[rickwriter]

Hi All,

I'm new here - I've found the advice on the forums very useful in the past but have just registered.

One of my birds (female) has been scratching around her eye area a lot and is now holding her eye closed. It seems like something is irritating it. I have seen a previous post on the site (Post) which mentioned it could be due to a molt. Mine looks similar - there are no other signs of infection, discharge, etc. Just that she is scratching/being irritated by something.

The replies mentioned saline solution. I have just purchased some (https://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=254715975) from the eye care section in tesco - is this the correct stuff to use? I notice it has EDTA 0.02% and PHMB 0.0002% in it. This could be standard - however some things say saline solution is just salt in water! I didn't buy any eye washes as they all seemed to have alcohol in them (which I didn't think would be good for budgie!).

Can anyone advise if this is suitable to use to help with her eye? I can go to another pharmacy tomorrow to get something else if not, it just means she will have to sit with it overnight.

Thank you for reading
Rick

 

[FaeryBee]

I can't see the image you posted.

It's best to use a saline solution with no preservative.
If the one you purchased has minimal preservatives, use it tonight and purchase saline without preservatives tomorrow for subsequent usage.

Does she allow you to handle her easily?

It would be good to rinse the eye out two or three times a day for a couple of days.

Would you please post a picture of your budgie's eye?

When you upload pictures as thumbnail attachments directly from your computer, tablet or phone, the forum automatically defaults to landscape.

To upload full-sized pictures with the proper orientation, please use a photo-sharing service such as PhotoBucket and follow the steps in these instructions:
http://talkbudgies.com/how-guides/175818-how-post-pictures-photobucket.html

 

[Hunterkat]

Good news- the only preservative in there is the EDTA. The PHMB is an antiseptic and the other stuff about a buffer is just to keep the saline solution at the right pH so it won't affect your eyes. As FaeryBee said, if it doesn't have that many preservatives (which it's only 0.02% EDTA) it should be fine to use- probably okay to use it for your budgie. Good call on the alcohol (it's usually in there as an antiseptic by the way).

 

[rickwriter]

Hi FaeryBee,

Thank you for your response and advice. I shall take a photo but I shall have to get it tomorrow. She is currently asleep - sitting alongside the other budgies.

I'll get some solution without a preservative tomorrow from the pharmacy .

Many thanks,
Rick

 

[FaeryBee]

You're welcome.

I'll be looking forward to the picture and update tomorrow.

Wishing your little one all the best for a speedy recovery.

 

[StarlingWings]

Hi Rick and :welcome: to the forums!

You've been given great advice, I hope that your little girl's eye improves!

Be sure to read through the forum's many Budgie Articles and "stickies" (threads "stuck" to the top of each subform for easy reference) to stay up to date on all the best practices for caring for budgies. If you have any questions after reading through everything, be sure to ask as we'd love to help! :thumbsup:

We look forward to seeing you around the forums, and meeting your little budgie soon!

Cheers! :wave:

 

[Niamhf]

Please take your budgie to an avian vet immediately. Sore eyes can be caused by numerous different things that need veterinary investigation. It is one of the symptoms of chlamydia psittacosis which is a serious illness and can be contracted by humans.
My bird once had similar symptoms (sore eye holding it closed) and it turned out to be uveitis an extremely painful viral infection - only that I acted immediately and got him to an avian vet he may have lost his eye completely.