Conference 7.286::pet_birds

I believe chlamydia is the same thing as psitticosis.  If so, keep your lovebird
in strict quarantine and have her tested for psitticosis first.  If she tests
postivie you'll probably have to treat the whole flock whether they test
postivie or not.  It's treatable, but takes 6 weeks of antibiotics.  It's also
transmissable to humans (parrot fever), so you may also have to be treated. 
Good luck.

Why does your vet suspect psitticosis? Is it just because of a high white count
or are there other symptoms?  Who is your vet?  I recently went through a
psitticosis scare, but other than a high white count, my bird didn't have the
right symptoms.

    Well, started on Saturday.  She sneezed and a frothy liquid came out.
    She drank water, but it came back up.  Sunday she drank a lot of water,
    but it came back up.  She was puffed, slept, and perched on two legs.
    That's when I brought her to Tufts because my vet's office was closed.
    
    To make a long story short.  She came back with a white blood count,
    but no other symptoms.  She has responded to the antibiotics and is
    acting normal.  The fourth vet said to take several samples of the
    other birds and have it tested, although it may not show anything.
    I have other lovebirds, a great many finches, budgies and canaries.
    She said one of them may have brought it in as it can be airborne.
    
    I wonder if I could have given it to her.  I don't have it... that I
    know of.
    
    deb

How long have you had your other birds?  Do you have any newcomers?  Have you
recently visited anyone with birds or a pet store with birds?  Conures can be
asymptomatic carriers of chlamydia/psitticosis.

Did they specifically rule out other possible causes?  There can be many causes
of a URI. -- October/NOvember issue of bird talk has a good article on URIs. 
They probably want to test for chlamydia just to be safe because it is
transmissible to humans.  As I recall, the test can take several weeks before
results come back.

Avitaminosis is the most common cause of URIs-- do your birds get supplemental
vitamins?  Do they eat veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, dark
green leaf veggies (romaine, green-leaf or red-leaf lettuce)? Vitamin A is
needed to keep mucous membrane in good health.  Lack of Vitamine A weakens the
muscous membrane, leaving them susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.

Did the vet do a sinus flush and culture the flush for bacteria and fungus. 
They can get strep and other bacterial infections in the sinuses.  Possible
fungal infections are yeast (candida) and asperigillosis.  The quick response to
antibiotics suggests bacterial infection to me.

If all the above causes are ruled out, there are other possibilities.  My
cockatoo has a URI -- has had it since before I got her.  We've ruled out all of
the above causes and are now assuming either 1)allergy, 2) some kind of virus,
or 3) another bug (I forget what its called) that is difficult to test for
(tests give high false negatives).  We've got her white count down from 36,700
when I got her to 25,000 just after Christmas.  We're now doing 30 days
antibiotics to see if that kills it (the bug, not the bird!).

    The whole flock eats veggies, green leafy veggies (spinach, beet
    greens), Quik egg food, cooked brown rice, their seeds, millet,
    benebac, nekton bio, nekton s. 
    
    I haven't gotten any new birds for several months.  Everyone has
    been healthy.  
    
    No flushes.  I wonder because it's been dry in the house with the
    heat on and lights on them that their nasal passages have gotten
    extraordinarily dry?   Could a germ get in that way?  They are kept
    clean (their cages).  
    
    The test didn't come back with it.  I am taking her in to my real
    vet for a look over next week, and some fecal matter from the other
    hook bills I have (finches aren't as susceptible as hook bills).  
    
    If it turns out that they do have it, they will be treated with the
    millet with the tetracycline for six weeks, which on second thought
    I'll probably do as the test is not conclusive.  
    
    I subscribe to Bird Talk.  I'll have to pull out that mag and read
    up on it.  I've been feeling fine otherwise.  

Yes, the dry air in your house could cause nasal passages to dry out and be more
susceptible to an URI.

Is your regular vet an avian vet?  

With no new birds for several months, seems less likely that your bird caught
something from someone else.

    Hi, Dr. Saeger and Dr. Kilgore at LTN Animal Hospital are my
    vets.  Can this germ be found on food?  Maybe I didn't was the
    veggies enough.  The house has been very very dry, even though I
    keep a window in the next room wide open all winter.  Where 
    does this germ come from?  
    
    deb

I think that if it originated in food it would effect their digestive system,
not respiratory.  I would talk to Drs. Saeger and Kilgore...Dr. Kilgore in
particular is very experienced and knowledgable.

    
    Drs Saeger and Kilgore are EXCELLENT...
    
    Do you have filters in your heating system?  One thing we see a bunch
    of problems with here in the South is air conditioning and heating
    systems (especially in the filters, but also in the duct work) that
    become contaminated with fungus and/or bacteria and create an unsafe
    environment for people, birds, and other creatures (except for
    cockroaches, which probably thrive on it!)  You may wish to have your
    heating system cleaned and serviced just to be on the safe side...
    
    
    					/Rita
    
    

    OR..... I recommend (as if I know enough to recommend 8*) the
    purchase of a portable air cleaner/filter that emits the appropriate
    Ozone levels.  I've got one, and my bird (along with my asthmatic son)
    love it.  I love it too, it takes ALL odor out of the house.  I do have
    a problem in the mornings though, I can't smell the coffee being made
    and I don't seem to be getting up as quickly as I use to.  This Air
    Cleaning system is highly recommended by my breeder, along with the
    local vetrinarian community.  If you need additional info. feel free to
    ask.
    
    Toodles.....JPs
    

    Hi Folks.  I've been out on vacation the past week so hadn't seen your
    replies.  I took Brandy to Dr. Saeger at Littleton Animal Hospital for
    her follow up visit and was given a clean bill of health (*phew*).  
    The tests at Tufts came up negative and the test for the rest of the
    flock (for the germ) came up negative as well.  We lived in an
    apartment where the heat was at least 80 degrees so I had the window
    open completely in one of the off rooms.  It was very dry.  I have
    an air filter but haven't run it because of the window being open.
    
    I know these tests are 100% always, but wouldn't you think it would
    have shown somewhere?  
    
    deb