Bad, bad news for atticus...

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:35 pm

She's just had her yearly check up at the vet and things aren't looking very good. You see as well as the white feathers coming through she's also had a lot of deformed growth in her flight and tail feathers. Some come out thin and mottled, some just fall out before forming properly. The vet is convinced that she has a disease - either beak & feather or polyomavirus - both incurable. I have to wait 3 weeks for the blood test results to confirm. He's quite baffled because all her other feathers are perfect, beautiful even. Apparently she is in great health otherwise, go figure. But he said that she will eventually lose all her normal tail feathers and basically have no tail. She won't ever have normal flight feathers either (at least there's no problems with clipping) She may lead a normal life otherwise but there is the chance that she'll become really ill, start having fits, which is when I'll be faced with the terrible decision that I really don't want to think about. I'm quite upset just typing this now. Anyway just had to get that of my chest - I'll keep you all updated when I get the test results. My poor little girl.......

berrynice · Post by **berrynice** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:17 pm

Carrie, I really feel for u. I lost a darling of a galah to beak & feather quite a few years ago. I made the decision eventually to get him put down as his beak was rotting badly. I'll keep my fingers crossed for u. Lotsa hugs for u both.

Neokireina · Post by **Neokireina** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:20 pm

Oh thats horrible, I hope the vets can do something about it

Mazziemom · Post by **Mazziemom** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:56 pm

Curling feathers usually means PBFD, and I'm very very very sorry!

Such a long wait for test results is just murder, I wish you were here and I'd get them through our lab in five days. Geeze, that has just got to be so hard!

Know that she loves you, and is the same girl you love, even if she is ill.

Athena

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:58 pm

I tried to get some pics but she won't stay still for long enough! The feathers sticking out are her flight feathers. As you can seen her tail is in a sorry state - mostly broken feathers but the three longest ones grew back deformed - but they're not curling so is that a good thing?

Mazziemom · Post by **Mazziemom** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:07 pm

How is her tail deformed? I see a seriously molted tail, but I cant see any deformity? Perhaps I just cant see it from the pics?

PBFD ... have you read enough to break your heart yet? I do know of birds who have lived with it for a long time, and not been unhappy. Do not think of it as a death sentence. It would mean you couldnt have any new birds, but one ringneck is worth that!

Polyoma... did you get your baby from a petshop? In the US its common practice to vaccinate (in pet stores) for it, because its pretty rampant in them. However, it leaves a bird testing POSITIVE for life, even though they cannot get it. I'd check into it, just in case you do get a positive result, that would be a horrible thing to not know.

How do her feather SHEATHS look? I know theres a website somewhere that shows feather sheaths of PBFD birds, because its very distinctive. I can see the pictures in my head... argh I wish I could remember! Its a thickened look, and it just looks wrong. So hard to explain. I'll go dig around and see if I can find it.

Athena

Mazziemom · Post by **Mazziemom** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:09 pm

http://www.greyparrot.net/tommy2/tommy2pbfd.htm

I knew I'd find it. Ok, just look at the pictures, don't read. You really don't need to read that at this point, but the photos show the feathers really clearly.

Athena

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:33 pm

Yep just like that - but no blood. I only have a crappy camera today but you can get the general idea from this pic. The top feather was her tail feather - another one came out the same but didn't fall out. That's what I mean by deformed - pretty bad eh.

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carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:40 pm

I wish I could get a better shot than that!!! The sheaths aren't as thick in those other pics though - the fall off if you rub them - but could that just be the breed? It looks all to close for my liking.

Mazziemom · Post by **Mazziemom** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:59 pm

I wish the pic was better too, but your right, its too close for comfort.

Is there a way your vet can rush the test? Three weeks without knowing is going to be murder for you. We can get them back in five days (sending them ourselves) ... I wonder if theres something like that there?

Give her a kiss for me, she's still very beautiful, very loveable, and is still a treasure.

I'll be praying with all my might that she turns out to just be having a really horrid molt.

Oh, and if does come back positive, run it again at another lab please? A friend of ours had his Hyacinth Macaw come back positive for PBFD on general testing, and when he ran it a second time at another lab, negative. The third lab also said negative. False positives are sadly common.

Athena

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:16 pm

I wish I could hurry things along but I've already had to wait 6 weeks to get her an appointment. He is the only avian vet in the area and is too busy. We did get her from a pet shop - a very large one with lots of birds, very healthy and happy birds I must say. All out in the open and socialising with each other. She's never had any contact with any other birds apart from that so I have to assume that's where it came from. This makes me worry for the other birds in that store - could they all be open to infection? I tell you if I do ever get another bird it will be from a breeder with testing already done.

natalie · Post by **natalie** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:58 am

Carrie my heart goes out to you. Its awful you have to wait so long to find out. We are all sat figers crossed, so keep us updated, please.Natalie xxx

Post by **Datsun and Family** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:08 am

Oh hun, I wish I could say something inspiring or helpful but all I can do is sit here and wish like crazy that it will all be OK...

I do know that no matter what it is Atticus is a very lucky girl who is very well loved and cared for. I too have heard of birds with PBFD living wonderful lives with no problems except a different and more unique look

It drives me nuts knowing how anxious you must be for answers and we cant help. All I can say is love her, hold her, cuddle her as per normal because whatever that test brings back shes still your baby and nothing can change that.

As for the shop where you got her, I would wait for the results and then let them know. Maybe they can help anyone else who may be going through the same thing and advise them to go to an avian vet.

Good Luck, Carrie. Keep us posted on this and how you and Atticus are coping.

jen5239 · Post by **jen5239** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:50 am

Carrie,
My heart is hurting so badly for you right now. Tears are in my eyes! I wish I was there to just give you a big hug and let you cry on my shoulder! I also wish there was something more I could do for you. Please if you need anything and we can help, let us know! I'm praying for you and your baby!

Lotsa Love and Hugs,
Jen, Byndi, Remmi & Milo

Dani03 · Post by **Dani03** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:06 am

Just know that we're all here for you! What happens to one happens to all!
You and Atticus are in my prayers...please let us knwo if there is anything we can do.

Hugs,

Dani and Prinny

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:48 pm

Oh thanks guys :oops:

- thanks for all your support. At least she's still happy and healthy even though she's obviously had this (whatever it is) for a while now. I'll still love her no matter what. Keep you all posted.

Dani03 · Post by **Dani03** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:53 pm

Oh yes keep us updated! We worry if you don't...

Dani and Prinny

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:36 pm

Carrie, I noticed you live in the Redland Shire. Have you tried Ed Layt? He's an avian vet at Wishart - not too far from you. If you want, pm me and i'll give you his details. I don't have them here with my right now (i'm at work) but i have them at home. I haven't (touch wood) had to use him yet, but he comes highly recommended.

By the way, lots of love to atticus.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:58 pm

I'm so sorry that this has happened :cry:

I hope everything works out in the end.

Can i ask, what vet did you take Atticus to?

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:29 pm

Thanks guys- I'm actually at Northgate Jade (near the airport) but I wouldn't mind having another avian vet contact. At the moment I am using Adrian Gallagher at Brighton. He seems very good - just very busy! He did say that beak & feather was extremely rare in asiatics - he thinks it's more likely to be polyoma - but who knows? Like I said, he is a bit baffled by this. Depending on the results I may take her to another vet for more testing just cover all bases.

jen5239 · Post by **jen5239** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:10 pm

Carrie,
I can't even begin to tell you how badly my heart is breaking for you. Every time I think of you and Atticus my eyes tear up. I'm praying for the two of you. Please keep your chin up and stay strong! If you need anything just let us know!

Lotsa Love and hugs!
Jen

Post by **kyria** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:34 am

I don;t have words to express how I feel, all I can say is that we are all thinking of you and I am praying for you and your baby.

Keep us posted and remember that we all care very much and are here for you.

**HUGS**

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:53 am

Dr Danny Brown at Morayfield is great.
I had to get a few of my birds tested for Polyomavirus last year. I got an appointment the day after i rang him and he sent the results in straight away. The 3 weeks wait was terrible but worth it as it turns out my birds don't have it. Although, i did lose 10 baby Lovebirds to symptoms of Polyoma :cry:

Jade · Post by **Jade** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:19 pm

Is Dr Danny Brown a specialist in Macaws? I think I've heard of him and i was recommended to use him ages ago. Only problem is that he's 2 1/2 hours drive from home. Just curious because i forgot the guys name but was told he was up that way

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:57 pm

I don't know if he is a specialist with Macaws but i can tell you that he is great with all birds. In fact, he is great with all animals. He is actually Steve Irwins Vet occasionally as well

IndianRingNeck.com

Bad, bad news for atticus...

Bad, bad news for atticus...

OH NO