[Mia2244]

Hi my 12 year old budgie Storm has recently started gabapentin for arthritis in his foot. He started it about a week ago with his other medication metacam. Today he hasn’t been very active he is still eating an preening. But today he’s been really sleepy, and the vet we go to won’t be open till Monday. When he had been checked out she said she heard no breathing problems he’s not open mouth breathing he’s just sleeping a lot. And I was wondering if it was a side effect of the new medication, but I’m also wondering if he’s going to pass away soon of old age. He also has an implant for a testicular tumor. I’m really worried.

I’m not sure how to post a video of him but here’s a picture.

 

[Cody]

It may be the gabapentin, I had a bird on that after surgery and it did make him more sleepy than usual, I hope that's all it is for your boy. Is it a Deslorelin implant?

 

[Mia2244]

I’ll have to check his paperwork but I think so. He’s also been having green watery poops which I think is the medication. It almost looks like he’s sick but we were just at the vets and they said he was doing good. She listened to him and everything. But it looks like he’s having a harder time breathing. And his eyes are kinda watery. He’s still eating and drinking but I’m really worried. I have to wait till Monday to get him into the vet. I have a video of his breathing but I don’t know how to post it.

 

[Cody]

Scroll down in this link until you see
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[Mia2244]

Storm’s behavior
The link for the video is above

 

[Cody]

His breathing does look mildly labored, is the little squeak I hear coming from him or something in the background? I would keep him quiet in his cage for now.

I also have a bird with arthritis that is on Metacam, she is 9, was the Metacam not helping enough and therefore the gabapentin was added? I also had a bird years ago with a testicular tumor, he was given Lupron injections along with Metacam. The tumor can press on the spinal nerves leading to the leg and foot, were x-rays done to diagnose the arthritis?

 

[Mia2244]

No I have three other birds that were singing in the background. I haven’t heard him make any sounds.

No they didn’t do any x-rays just kinda ldid a body check. His cere used to be brown but after the implant it turned back to blue. And yes the gabapentin was added after the metacam. Because his foot is curled and I was told that we’d give him both medications every 12 hours was I go to Hopkinton Animal Hospital (the exotic and avian vet of New England) He will pick at his foot sometimes but not as much it’s more like he’s straightening it out then in pain. The foot is now more curled in now into a fist but he can still grip with it.

 

[Cody]

Did the foot issue start before or after the tumor was diagnosed, since there were no x-rays done I would want to make sure that the foot issues are not related to nerve interference from the tumor, or that he does not have any evidence of gout.

 

[karenblodgett3261]

I take gabapentin for neuropathy due to a spinal cord injury. When I first started I did feel sleepy, but I later became accustomed to it. From a human perspective, if that's any help 😊.

 

[Mia2244]

Thank you I appreciate your help! I had no idea that it would be like that. He’s is doing way better! As soon as I took him off it the next day he looked better. So now it’s once a day instead of every 12 hours. I think maybe twice a day was too much on his little body. I just had never seen him act like that and it worried me a bit. But now he’s doing great Here he is now slightly grumpy but back to normal. 😂

 

[Cody]

So glad he is better, he looks great in these pictures.

 

[FaeryBee]

Storm is amazingly handsome and a testament to your good care at 12 years young!!