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Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
My budgie is fighting with a respiratory disease for a while. One occurred a year ago, and he was much worse than today, but regained his health quickly with simple medicines. 2 weeks ago, I had to visit same avian vet for similar problems. Before visiting, I tried to treat the bird myself with previously prescribed drugs. I would visit sooner instead of trying to cure on my own if this vet wasn't too far away, but I got too scared of losing my budgie on travel. Tried to find proper places near me, they didn't return. There are quite a lot vets here, and some are avian vets but I wouldn't trust other than research hospitals. By the way, research hospitals for pets are so good even humans might not be treated this well in hospitals in the area. Anyway, after my visit I got some different medications, and treatment mainly included using a nebulizer. But no improvement. And sometimes it was like getting worse. Right after using nebulizer, bird looks significantly better, but he gets worse a few hours later as if he keeps catching cold. This happened 3 times, I started to use heating pads after first time this occurred, for the other two, heating pad wasn't warm enough (or simply wasn't enough, I don't know, warming this way is the best I can do right now).

After 2 weeks today I revisited vet and my budgie got an x-ray this time. It seems that the bird's breathing problem is kind of chronic -and vitamin A deficiency amplified this issue- and he needs longer treatment that will last at least like 2 months. But as I've heard it is high likely that bird's problem isn't anything fatal. There is still small chance bird has one type of fungal infection instead that unfortunately has no cure - even for humans. Though before this x-ray, vet also had warned about small chance of having thyroid disease, but x-ray results show that his thyroids are fine. Vet also found small amount of gas in bird's crop, but I'm told it isn't to worry about. Other than these, all of my birds' organs are revealed healthy. I got additional medications and will be seeing the vet in a few days again.

Honestly, I wasn't aware of my bird's vitamin deficiency because he was always eating what I was eating and I was serving him additional vegs so I never thought he had poor nutrition. Maybe I couldn't calculate the portions. And recently I've been giving him a powerful multivitamin (vet's prescription) but looks like these still weren't enough. Although my bird is 11 years old. Things such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies aren't an unusual thing at his age.

Symptoms: difficulty in breathing, wheezing sounds, enlarged chest, partially clogged nostril, weight loss, lethargy.

For treatment:
-Nebulizer was used 3 times a day for a week. In mornings and evenings, I poured bronchodilator, an antibacterial solution (that doesn't affect immune system like other antibiotics, this is normally injected but they don't recommend such thing on birds) and isotonic sodium chloride solution mixture into nebulizer, let the bird inhale this mist inside a box. I reduced this to one per day after revisit. In afternoons I poured expectorant and isotonic sodium chloride solution mixture into nebulizer. Same procedure as above. I will keep doing this.
-An antibiotic for a week, which seemed to me ineffective. Now we replaced with another antibiotic with amoxicillin (might not be a regular one though, I used amoxicillin before but it wasn't for chronic illnesses then, this is for chronic respiratory diseases). 2x4 drops pday.
-An anti-inflammatory drug. One drop per day.
-Multivitamin, 1 drop per day. I am told that this can be used everyday regardless of showing any sign of illness.
-Keep the bird warm, as can be guessed.
-I also used Guardian Angel recipe provided in this website when necessary. My bird didn't stop eating completely but I am hand feeding his favorite seeds and give fresh veggies.

I am still in the beginning of treatment, and feel like I have much more to go. But I am not giving up.
 

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It's wonderful that you have had him for 11 years. Are you giving the meds directly into the mouth or are they in the water? When meds are in the water you can never be sure that the bird is actually ingesting enough to be effective in the treatment of a bacterial or fungal infection. One of my birds recently had a crop/ GI tract infection, the first 2 antibiotics were just not helping much so the vet did a culture to determine which antibiotic would be most effective against the particular bacteria, once we switched to a third antibiotic as indicated by the culture he began to improve, so sometimes meds have to be changed around until you get the most effective one.
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Hello. I hope your birds are now healthy and did not suffer much from illness.

Right now, all of them directly into the mouth.

I started off with amoxicillin into the mouth before going to vet. Budgie did not improve so I bought doxycycline based antibiotic and mixed with his drinking water (read somewhere that giving this solution directly has harms for my bird, because it is generally used for chickens, turkeys and calves). After vet visit, vet said amoxicillin dosage wasn't sufficient and thought doxycycline dosage seemed alright, but then he changed the drop unit to something per liter. In the last visit he switched to a new antibiotic. Through its prospectus, I can tell it is stronger than first one.

I asked a couple of times about culture test, which is actually done there but vet didn't seem interested in it and he insisted on which bacteria is causing it was obvious. He was suspicious of a thyroid disease though and we did an x-ray. I asked for the last time about a test from bird droppings - but I was referring to fungal infection. He answered, "To determine this fungal infection, I need biopsy, but it is not good to carry this out on a small bird." But I didn't say anything about bacteria culture test then. Honestly I trust in this vet, I've learnt from a Reddit-like community that he or his team did a lot of things such as removing a tumor from budgie's brain. I don't think they are reluctant to go through these. Vet wanted to see me again in a few days, probably in this checkup he will revise for his bacterial problem.

What concerns me is also frequent use of antibiotics. I do have a probiotic (to mix into bird's water) but it only includes "Bacilus amyloliquefaciens". I don't know how effective this would be for bird's bacterial flora. Going to search in forums for natural probiotics but lately my bird does not want to consume anything other than seeds.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
I revisited the vet on Friday for checkup. So far for treatment, I used a nebulizer for a week as I mentioned above. After one week's treatment, my bird was supposed to get better, but didn't. After checking my bird's condition, and because the nebulizer I bought was getting the bird a bit wet, vet expressed his dislike about the nebulizer I bought and suggested me to buy the one he picked. But now the one I bought isn't any different, bird still gets wet and this probably worsens the bird's health. I used this one only once but I am very doubtful about this treatment. I don't know if I should trust in this vet anymore. Should I seek for a new vet? I found one on Instagram and he seemed a good vet but he's 500 km away. This is his page: Login • Instagram
 

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Why is a nebulizer being used in the treatment instead of giving medication directly into the mouth? What medication is in the nebulizer treatment?
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Why is a nebulizer being used in the treatment instead of giving medication directly into the mouth? What medication is in the nebulizer treatment?
Sorry I wasn't clear. I give antibiotic into the mouth AND use a nebulizer. I was told to do these. But this is the last day for me to use antibiotics, and I will use this nebulizer for a week until next visit. As previously stated: A bronchodilator, an antibacterial solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. If you are asking their exact names, Brecur and Killoxacin 10%. Most likely unknown medicines in other countries.
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Unfortunately my budgie became very ill to the point it can no longer be taken to anywhere. It happened quickly, because of catching cold. He's puffed up and he barely eats. I could take him to an avian vet nearby but unfortunately there isn't any. I had to give him antibiotics so often, even though I didn't want to. I'm sure all these weakened him. He's not taking medicine since monday because he was supposed to take antibiotics for 7 days. I thought about restarting but I don't want to demoralize him any further as restarting antibiotics probably will not matter anymore other than making him upset. He'll probably die in next two days... What a stupid situation. I was trying to cure his another disease and he got worse because of getting wet. I wish there was a button to reverse everything... He'd probably live so much longer if I didn't take him to vet. Maybe even he'd get better on his own. Should I syringe feed him I don't know. I know he would resist until his last energy. I don't know if I should disturb him anymore. Maybe at least I should let him die in peace.
 

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
There was a pet shop owner nearby, I contacted with him a few times previously. But we had an argument before and apparently I misunderstood him so did not trust to bring my bird when he asked to. Last time I got in contact was on thursday, I wish I had listened to him. Today found out that he was a student of a good avian professor who I also know. He came to my house and diagnosed the bird and checked x-ray results, said the bird has megabacteria in his crop which then also infected his respiratory system. If I came to him sooner, bird would definitely be treated but right now he said there is a low chance he will survive. I will give my bird a probiotic for 3 or 5 days and if he doesn't die we will start his medicine. But it looks too late. My only hope is this small beauty has a strong will.
 

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Megabacteria, a/k/a Avian Gastric Yeast (AGY) is actually a fungal infection that should be treated with amphotericin B, and the infection resides in the GI tract in the proventriculus and ventriculus. There are other fungal diseases such as Aspergillosis which is basically a respiratory disease. It is also possible that there is a secondary bacterial infection along with the AGY. The best way to determine if he has AGY is through a gram stain test on a crop swab or fresh dropping, although the organism does not always show up unless it is being actively shed.
 

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Discussion Starter · #13 · (Edited)
In an article I found that potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are inhibitors for both Aspergillosis and AGY, and some other fungi. As for Aspergillosis, I read Amphotericin B can be also used for treatment (not first option but I can't financially afford primal medication anyway). I was going to try Amphotericin B after using probiotics, but if strong immune system isn't necessary for sodium benzoate usage, I am planning to give sodium benzoate right away before switching to Amphotericin B.

Edit: I need to be clear for my first sentence. I didn't read an article promoting potassium sorbate usage on birds, I just read it is an inhibitor against these fungi and obviously I am not going to try this one. Sodium benzoate however, isn't an uncommon treatment method for birds according to TalkBudgies forum. Eg: Macrorhabdus in Budgerigars
 

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Discussion Starter · #15 ·
I lost him yesterday morning. I don't think I can own another bird anymore. I have never grieved this much before. My poor bird died because of the country he was born in. I will never ever forgive these people.
 
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