Joey and I are still sending hugs, prayers and scritches. You and Rascal are constantly in my thoughts and I am checking often for updates.

 

I just got back from the consultation with the other avian vet. She told me she's been treating birds for the past 20+ yrs and has seen some birds who were able to recover from this condition, but the REAL verdict in being able to determine whether he has a chance of survival will be to have his uric acid retested ASAP as the bloodwork results I posted here were taken 4 days ago (on Sunday when he was first admitted to the emergency clinic). So those blood results were in a sense, old. She also said it's not common to see rhabdomyolysis this severe because most normal people bring their bird;s in much sooner... they don't wait 5 days!!!! =( It was very obvious he needed urgent mendical attention I am fuming at that woman who did this to my bird!

So if during past 4 days his urid acid has dropped much lower (because it is insanely ridiculously high right now at 31.5) then he has a chance at recovering. However, if the uric acid has not dropped lower, then his chances are slim because it means permanent damaged and renal failure =(

She told me to push my vet to NOT wait several days to retest his blood and to do it sooner than that and that his system does not need to be stressed by doing a full panel again testing for everything because that requires way too much blood from such little bird, ONLY his uric acid needs to be retested. This would also require a lot less blood.

Plus, it is the uric acid that is the main problem and should be focused on that.

They started him on Allopurinal this morning and tube feeding him twice a day and doing fluids 4 times a day. They said he is eating a tiny bit on his own but not enough to be able to survive without tube feeding.

I will go visit him today at 2pm after I talk to yet another avian vet at 1pm today.

 

I'm so sorry about this nightmare you and Rascal are going through.

My only experience with renal failure is with cats who have had kidney disease (slow failure of the kidneys; they can survive for years if treated). I don't know how to treat actual kidney failure because at that point, it's time to let the cat go peacefully. Renal failure does happen quick. But treatment of kidney disease involves diets with lots of fluids, and (if the cat is cooperative) IV fluids every three days. I have NO idea what treatment would be like for a bird though. Their digestive systems are so different from mammals. But I am sure that unless he goes into full failure, there will be a way for him to continue enjoying life, just with special meds and diet needs. Don't give up hope. xoxox

 

But those cats probably had chronic kidney disease. I don't know if acute kidney problem related to injury has same prognosis or not. Very annoyed I forgot to ask vet that question.

From what I understoodd is that if the damage was not permanent then kidneys can repair themselves somewhat and regain normal funtion. If I'm wrong, please someone correct me thanks.

 

I regret admitting Rascal to the clinic he's at now because the bird vet is only there maybe twice a week (her main office is far away), so the person who is treating my bird is not even a vet but rather a tech.

I wish I had taken him to the clinic I just went to today instead, because the avian vet is there every single day. She said I could transfer him if I really wnated to, but I dont know if that's a good idea... stress him too much in his critical state.

Plus, I think since it's the same tech whose been tube feeding my tiel... hopefully he is doing just as good of a job as the other clinic I wish I had taken him to would have done. And the other vet I saw today would be doing same treatments as my current vet anyway... only difference is that she would retest his uric acid immediately, not wait several days like my current vet says. But perhaps it is best to wait a couple days because he just started Allopurinal. I would rather wait 48hrs to see if that medication is working, since he just started that med this morning.

what would you guys do? keep him where is currently is or move him to other clinic where the bird vet is there every single day?

 

Personally I would keep him where he is for now, but get advice from the other vet and push this vet to follow it. Talk to the tech in person, since he is the one actually caring for your bird, and probably cares deeply about him by now. Make sure he knows about birds. The tech should be able to run the tests, or at least take the blood and a non avian vet can easily run the tests, so another vet at the same clinics. You are doing a good job of being involved and informed, keep it up.

 

The tech is this young college guy. I've asked him sveeral questions and he never know the answer. He always just refers to the vet and says I would have to ask the vet this or that question.

If I had known the avian vet wasn't at that clinic every day and a tech would be treating my bird in life or death situation I would have never taken him there, but it was emergency situation I was in a rush to find clinic on a Sunday. So what's done it done.

I will just have to hang in there and HOPE when they retest his uric acid it willl have dropped significantly. I'm about to speak to Dr Clubb, a third avian yet just to see what her input might be. I'm waiting for her call... I have 1pm phone appointment.

 

I wouldn't move him. The present vet seems to be doing what's medically appropriate. The stress could easily be too much for him to take. Just bear with the personality issues. If any medical issues arise you can go to the other vet again for a second opinion if you think it would be useful. My 2 cents.

As for the vet tech deferring to the vet - there is a pecking order in the bird world and in the medical world. The tech might not be allowed to tell you much of anything on orders from his employer. That's why you usually can't get any info from technicians who administer medical tests such as xrays or ultrasounds and the like. The techs deal with that stuff every day and have a pretty good idea of how you fared but they are not permitted to offer opinions on results without risking their job - the doctor gives the results after his/her review. Same with the bloodwork - techs in the office know more about what the numbers mean than they can say. Again - they must defer to the doctor.

 

I would take Rascal to the new vet, where the vet is actually there and telling you what's what, because at the moment you're having to suggest meds to the vet, that's wrong. But the actual main reason is because they told you Rascal was doing better and eating a bit and stuff and the following day he was worse than ever. I would be thankful they kept him alive but I would take him to a real caring vet now.

 

I havne't sugessted any meds to my current vet though. I had texted her to inquire whether he was on that medication called allopurinol and the vet texted back few minutes later at 9pm ish that they would be starting him on it this morning, so it appears she was going to start it on her own... not because I asked if he was on it. Or at least I hope that is the case!!! What is unacceptabe however is that she didnt bother take 1 minute of her time to text me this update to say he would be starting new med!! I had to text her at 9pm last night when she actually promised me I would receive important paperwork yesterday from her before 5pm. Not only did she not send me this important paperwork... she didnt even bother to contact me alt all!!!!

The other nice vet I saw today told me they had had numerous problems in getting records from the clinic Rascal is at now.

I really want to move him to new vet, but too scared to. Plus, the new vet would be doing same treatments other than the fact that she would immediately have his uric acid restested and use another lab to avid bloodwiork results taking so long to come in. But I actually think it's best to not restest immediately because he just started on that new medication today. It seems logical to wait at least 48hrs but NOT several days like my current vet said.

I'm seeing Rascal today at 2pm to see for myself if he's doing better.

I'm about to talk to that 3rd avian vet any second, I will see what her input is.

 

shoot yet another question I forgot to ask, I hope taking that medication called allopurinol is not permanent and only a temporary medication? I cannot believe I forgot to ask that! As that med is pretty toxic.

 

the 3rd avian vet I was supposed to speak today with on phone had emergency, so she will call me today at 4pm. I'm going to go see Rascal now and HOPE he will look bgetter today than he did yesterday.

My boss told me I should move him to new vet ASAP, but I don't know if that would be right decision. I know he would have been better off at the other new vet, but moving him doesnt seem like the right thing to do.

I am going to be upset if the tech didnt give him fresh a millet spray this morning, because otherwise it is almost impossible to tell whether he is eating the millet spray or not I mean when exactly he was eating it... what day). Much easier to tell on a fresh millet spray and monitor it like that.

 

An important question here is how far away the new bit is. Is it a 5 minute drive? That might be doable. Are you thinking of driving him 45 minutes? Or taking him on public transit of any kind? That is much more alarming! I would ask the vet you are thinking of moving him to what she thinks, and go by her advice. Moving a bird that sick sounds incredibly dangerous to me. Also, as you said, the vet is doing everything medically indicated, except wanted to wait longer to re-run blood tests. Did she run the tests again when asked?

 

I have not talked to my current vet about retesting his uric acid sooner than several days from now. I will tell them when I get to the vet today. She's actually not even at the clinic today, so I will have to text her again to inquire about this issue.

The new vet place is about 5 miles from the current clinic he's at (I just checked on map quest) and the new vet said they would be sending people to transfer him, I would not be doing it myself.

 

I understand. If you feel that he should be where he's now you should definitely go with your gut. I hope you get to see him and he's doing better. Give him good wishes from me!

 

If you don't see any improvement today I personally would consider moving him to the new clinic. Before making the decision though I would ask the new clinic how they will transport him, would it be in an incubator for example. What concerns me is that there is only an inexperience student tech looking after him most of the time and I think it would be better to have an experienced veterinarian with him all the time, not just two days a week. How can an assessment be made when the vet doesn't even see him?

 

I am so happy! I saw Rascal today and he looks much better today than yesterday and is even gaining weight!!! He was 81 grams when first admitted, then dropped to 77... then went up to 78 and then was up to 79 grams today. He's still barely eating at all on his own (maybe that's because he's being tube fed and not as hungry??).

Either way, the tech at my current clinic is very nice and seems to be doing a good job treating Rascal. He also said Rascal is the nicest tiel he has ever dealt with. I feel it would be foolish to move him to the other clinic right now. I hope I'm not wrong.

But I will be FURIOUS if the vet does not send me the urgent paperwork I need because animal authorities are going to close and dismiss my case if I do not send them the paperwork today and my vet knows this and promised me I would have to paperwork today before 4pm.

I took pictures of Rascal today. Look at him go! They said they have never seen him preen like this, so I don't know if he started to preen because he saw me or not... but I was there for at least 10-15 min and he started preening the entire time. Other than that, he couldn't care less that I was there nor did he try to come to me at all or react to me. Normally he would race over to me... but not now. That right there definitely says he's not fully feeling well yet (that was very obvious to me because he would race at the speed of light to me otherwise for certain), but improving slow but steady.

Now I just have to wait until they retest his uric acid. That will be the official verdict.

Here are some pictures I took of him today, so cool that he's preening!

 

nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am 100% moviong my bird to the another vert tomrorow!!!!!! this vet is HORRIBLE... she just yelled at me on the phone. She told me I need to pick up my bird tomorrow and keep him at my hosue and that she does not have time to get me the imprtant paperwork I need!!!!!! her exact words were "I have betetr things to do I dont have time to get your papers". he was literally nyelling at me!!!!


Is this woman mental??? I dot not even know how to tube feed a bird nor do I know how to give it the medication theyt just started him on. I am urgently claling the other vet so they can help me move him to their.
I am DISGUSTED!!! you guys should have heard her on the phone. I am just floored.

rascal is being moved to the other vet ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he needs to be with people who know what they are doing and how to care for sick bird... I do not!! she also just tlld me he's not doing well because he ahsnt gained enough weight... she told me exact opposite from what she said yesterday!!! I am HORRIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!

not only that... he still needs FLUIDS!!!!!! he must ahve fluids 4 time s a day!!! I ened to trey to mvoe him NOW not tomrorow

they told me he is not eating neough on his own must be tube fed longer I do not knwo how to tube feed a sick bired!!! nor how to administer medication orally to the bird!!!!

 

Taking care of feathers means he's improving. When my guys were sick, they didn't preen and looked raggy. Keep going Rascal!

 

I don't understand this vet... She has better things to do than to do the job your paying her for? Getting those papers is all part of being a vet and taking people's money... He is feeling better enough to preen so that is good... And any gain is good to even if it isn't enough yet... I agree move your bird to the new vet immediatly...

 

Ugh. You don't need more stress. Yes, move him. That vet sounds like he has no bed side manner at all and sadly no respect for birds. It does sound like medically though Rascal is improving- which is wonderful. Hopefully, the new vet will be kinder.

 

I just spoke to the nice vet. I have appointment to transfer Rascal over to her clinic tomorrow at 2:30pm. I will then keep him at new clinic for monitoring to see what the new nice vet thinks of his condition.

I do not feel confident enough to administer medication to a bird. I have no idea what I am doing.

I feel as though I am on another planet. First my vet told me Rascal is impoving, but then today she said even thoguh he's preening acting better he's not imprving becxause he's not gaining ENOUGH weight and that he is WASTING away because his kidneys are failing. Those were her exact words. So today she told me complete OPPOSITE of what he said yesterday!! yesterday she told me he is gaining weight and then today she told me complete opposite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not good!!!!!!!! =( The bird does not belong at home yet, he needs to be checked over with the new vet ASAP.

 

Wtf?! This vet is bonkers. Next, please!!
He looks good. At least that clinic helped him somewhat.

 

Yes but the vet just told me even though he looks good "he's not well" and "wastng away because of failing kidneys" complete iopposite of what she told me. I suspect that is why she is realizing him and giving up on his treatment.

Something is really wrong. I need him to go to other clinc for at last one or 2 days to get checked over. My current vet REFUSES to send me the paperwork I desperately need and literally SCREAMS at me on the phone she was yelling and yelling at me and I was just silent.. So I will have to simply fax my documents in without it so my case doesnt get closed. I will actually have my new vet get me papers instead.

My head is spinning, what is going on here. This vet is horrible horrible I wish you guys could have heard her on the phone. You would have been shocked to say the least.

My vet aldso now suddenly wants to do his bloodwork immewdiately... I never even asked her to do the bloodwork sooner... I haven;t even talked to her about it at all... yet on her own she went from wanting to check his blood in a FEW DAYS... to wanting to check it IMMEDIATELY... something is very very wrong!!!!!

 

Maybe you can call the caseworker who is working on your case and have them call that vet and demand copies of the paperwork ? If she wont give it to you maybe she will give it to them in a fax . I agree move him to the other vet this one sounds like she has some major problems .

 

I haven't been on the forums in a while and I just got caught up on poor Rascal's plight. I'm so sorry you two are going through this. Like other posters, I felt ill when reading about what happened to your little guy.

IMHO, you should get your bird to the nicer vet ASAP. If it were my bird, I would get my bird out NOW and risk a 5-minute car ride to get the better care.

 

Wow, what an ordeal the two of you have been through. Glad to see everything has gotten better.

 

Wow, that vet is so mean. It's not like you just dropped this paperwork thing on them, you've told them about it for a while. They're just very uncooperative.

I'm glad he'll be properly cared for at the new clinic. Then you wont have to worry about him so much while you're on vacation. And yes, like other organs the kidney's can repair themselves. But they're not like the liver, they wont regenerate themselves if they've been continuously damaged for more than a short period of time.