AGY

167 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Oliver’s Mom, 20 h ago

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · 14 d ago

Hi there,
I have a budgie going through AGY treatment and is quarantined .
My other three budgies lived with him in the same cage and they are currently doing fine- healthy and thriving.
My vet wants them treated for AGY as well and I’m not sure about doing it. When a budgie has AGY is it necessary to treat all birds in the flock?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

karenblodgett3261

· #2 · 14 d ago

If the vet recommends it, I would definitely do as instructed by your vet. AGY is highly contagious and it's better to address it early.

Budgies being a prey animal will do their best to appear healthy because predators are looking for an easy meal. You could compare this scenario to us humans who come home after a long hard day. Rather than taking the time and energy to make a big meal, you decide to have a can of soup because it's quick and easy. A predator in the wild will look for the animal that looks sick or is walking with a limp. They will zero in on that animal.

By the time a bird starts looking sick, they will have been so for a while. But they are just to sick to hide it at that point. This is an instinct deeply imbeded in their DNA whether they live in the wild, or in a home.

Delaying medical treatment, will cause your birds to suffer, the recovery will take longer, or they may not recover at all. Plus, if the expense of having them all treated is a concern, putting it off until they look sick will actually cost even more.

Remember, they depend on you for everything! It's clear you love your birds and want the best for them. That you've already taken one of them to the vet has proven your being a loving and responsible pet owner. At this point, your little sweeties are waiting for you to make the appointment and bring them to the vet 🦜🥰! I'm confident that you will do the right thing for your budgies! The sooner the better 😊!

See less See more

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #3 · 14 d ago

karenblodgett3261 said:
If the vet recommends it, I would definitely do as instructed by your vet. AGY is highly contagious and it's better to address it early.

Budgies being a prey animal will do their best to appear healthy because predators are looking for an easy meal. You could compare this scenario to us humans who come home after a long hard day. Rather than taking the time and energy to make a big meal, you decide to have a can of soup because it's quick and easy. A predator in the wild will look for the animal that looks sick or is walking with a limp. They will zero in on that animal.

By the time a bird starts looking sick, they will have been so for a while. But they are just to sick to hide it at that point. This is an instinct deeply imbeded in their DNA whether they live in the wild, or in a home.

Delaying medical treatment, will cause your birds to suffer, the recovery will take longer, or they may not recover at all. Plus, if the expense of having them all treated is a concern, putting it off until they look sick will actually cost even more.

Remember, they depend on you for everything! It's clear you love your birds and want the best for them. That you've already taken one of them to the vet has proven your being a loving and responsible pet owner. At this point, your little sweeties are waiting for you to make the appointment and bring them to the vet 🦜🥰! I'm confident that you will do the right thing for your budgies! The sooner the better 😊!

Thank you. I have 4 other budgies and it will be hard to treat so many at once. Plus the vet said my budgies PCR test for AGY was negative although the gram stain for AGY was highly suspicious. So I’m not even 100% sure it’s AGY and not sure if it’s worth bringing four other healthy budgies into this.

FaeryBee

· #4 · 13 d ago

Is your vet an Avian Veterinarian?
Did you ask specifically WHY the vet believes it is important to treat all the other budgies as well?
I would inquire as to what is the benefit of doing so if none of them are showing symptoms.
What specific treatment is he recommending be followed?
Has he indicated that all of them should receive medication?

Please make sure you ask the veterinarian as many questions as possible so you have a full and clear understanding of the risks vs benefits of the recommended protocol.

Avian Gastric Yeast /
Megabacteria in Budgerigars

See less See more

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #5 · 13 d ago

FaeryBee said:
Is your vet an Avian Veterinarian?
Did you ask specifically WHY the vet believes it is important to treat all the other budgies as well?
I would inquire as to what is the benefit of doing so if none of them are showing symptoms.
What specific treatment is he recommending be followed?
Has he indicated that all of them should receive medication?

Please make sure you ask the veterinarian as many questions as possible so you have a full and clear understanding of the risks vs benefits of the recommended protocol.

Avian Gastric Yeast /
Megabacteria in Budgerigars

Yes they are an avian vet and want to give my other healthy budgies ampho.

Reactions: 1

FaeryBee

· #6 · 13 d ago

I would not treat the healthy budgies with ampho.

I’ve known a couple of other owners who have multiple birds with only one suffering from AGY.

The only budgie treated in those cases was the bird in which symptoms had presented.
This was the case over a period of several years.

I would give the healthy budgies Sodium Benzoate as a preventative measure.
I give it to my budgies periodically.

Reactions: 1

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #7 · 13 d ago

FaeryBee said:
I would not treat the healthy budgies with ampho.

I’ve known a couple of other owners who have multiple birds with only one suffering from AGY.

The only budgie treated in those cases was the bird in which symptoms had presented.
This was the case over a period of several years.

I would give the healthy budgies Sodium Benzoate as a preventative measure.
I give it to my budgies periodically.

That’s what I’m thinking of doing. Is it something I would put in their water?

FaeryBee

· #8 · 13 d ago

I use a scant 1/8 teaspoon of Sodium Benzoate to 10 oz of filtered water. The water is mixed fresh each time the water in their dishes is changed. In my case, twice daily.
I generally do a 30 day course of the Sodium Benzoate and then give them a break of a few weeks before the next 30 day course.

The Sodium Benzoate you want to use is the one I've linked below. This is the one I use for my own birds:

Human Food Grade Sodium Benzoate

Reactions: 1

Cody

· #9 · 13 d ago

I would first want some more info from the vet, since the PCR test was negative, I would ask what % of the time is that test inaccurate because I would not want to treat for something that is not there especially with something like Ampho B. There may be a difference of opinion between vets on some matters but I did not treat my other birds when my 2 had AGY, the second bird, Vinnie, that I have that had it, I did not have at the time I had Bebe, the first one that had it, so Vinnie's infection cannot be blamed on Bebe. My other birds that were around with the 2 that were infected did not come down with it, that is not to say that it is not a possibility because it is contagious but that has been my experience so far. This is something about AGY Avian Gastric Yeast

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #10 · 13 d ago

Thank you both so much!

vet isn’t getting back to my emails but I will call them. I think treating Opal is priority first and tearing the other budgies with probiotics and sodium benzoate seems like a good plan. Thank you!

Reactions: 1

StarlingWings

· #11 · 2 d ago

Are there any updates on little Opal? I'm curious to see what the vet said after getting back to you.

Reactions: 1

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #12 · 2 d ago (Edited by Moderator)

Yes, so for Opal I’ve continued his ampho treatment plus an antibiotic and visbiome in his water. With the addition of the visbiome and antibiotics I’ve noticed his poop is starting to look normal again. It used to be small and pellet like before almost as though he was constipated or had slow motility. The ampho seems to wear him out sometimes and he sleeps it off and sometimes I still see regurgitated seeds at the bottom of his cage. I think he might be purposely trying to get it out of his system. Other than that his appetite is healthy, he’s cheeping and preening and puts up an awful fight when giving him medication. I know the stress of not being with his family is taking a toll on him so I’m optimistic that we are headed in the right direction and once the meds stop he will be better.

Thanks so much for asking 😊

See less See more

Reactions: 3

StarlingWings

· #13 · 2 d ago

I’m hoping he has a fast recovery!! 🥹

Reactions: 2

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #14 · 1 d ago

It appears I spoke too soon. Yesterday when I got home from work I noticed that Opal felt really light. When I weighed him he was down to 33 grams. At the vet a few weeks ago he was 35 grams and at his healthiest he is my heaviest budgie sometimes going up to 43 grams. He was also regurgitating mucous. And this is what his poop looks like. He is on an anti Ohio tic called Sulfamethoxazole, ampho and visbiome. He eats seeds, pellets and chop. I had to give him some millet yesterday and will be feeding him that as well to keep his weight up. I emailed my vet and waiting to hear back.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Cody

· #15 · 1 d ago

Sorry to hear this, I have never heard of Sulfamethoxazole used in birds, do you know why the vet chose that particular drug? How long has been on the Ampho B now? When I had to treat Vinnie for 30 days, at about day 27 he could not tolerate it any longer and would vomit it up so it was discontinued.

Oliver’s Mom

Discussion Starter · #16 · 20 h ago

Cody said:
Sorry to hear this, I have never heard of Sulfamethoxazole used in birds, do you know why the vet chose that particular drug? How long has been on the Ampho B now? When I had to treat Vinnie for 30 days, at about day 27 he could not tolerate it any longer and would vomit it up so it was discontinued.

I’m not sure but I googled it and it’s another name for Bactrim. He is on about day 21 of ampho.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts