Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uupsi!intercon!ooblick
From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR: Sick Parakeet help
Message-ID: <27D3B944.18C8@intercon.com>
Date: 5 Mar 91 15:29:08 GMT
References: <17187@sdcc6.ucsd.edu>
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Sterling, VA
Lines: 30

In article <17187@sdcc6.ucsd.edu> gbell@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Greg Bell) writes:

>but it doesn't seem to be doing much.  I can't afford to have a culture
>taken... the first visit cost $37 (with medicine).

Call a company called Micro-Bio whose number should be in Bird Talk (sorry,
I don't have it offhand).  Order the culture kit A (40 bucks or so).  This
will give you 4 or 5 culture and sensitivity tests. After this, the culture
plates will cost you about $2.00 per piece.  Without knowing the bacteria
involved and its sensitivity (in terms of which antibiotic will kill it),
your vet is working in the dark, and at your bird's risk.

>Two questions:
>
>	1)  He refuses to swallow the medicine... how can I get it
>            down his throat?  I have a small syringe, but he just closes his
>            throat until I release him, then shakes it all out.

Put it deeper down his throat, making sure that his tongue is under it.

>	2)  What's important in helping him kick this thing?  I'm
>            keeping him warm during the day with a light bulb, and the nights
>            aren't very cold (I'm in San Diego).  He's eating, and I'm making
>            veggies available (as I always have).  Also, no drafts, etc.
>	    Is there anything else I can do?

Keeping him warm is the best thing, and probably the only thing you can do
besides a culture/sensitivity test.

Mikki Barry