Seizures in Cockatiels

[Lady Tarheel]

Don't know if anyone can help with this - maybe Mary Ann - but we took Dean, our cockatiel, to the vet today to get his wings clipped. As background info, he is about 5 years old and has been cage confined all that time. We just got him from a relative in July. He is very sweet but the cage is all he knows so we thought if we got his wings clipped we could let him out to socialize more.

He was upset getting into the carrier (bit the blood out of my finger as a matter of fact) and stayed upset driving to the vet (about 8 minutes from the house) and at the vet's. It only took her about 5 or so minutes to clip the wings and he was calm when she brought him out.

On the short trip home he started shaking his head badly and began staggering. We put him in the cage and for about 10-15 minutes he appeared to be ok but then started having a seizure. Lewis took him off the perch and put him on the floor where he continued it until Lewis picked him up and held him. We really thought he was dying. I immediately called the vet who said that a bird that had been rather secluded sometimes had seizures when anything out of the ordinary happened but they were usually not fatal and she didn't think he'd have another one. She said something that sounded like an electrolyte imbalance but to tell the truth I was so upset I didn't listen as I should have. Lewis held him about an hour, perched on his finger, but he did have another milder seizure. We put him back in his cage about 30 min ago and he seems to be doing ok.

Have any of you had experience with something like this? It was so scary (and still is with the worry added) and pitiful. Lewis just came to the door and said he had eaten a seed from him.

My middle name is WORRY.

[Rockie]

Maggie, I hope it was all just due to the stress of the day. I can't offer you any knowledgable advice, but are there any safe calming herbs for this type of bird? Or maybe turning the lights down to a low light to destress him?

[jazaroo]

Hi Maggie,

Cockatiels can be pretty high strung, we have one who we keep fully flighted all year long, and I am hoping it was just stress that brought on the seizures. We used to take our birds that get trimmed to the vet (3 Amazon parrots), but A few years back after one especially stressful trim on one of them, we decided to start to do it ourselves. The bird in question took a few days to return to his regular self, it was like he went into shock, but there were no seizures. I think it would be wise to give your bird some re-hydrating fluid and keep him quite for the next day or so. I am sure he will shake this off.

Here is a link on how to trim their wings yourself. It now takes us just a few minutes for each bird. Having it done in familiar surroundings seems to make a big difference to them in terms of stress levels.

http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/wings.htm

All the best,

Ron

[Lin Hansen]

Maggie,

What a terrible scare for you and Lewis. I'm sorry I can't offer any useful advice, but just wanted to say that I hope Dean will calm down and be fine again soon.

Linda

[mr squeaks]

I'm sorry to be the NEXT one who can't offer advice!

However, I did want to add my HUGS to one and all! I remember how excited I was when you got to keep Dean and sure do emphathize with how you are feeling!

With calm and care and back in familiar surroundings, I'm sure Dean will be back to his old self soon!

Please keep us updated!

[TAWhatley]

I'm so sorry this happened, Maggie. I do believe it is true that a stressful thing like a trip to the vet or to the bird store can cause major, major problems for a bird that is not used to it .. add the stress of wing clipping in your case or the added stress of nail trimming and beak trimming with bigger birds, and you've got one very stressed bird.

I hope your 'tiel has recovered and is doing OK. I've had my vet chew my a** out a couple of times for bringing in birds that were on the verge and actually died in his office. I've learned that sometimes a trip to the vet ain't what is called for .. the bird may die anyway at my place, but it's horrible to have one at the vet's and have it expire on the table .. been there and done that .. I don't do it anymore .. and my vet expects me to be savvy enough to know which can withstand the trip to his office .. often not fun trying to make such decisions.

Our Samuel P. Cockatiel died at the age of almost 23 in the vet's office .. I got my a** chewed on that one .. I should have done what I could at home and when he was stronger brought him in .. I panicked and Samuel P. paid the price.

I do know that my vet treats me differently than most clients .. I'm expected to know what to do and what not to do .. sadly, that sometimes doesn't happen and especially when it is a beloved pet of many years that is at stake.

Terry

[Trees Gray]

Maggie,

I'm so sorry this happened, I can just imagine how upset you were. I guess some species of birds do stress out more then others.

Perhaps you can use the same tea that we use for pigeons when they are stressed out. You can make chamomile tea. It is a good nerve tonic, sleep aid, and appetite stimulant. It actually sooths them and is a great digestive aid.


Terry,

I'm so sorry about the loss of Samual P. Cockatiel. Our precious pets will cause us to worry and panic so much. I think when panic and worry sets in we all do things we regret, as we just don't think clearly then.

[Pidgey]

Maggie,

That same thing happens to me every time I go to the doctor.

Pidgey

[Lady Tarheel]

Hi everyone and thank you for your good thoughts. Dean has had no more seizures, is eating and whistling but still shakes his head a great deal. He seems to be a little more jumpy at things but at least he made it through the night ok.
He still is not his usual "old" sweet self but I hope rest will help him.

For several hours yesterday he would have nothing to do with me. I'm sure it is because I was the one who took him out of the cage and put him in the carrier. I think the carrier contributed the most to his stress because he has never been in one. I had been working with him for several weeks to let me put my hands on his back in preparation for the trip and he didn't seem to mind. He loves to get on my hands and walk from one hand to the other but, yesterday, the instant I put him in the carrier he got stressed. He has now forgiven me and lets me pet him anytime again.

Terry, I can tell you one thing, unless he undergoes a remarkable turnaround, he will not be subjected to this again. We knew he had never been to the vet and I have wanted to get him checked out thoroughly but I think we'll just try to keep him as healthy as we can without doing that. We didn't take him to our regular vet, instead chose the one just minutes from the house and still this happened. You know, it really isn't fair to those of us who rehab to be expected to know everything a vet knows and anticipate that something like this would happen. The vet yesterday said she felt sure that we could work with him enough to be able to take him places but I'm afraid I don't want to risk that again.

Treesa, thanks for the hint about the tea. I'll try that with him. You may find this interesting - I have been told cockatiels don't need vitamins because they get enough in their food. I asked the vet yesterday if I should give him vitamins and she said if they are in water I might as well just save our money and give him plain old water because the water soluble vitamins are no good. She didn't explain why because she was in a rush.

I think the reason I got so upset is because it seemed like deja vu because our other cockatiel Molly went into convulsions and died within seconds of it and I was sitting in the vet's parking lot when it happened. However, she had been to the vet's many times and it never bothered her except to make her mad.

Thanks again.

[Lovebirds]

Maggie, sorry to hear about your little Dean. I worry about the same thing with Walley. He's never been to the vet, (knock on wood).....he's always been healthy and had no problems. I'm afraid to even cut his nails because I don't want him to hate me for it. I did take him one time the first year I had him to get his wings clipped and I just put the whole cage in the car. He sat up on his perch and watched the world go by and just whistled and carried on the whole way there. I don't clip his wings any more, so we haven't ever done that again. Maybe if you had to take Dean again,leaving him in his cage would make him feel more secure. Anyway, good luck with him. It sure doesn't take much to stress and freak these little guys out does it??

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

Treesa, thanks for the hint about the tea. I'll try that with him. You may find this interesting - I have been told cockatiels don't need vitamins because they get enough in their food. I asked the vet yesterday if I should give him vitamins and she said if they are in water I might as well just save our money and give him plain old water because the water soluble vitamins are no good. She didn't explain why because she was in a rush.

Hi Maggie,

The chamomile tea is just a plant and/or root, not considered a vitamin supplement.

Actually I have a tendency to agree that most birds will get everything they need from their diet, especially if it is a balanced diet with loads of different sources.

I think it is good to supplement when birds molt, when rehabbing for injuries or illness, and when they are under stress.

I think in regards to the water soluble vitamins, these are vitamins, like vitamin B-complex and C, that are actually water-soluble because they can't be stored in the body and are excreted within one to four days. They need to be taken daily. Oil-soluble vitamins, A,D,E, and K can be stored for longer periods of time in the body's fatty tissue and the liver. In that case too much of a good thing can be dangerous. I think therefore putting them in water further disables some of their potency, they become unstable in themselves, and are excreeted, except for the oil-soluble. They have to be carefully dosed and administered, because they are man made,not from living sources, which makes them more likely not to be absorbed. I rather serve them to them in their natural state, food.

Sorry...didn't mean to get long winded!

[maryjane]

I'm sorry to hear about your scare with Dean and glad he's feeling better today. I use chamomile tea for my rescued (pet) rats when they're stressed out and it helps a lot. I've never tried it with birds but if Treesa says it works, it works! I hope Dean is back to his normal self soon.

[TerriB]

Maggie, seems like you had the right idea working to desensitize him to being handled and all. Sure hope that Dean continues to improve!

Terry, so sorry for the loss of your little cockatiel. What a magnificent name he had!!!

It seems like the more you know, the more you hold yourself (and your veterinarian) accountable. Remember to be as gentle with yourself as your are with your birds. We all do the best we can.

[Lady Tarheel]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. Our little guy is doing better - has started shredding his floor paper again and head not shaking quite as bad. We're going to wait until this weekend to even attempt to let him out of the cage. His top will open so we're going to open it up and let him decide what to do.

Ron, a special thanks for that link you gave me. I was able to look at it yesterday and I think I can do it the way they describe. It did set my mind at ease about the blood feathers. I know when our regular vet cut Molly's wings she just snipped away and there was no bleeding and the vet who cut Dean's must have done the same thing because none of his bled. I guess the key is to not clip too high. We may try doing it ourselves down the road but he has to become more comfortable being handled and getting out of the cage.

Treesa, thank you for the additional info on the vitamins.

[pdpbison]

Hi Maggie,


Just noticed your thread here, and wanted to ask after little Dean...

Is he allright now? Back to his old sweet self again?


That sure sounded trying...yeeeeeeeesh...


Now too, why clip his Wings?


My little Butter-Cup flys around in here very nicely, and as she pleases. If I am in the next room she will fly in, land and say something in Cockateil to me to announcer her arrival, or to let me know the platform feed and water spot needs one or the other. She is a good flier and seems very content to be an indoor Bird.

I have at times had empty cages in here with their doors tied open, and she never showed any interest to be in one ( unlike the Pigeons or Doves!) , so she sleeps in high roosts, or lately of course, on her Eggs instead...

But all in all, seems a very easy Bird to have flying...very nimble flier too...


Best wishes!

Hope Dean is fine now..!


Phil
Las Vegas