki in my thoughts and prayers.<br><br>Post edited by: judygram, at: 2007/11/27 01:57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 The Dr wasnt too worried if it was aspergillosis. He just said that it would be a long 4 weeks of giving him antibiotics. But we will see. Hopefully it is something as simple as an object lodged in his throat. Hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Matt, I hope I hear good news tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Matt, welcome to the forum and all the best wishes for a speedy recovery for Raffiki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 Alright well we received a not so warming phone call tonight from the Dr. Rafikki has high counts of white blood cells in his little body, meaning that there is an infection somewhere. The possibility of aspergillosis is still there but now he said that their is a chance that he also contracted PDD. Which from what he said and the research that I have done is ultimately fatal. Birds can live for weeks and months after diagnosis but ultimately will die. PDD is a virus and the Dr has no idea where it would come from. But he said that there still is a chance that it wont be that but they will be doing more research tomorrow. Rafikki is chipper and aware and doesnt seem to have any bad signs that he is sick other than weight loss, raspy heavy breathing and loss of voice. It just doesnt seem fair that he has to go through this at only 1.5 yrs old. Hopefully things will get better and he doesnt have PDD. We will know more tomorrow night. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Matt, this is not the news I wanted to hear, and you are right, PDD is a serious matter and I hope and pray that it is not that. I am glad that he seems to be better but it does not look good at all if it is PDD. I will keep you and Rafikki in my thought and prayers that it is not PDD and he gets better and gets over whatever is wrong with him. Take care and keep us informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggy Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Wow this is not a good post I feel for you and your little feathered sweetheart I hope that the news comes back better for you and rafikki. I will pray for you and him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 That's is a terrible possibility Matt, that your vet has advised of perhaps being the cause of his symptoms. I am hoping and praying that it is not the underlying issue for this young Grey. We're all keeping you and your Grey in our thoughts and prayers. We are hoping to hear better news today :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Oh no. My heart goes out to you and your grey. Lets hope they are wrong. Let us know what you decide to do or just come talk if you need help deciding what to do. Do you have other birds? They may need to be tested that stuff is air born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I also cross my fingers for you that it isn't PDD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevjoe Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I hope Only for the Best news for you. We love our birds, and want all to have a good life. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 Well we received the phone call today. Rafikki passed while they were performing his endoscopy to see if he had an obstruction in his throat and trachea. While they were doing the procedure his heart started to slow and they gave him adrenaline and it didnt help. They are going to do an autopsy to find out why and they will let us know. Thank you all for your prayers. RIP Rafikki 1.5 yrs old Matt Post edited by: yankeesfan81, at: 2007/11/28 21:20<br><br>Post edited by: yankeesfan81, at: 2007/11/28 21:20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I'm so sorry Matt for your loss of Rafikki, you must be devastated and I am also for we kinda got to know you and him personally by the exchange of posts. It was just a freak thing and there was not a thing you could have done to prevent it, my heart goes out to you for your loss but know that now he is not in any pain and he knew you loved him with all your heart. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and please let us know what the necropsy shows as the cause of death. Hang in there because when one door closes another one opens so have faith in what the man upstairs has in mind for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 The Dr told my fiance that he had signs of leukemia. We should be hearing back from him tomorrow with the results from the necropsy. I will keep you informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibibi Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I'm sorry to hear that. That's very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeesfan81 Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 Well the Dr called again and informed us that Rafikki has an enlarged Thryoid gland. He said it was 6 times the normal size and it was putting pressure on his airways. He also said that with an increase in Thyroid came an increased heart rate, so he had a weak heart. They are going to let us know in a week or two whether it was cancer or not. The Dr also told us that there was nothing we could have done to save him. It was a fluke thing that is hard to diagnose. They are sending his ID band back to us for a keepsake so we will always remember him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Matt it is just a freak thing that happened and there was no way to have prevented it and I am so sorry for your loss. That is nice of them to send you back the ID band off his leg but you won't need that to remember him, I don't think you will ever forget him for the rest of your life, I know I wouldn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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