Medical Needs After Night In The Wild?, We've recovered Gus! Options

[activistkate]

So I never thought this would happen to me... famous last words. My quaker, Gus, who is such a bad flyer that even with the slightest of wing clipping he falls straight to the floor. Well, he's been going through a molt and I've been meaning to clip them.

So my littly guy escaped last night right before sundown. He was stuck in a tree. Right as it was getting dark, he flew away then I couldn't find him and since it was dark, he would not call back. We got up before sunrise this morning and started looking for him. He was on the roof!!!!!!!! So I called a friend to bring an extension ladder. Of course, then Gus decided to fly to a huge tree and was probablly about 30-40 feet up and impossible to climb. After a few hours of attempting to coax him down, he finally tried to fly to me and/or his cage, but he couldn't figure it out. Flew a few houses away and ended up in a pine tree. My partner climbed the tree and got him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still cannot believe that I have him in front of me.

So far he seems fine. He's eating, drinking, and playing with his favorite toy. His poops look ok.

I'm sure everyone can imagine my relief. However, I'm worried about him getting sick now. Last night it was around 50 degrees and windy. At the coldest at 3:30 and 6am, when it was 41. He's never been in the cold, as we just moved to St. Louis from South Florida.I'm trying to get him into an avian vet as we speak.

But in the meanttime, does anyone know if I should put him on some preventative meds- maybe an antibiotic or something? Any holistic treatments?

Also I'm going to be keeping a close eye on his temperature. Any advice on how to best take a quaker's temp and what their body temp should be??

[Way2Bizzy]

No advice here, just want to say YAY! So glad you were able to get him back!!!

[Sandi Kiwis Mom]

put a lamp by his cage to keep him warm or move him to an aquarium with some towels in the bottom and a heat pad under the aquarium.....just an idea. So very glad you got him back....

[Siobhan]

You know there are wild quakers in Chicago, where it gets mighty cold -- even below zero! -- and they survive it just fine. Though Gus isn't acclimated to cold temperatures, 41 isn't that cold and he's probably fine. I'd say just make sure he's warm NOW, and watch to make sure he didn't pick up a cold, and that's probably enough. I'm glad he's back, too!

[Jen_and_spiggy]

I'm so glad you found him just keep him warm but not to warm reason they'll get a chill is from going from to cold to, to warm or visa versa .

[ronsig]

That's great that you got him back.

You don't have to do anything. My budgie Snoopy was outside for weeks, and she was healthy.
She was flying around with sparrows and eating what they ate.
But your bird probably didn't eat anything..and he'll be fine.
Just keep an eye on him, and we you are concerned, take him to the vet,

Sigrid

[activistkate]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and advice. I cranked up the heat in the house to 85 and put a heat lamp right by his cage. I also took his temperature which is 104.6, which I think is fine, per what I found on the internet (please let me know if anyone has heard a different ideal temp number). I called a vet friend of mine (but she's not an avian vet) who said there's nothing she's think he needed preventatively. I also called an avian vet to see if I should come in. They said no, just watch him and his droppings. I have his emergency pager just in case. I'm going to take his temp and change the cage paper every 2-3 hours.

He doesn't seem to notice or care about anything that just happened.

Here's a picture I took just now of him in the fro of his tree climbing rescuer aaaand a pic of him attacking my camera.

THANKS AGAIN GUYS!

[QTQP4me]

glad things turned out ok! cute pics too

just curious, how does one take a bird's temp?? i can't imagine orally or axillary, and rectally would be out of the question on my fids LOL. just the mental images are making me laugh.

kris

[Casey's Mom]

I'm so glad you got him back! What a happy ending! I think he should be fine, just keep an eye on him for a few days, he might be a little stressed but I wouldn't worry too much

Lol Kris, I'm wondering the same thing, the mental images are giving me a very good laugh, haha.

[LuvMyHarley1]

Oh my my---that baby just needed to test his wings that makes him fly...but so glad Gus is home safely....

Harley is testing his wings now also...I'm letting his wings grow out for the first time in 6 years that I've had him.
He flys but not getting much altitude yet...and I surely don't want him to get too comfortable with his flying lessons yet....

Now you behave Gussie boy....

[ScarlettAngel]

I just realized this was you. Heh, it's Shayne. First off, sooo awesome you got him back and so quick!

As far as medical care, I wouldn't be too worried unless you notice and injury/odd behavior changes. Does he seem cold? In my crazy close call experiences with my Pugsly, I have come to discover that Quakers are rather hearty, tough little buggers. That's why they are such a pest and illegal in so many states, even much father north than St. Louis.

When mine had his little near death experience, the vets had him in an incubator with warm hot water bottles and towels for him to burrow and keep warm. Just be careful of burning his feet, don't make them too hot if you feel he may benefit from this. Mine lived outside for years, even in the winter. I just covered him up at night and he was fine.

Good luck!

[Andie's Mom]

I doubt you have anything to worry about; don't go overboard on the heat And have it so he can get away if he gets too hot; I've had birds spend several days out in the "wild" and through a couple of severe rainstorns and they were no worse for wear when they were caught

[Majj]

Love happy endings ..Great piccys too ..looks like he is telling you off in the second piccy...lol..

[Esther C]

Looks like he's laughing now! So glad you got him back. That must have been real scarey for awhile.

[moonchild1970]

Oh! I'm sooo glad that you got him back! I went thought that too. So I know the relief you must be feeling!!

[equineRtist]

YOU LUCKY THING! I'm always glad to read a happy ending!
The lamp is the first thing I go after if a bird even MIGHT have a problem. They can get away from it if it gets too hot. If a heating pad gets to hot, they may not be able to get away from it. A lamp is a miracle, even for a very ill bird.
I know you are happy and I'm happy for you!

[Carrie~Anne]

Very happy this story has a good ending. How's he doing today?

[Merlinmew]

Outside of having the vet check him out to make sure he didnt pick up anything during his brief adventure outdoors (like parasites & chlamydia), keeping him warm & under observation (includes making sure he is eating & drinking) is best. The quaker that showed up in my life, I picked up out of a snow pile on New Year's Day. He was quite cold not to mentioned injured, but he iis happily enjoying his new home.

I'm so glad you found him and he stayed close to home. That is what's important. He doesnt sound any worse for wear either.

[ronsig]

I always tell people not to give up when a pet bird escapes. I got budgies back, not once, but twice in my life.

Both my budgies now have been found outside. Looking back, I would have had Snoopy tested right away because she was outside for weeks. I had the tests done later when she had an infection. She was fine.

Sigrid

[Siobhan]

Clyde came to us as a lost bird who was outside on his own for a while. Of course, we don't know how long, but his people had apparently given up on him because no one ever claimed him. That or they let him go deliberately. I wish he could tell us. At any rate, he was hungry and worn out but otherwise okay after being outside alone and I don't think he ever wants to do THAT again. I hope your birdy learned his lesson!