Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/7/2006

Question
Thank you for the response. Could it possibly be anything life threatening?  He is my little buddy and my 5 year old daughter is upset so I want to get her prepared if we were to possibly have to let him go (if he was to die from this).
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Before I start I just want to say I hae an appt tonight for sammy to have him checked but in the meantime I wanted to know if you could help me.  Sammy- My green cheek conure was fine last night, jumping around the cage and make noises.  Then this morning I went to his cage, he was laying at the bottom with his eye half open.  He just looked really tired. I am not sure what is wrong with him and he did seem like he was in pain. I am just really nervous that it might be something serious. Are there common cases with these symptoms?
Thanks for you help
Melanie
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Hi, Melanie.  Thanks for posting!

I don't know what's wrong with Sammy with the little bit of information you've provided.  It could be any number of things, but I'd say your bird is sick.  Keep him warm and quiet today and make sure your vehicle is heated and his cage covered up well when you take him to the avian vet this evening.  You don't want any amount of cold air to reach him AT ALL.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Melanie.

I can't say, as I don't know what's wrong with your bird.  However, if the bird is on the cage bottom, especially laying at the bottom versus just sitting like you describe, it doesn't look good.  Birds mask their illness symptoms until they can't hide their symptoms any longer.  By the time most people notice illness, the bird has usually been sick too long already.  If your bird had a stroke or something similar, I don't know what it's chances of survival are, as I don't know the extent of damage.  On the other hand, your bird might only need some antibiotics or other meds...I just don't know.  It's very difficult to impossible to diagnose bird illness over a website based on information someone posts.  There's just too much that has to be taken into consideration, and I'm also not an avian veterinarian.  

Sorry I can't be more helpful.  I'd take the bird to the vet's office now and see if the vet could fit me in somewhere versus waiting for tonight.  The time between now and then can make a big difference.

Chrys