I changed my mind about having Bailey take the Xray for indications of PDD. AFter much thinking, research and talking this over with several people, i've concluded a few things that I feel are more important and some facts.First, Let's say in the Xray it shows enlarged proventriculus. Now what?. We're already treating Bailey with meloxicam and nystatin for her crop infection. She is showing signs of improvement. So if the Xray is find PDD indications.....what good is this Xray to us when there is nothing more we can do For Bailey then what is being done?. If my vet felt there was something else that we should be checking for in Bailey that required an Xray, of coarse I would do it. But it doesn't appear to be the case, at least not yet.
Stress is known to cause a bird to slide down hill. So if Bailey is feeling better, it is very possible that to risk this Xray and the stresses involved could only depress her and stress her and could bring her illness on or make her recovery worse from what she is suffering from.
Now that we know we have a case of PDD........I don't feel it is useful at this point to do any testing above and beyond initial blood work to rule out diseases, bacterial and viral infections that can be tested for.
So, I feel good at least right now about my decision. I don't want to do this to my baby girl after seeing her improve, then to have her slide down on me.
I know I shouldn't think this way, but if Austin didn't have to have visit after visit, didn't have to endure all those tests, didn't have to stay overnight in a strange place, didn't have to be seperated from his clutch mates, mabe just mabe Austin wouldn't have gone down hill so fast, mabe he would have survived long enough for Meloxicam to work for him. Mabe if the stresses where not there.......he'd have a different outcome. Another reason why I fear putting my other birds through this. Because it is true, Austin got worse after every visit. concidental? Mabe...mabe not.
But having said all this........PLEASE know I believe in vets for birds. I would tell anyone in a sec to go to the vet immediately if you feel your bird is ill. REmeber that for us.....with a confirmed case of PDD, it's abit different. So don't take my writing here to mean I don't feel vet visits are good. They are and they save lives.
