After waiting almost 9 months for their new parronts, they won't be leaving. The plan was they would be going on November 21st.
Back in May my CAG began plucking. We assumed it was from nerves as I had a hectic summer, long story. Then in July I noticed he wasn't eating his nutriberries, his favorite thing. TO make a very long story short, I weighted him and noticed he had lost 30 grams so began spoon feeding him and made a vet appointment. He's been at the vets about 4 times in the last 4 months and we don't know what's wrong with him. he's had xrays, 2 CBC,s both of which were normal, although he did have a bacterial and fungal infection in July. the vet said she's only seen this in adults with an underlying cause. Meaning a viral infection, stress, malnutrition. Well he was a very good eater so it wasn't malnutrition, but the stress level was up. Tobias was also tested for metal toxicity which was negative. In the last 4 months he's just not been the same, but hanging in there. We thought aspirgillosis, but apparently that wasn't it. We started treatment for it, but stopped because the second vet seeing him wanted him off all meds.
The first vet, thought he was showing symptoms of pdd, but she said she didn't think he had it. His CPK level was sky high at about 2,600 on his first CBC and liver enzyme was up a bit which the vet said is normal for pluckers and also he fell to the floor at the vets office when she went to towel him for his test. The second CBC, the CPK was normal and so was the liver enzyme. High CPK is seen in birds with pdd.
The second vet who is a certified avian and in practice for 20 years said she didn't think pdd because any pdd bird she's ever seen has been emaciated. Tobias was maintaining the lower weight that he dropped to with my spoon feeding him 3x a day for the last 4 months. He basically stopped eating his pellets and other things. He will pick a pellet here and there, but that's about it. He is wild caught so I can not syringe feed him. We're going by spoon and when he refuses food I have no choice but to try again later. This vet also said his condition is good even at the lower weight and her gut feeling is "This bird is fine" She thinks it's stress related. She says owners have brought birds in in the past and insisted something wasn't right and they found nothing wrong with the bird. She then the owners would insist on test after test and the ended up stressing the bird to death and upon necropsy finding nothing at all was wrong with the bird. This is why she wanted him off all meds. Most say once showing signs of pdd they will go down hill rapidly without treatment and Tobias has had no treatment for it. She didn't want to treat him for it as she doesn't feel he has it.
Most testing for pdd is not 100% definative. There is a barium swallow which can indicate something wrong with the proventricular, but that does not mean they have pdd. My vet said it's stressful for the bird and she didn't recomend doing it at this point. Then there's a crop biopsy which requires anesthesia. It's only 79% accurate as they have to hit the spot in the area that contains the lesion. If not, you'll get a false negative. The other test is not yet available and it may take 2 to 3 years before it is. That's the one I'm waiting for. Tobias had to be revived last time he was under anesthesia so I'm not eager to go any route that would require it.
Anyway so here we sit waiting and although we hope and pray with all our heart that he's pdd free, what if he has it? I decided not to let anya birds out of my house until I know. How will I know? I have no idea. I feel my other birds are stressing Tobias out. Long story, but it's pretty ovious. I'm making a new grey play room in my home where my greys will be aloud to play when all the other 13 birds are out of their cages. Once we get him feeling more secure and see an improvement then we'll know the vet was right and it's stress related. Until them, poor Jellybean, Skittles and Starburst will remain here.
Also I'm planning on trying to get a consult with some of the scientists working on pdd right now to get their input and ask about this test. I beleive they do offer it, but it's not a guarantee, so I'm going to find out more about it.
Just wanted to share with all of you. I know Kate has been wondering what was going on.