That does it!I am going to fight this b*** d of a disease if it kills me first!. After sitting here all afternoon, inspecting cages, papers, each and every poop, keel bones, weights, food bowls, water bowls , bleaching, cleaning, disinfecting, taking toys away.......and reading every piece of material and case study that I can get my hands on.....Somewhere, somehow, at least for this moment..(may change later), I found this little ounce of hope..........this anger and total hysteria has put my into Terminator mode!!.
From what i've read today, here is what I've learned and believe with my heart to make sense.
PDD first affects the nerves which in turn affects the muscles of organs, hense the Protventriculas, Ventriculas, Crop, and small intestines. It causes thinning of these muscles and eventually the loss of its function. It appears from what i've read, that PDD is a very slow process to start...but can end quickly in some birds. Studies have proved that not every bird is affected to the same degree. Some birds never suffer from major nerve damage.........and with Austin, as im reading he has not suffered yet any physical nerve attributes that some psittacines can and do. However we know his organs are affected to some degree simply because of the slowing of the digestive system.
I've read several case studies today about Birds whom where in very critical phase of the disease whom, given immediately Meloxicam improved within one week, who further improved on this medication. Xray and Barium testing showed no more inflamation of the Proventriculus, ventriculus , small intestine and crop. Barium testing showed the moving of food to be of a very exceptable degree of moment. I assume this means the Ventriculas regained some sort of fuction in the typical movement it does to break down food. Continuing the meloxicam for several months again drastically improved the quality of life of these birds. Supplementation of special and extra non syenthic powders, that contain euchinesia, algea, mineral clay and spirulina was offered to these birds at all feedings. Eventually these birds began to enjoy (now and then as a treat) a few nuts, seeds, and other fiberous foods WITHOUT passing in the stools!!!!!. After treatment and taken off the Meloxicam, these birds are surviving and living a normal quality of life!!!!!!.
THIS GIVES ME HOPE!. Hope to know that at least, We have a chance to improve, and give a quaility of life back each of my babies........for however long we can. (if indeed they become infected, if indeed they are PDD infected).
Good news is: And i hestiate in saying this because i know things could change hours later, tommorrow or the next day.........but
Austin seems better. I mean he just seems abit better then yesterday and even this morning. he's sitting here with me now on the back of the couch, wiggling his tail, no whimpering, no begging from me, he is looking outside with one leg curled up, stretching now and then, puffing up and shaking, and rubbing his beak together. Sooooooooooooooooooo much different then yesterday when i thoght he was going to die in my arms all day and all night last night. He is watching birds outside and just to look at him, he looks so normal. However, his keel bone is very very sharp, and the tummy muscles are definately shrunk from teh weight loss. And yes, his crop still seems swollen, but its only been 3 doses of meloxicam.......and its only been just 24 hrs since he started it. He seems relaxed and stable on the couch. He made me smile for the first time giving me a kiss. God i love him, i'll do anything i can to make him better, to give hiim a chance. If he had still been whimpering like last night , all day today, I would have done the right thing......Im so glad i waited, at least right now while he is showing hope signs to me.
He is eating his formula, but one thing i noticed is that he is not gorging it like he did yesterday. This could mean 2 things. Either he is satisisfied as food is constantly movng through him now, and/or the medication is beginning to change the happenings in his stomach etc, OR he is going down hill. But with the signs i see and with no begging anymore, I want so badly to believe the first is true.
He perks up his little head when he hears something, so he is very aware of his surroundings and still has a normal response. He bit hubby just abit ago, and hubby said WOW that is MORE like Austin. He never allowed hubby any where near him...but did yesterday with no probs, but this afternoon and now.......no way.
So, I feel hope. On one hand i don't want to unrealistic, but on the other hand, I can't live life sitting here waiting, and waiting, and waiting and crying and crying and feeling so defeated. It hit me like a ton of bricks, to fight as hard as we can and then if all the fightening doest work......I will still be devistated beyond repair, but at least in my heart, I'll know we did everything we could to make a difference instead of giving in and letting it take us all without a fight.
Austin is not regurgitating either as much today , as he did yesterday. But also I know that all day yesterday and last night, they stopped all medications because of all the testing, and that along with only 2 feedings of only 20 cc's......and an empty crop coming home..mabe it was stress, fear and having no food flowing that made his starvation as bad as it appeared to be. I am feeding him every 3-4 hrs and will continue to through the night. I added abit of sprilina and baby sweet potatoe to his formula and will see the color change in his stools...this will help me get an idea how long it takes to go through him. I need to know this to see if there is any increased speed to his system. The only time he regurges is when he seems to try to be active, or bends his head down to wipe his beak, sometimes he will regurg then. (as he bites the couch and makes a hole in it!!!)
If Austin is indeed improving, I may delay any more visits to the OVC to reduce stress and allow time to proceed,(so long as i know he is not suffering or losing more weight).
Next:
Early detection.
As soon as possible, I am going to bring Emily and Owen for the Barium test. This is non invasive by feeding a formula with a dye in it, and viewing the digestion process and comparing it to normal function.
Here is my reasoning.
Zack and bailey feed each other....so i've put them back together. If one was exposed which would more then likely be Zack, because Zack has been on the Timenh's cage and I know he has when poop existed. Then that means bailey would be exposed. They are back together in their own play area and are happier now. (Thankyou cathy). Simon never lets any bird so close to him there would be exchange of bodily fluids, however he does travel and play alot, so for him to stumble on poop and put his foot in his mouth is possible. Jeffery is never around the Timens at all, and Jeffery and Bella hung out together. The breeders have had no direct or do i believe indirect exposure to poops nor to any other bird. So the breedres are least of my worries right now.
If no abnormal digestive signs show......then we will continue the strict cleaning and removing soiled papers as i see them several times a day and keep each bird in their group. Owen and Emily together in one area, Bailey and Zack togehter in one area, and simon on his own (which he doesnt seem to mind). And Jeffery and bella in another area. All birds are in the same room.........which i told the OVC. they said moving these birds in their groups as i've mentioned is okay. Just try to minimzie direct contact especially with poops and bodily fluids.
So guys, lets hope and pray that these little increased behavours of Austins are good ones and lets pray to god it is the Meloxicam that is doing the job.
Austin is on Nystatin, Baytril, (for protection against aspirational phenomina as regurg is typical in PDD and so is aspirational phenomnia), Melixcam and MObility drugs to help speed up his digestive tract.
