No rest for the wicked

My brave little girl is battling on! She has an incredible will to live, and I hope with all my heart that she will.

She hasn't been sick today yet , but the last time she was, late last night, she vomited... three large peas and a piece of corn!!!!!! From before I took her in, 3 days ago!!! So those were the lumps I could feel in her crop!
The question is now, why they didn't go through. Is it because she's too young to be eating stuff that size and that hard? It is because of a canker blockage on the way out of the crop? Both?

My guess would be the canker, Teresa.

I'm so happy to hear that little Bonnie is still fighting to survive.

I agree with Charis that it is the canker causing all the problems.

Let's just keep praying that you have caught her in time.


Louise

I don't think it's that she's to young to eat the large pieces, I believe it's the blockage and probaby is canker.

Positive thoughts continue.
Please keep us posted.

Thank you so much for all the positive thoughts and advice!

This is what she brought up late last night:



I couldn't believe she could have had those in her crop for 3 days, poor thing!

At her last meal, she actually showed signs of being hungry. I'm going to feed her again now.

I spoke too soon...

When I went to feed her, she had vomited a little, and her crop had liquid and air in it. I remembered what Dr. Hauck said to Louise about her rescue, '... if he survives for 3 days but continues to go downhill...'

So I set the formula aside, and started warming a little apple sauce. Keeping her warm, I gently massaged the crop, and more liquid came up.
I cleaned her up and checked that there was no liquid left in her mouth, then carried my Bonnie burrito around as I got the apple sauce ready. She was surprisingly alert and watching everything I did.
She's now had 10 ml warm, slightly diluted apple sauce, to be followed by the Flagyl in a moment. I'm giving her 17.5 mg twice a day, as she's so light, but I can't help feeling very uneasy about it, because of her constant falling over, and knowing that Flagyl's side effects include worsening such conditions. What do you think?

Right, that's the Flagyl administered, and she's back in her nest. She looks tired now and settled down very quickly.

Poor Bonnie, she's going through so much and she has no quality of life. Every time she goes downhill I ask myself if I'm being cruel trying to be kind, prolonging her suffering, and if I should take her to the vet and ask whether she should be euthanised. But I can't bear the thought of that either. I keep hoping that maybe, just maybe, the obstruction will move and she can start on the path to a proper recovery, rather than barely surviving...

Teresa wrote:

I spoke too soon...

When I went to feed her, she had vomited a little, and her crop had liquid and air in it. I remembered what Dr. Hauck said to Louise about her rescue, '... if he survives for 3 days but continues to go downhill...'

So I set the formula aside, and started warming a little apple sauce. Keeping her warm, I gently massaged the crop, and more liquid came up.
I cleaned her up and checked that there was no liquid left in her mouth, then carried my Bonnie burrito around as I got the apple sauce ready. She was surprisingly alert and watching everything I did.
She's now had 10 ml warm, slightly diluted apple sauce, to be followed by the Flagyl in a moment. I'm giving her 17.5 mg twice a day, as she's so light, but I can't help feeling very uneasy about it, because of her constant falling over, and knowing that Flagyl's side effects include worsening such conditions. What do you think?

No need to dilute the applesauce. Can you take her to the vet for a fecal and sub-Q fluids?

Teresa wrote:

Right, that's the Flagyl administered, and she's back in her nest. She looks tired now and settled down very quickly.

Poor Bonnie, she's going through so much and she has no quality of life. Every time she goes downhill I ask myself if I'm being cruel trying to be kind, prolonging her suffering, and if I should take her to the vet and ask whether she should be euthanised. But I can't bear the thought of that either. I keep hoping that maybe, just maybe, the obstruction will move and she can start on the path to a proper recovery, rather than barely surviving...

You are in the moment with Bonnie and if you think you are only prolonging the suffering only you can make that call. Likely there is more going on that canker. That being said, I have had birds so ill...I couldn't imagine them making it from one second to another and yet they made a full recovery.

Sub-q fluids they can do, but not fecal tests. Those are done at a parasitology lab in the district capital and they aren't open weekends.

The fluids would help her. She must be quite dehydrated.

Matilda wrote:

You are in the moment with Bonnie and if you think you are only prolonging the suffering only you can make that call. Likely there is more going on that canker. That being said, I have had birds so ill...I couldn't imagine them making it from one second to another and yet they made a full recovery.

That's the thing, you see... My head says I'm letting her suffer too much, but my heart won't let go of that last bit of hope...
And your words just renewed that hope.
When our patients are so very poorly, there's a tendency to question everything you did and didn't do. But I think ultimately if she is not meant to survive, the angels will come for her. If I could give her some of my life to restore some of hers, I would.

I'll take her in for sub-q fluids first thing tomorrow. Thanks, Charis.

Teresa...........do not give up hope!!!! Bonnie is still fighting for her life, and you need to fight for her as well. Stay positive.......she has you doing everything possible for her and has the best chance for survival under your care.

I have lost many this year , but I want to remind you of Sweetie, she was my miracle bird. Against all odds, with one of the worst cases of canker she survived. Go back, look at her pictures and read her story. The original thread was titled "Seriously Ill Feral" . I hope Sweetie's story will give you the encouragment to not loose hope.

I agree with Charis that sub-q liquids would be a very good idea at this point

Are you giving her a second antibotic as well?

Sending continued healing thoughts and prayers to you both.


Louise

Thank you, Louise!

Yes, she's getting Bactrim (TMS, 0.25 ml once a day) plus the Flagyl and Nystatin.

I'll keep thinking of Sweetie's story... It's just that it's heartbreaking to see her like this, with no muscle coordination, thrashing about and falling over, too weak sometimes from vomiting to keep her head up. And not knowing how much of the meds is getting through. I had so hoped that, after throwing up the peas and corn, she would feel much better...

At the moment, the inside of her mouth looks greyer than it should be, and her tongue is yellow-coated.

Teresa...it could be she needs injectable medications.

Bonnie has been kept in at the vet's, for treatment and observation. By the time we got there, she had already vomited the Flagyl together with most of the previous meal.

Her condition is considered critical, yet all the time I was talking to the vet she was watching us closely, as if listening. The avian vet, Dr Ana Luisa, was as amazed as I was that she had kept fighting this long. She agreed that oral meds were unlikely to be effective any more, so today Bonnie was due to have a crop flush, to get rid of any accumulated nastiness, followed by sub-q fluids, an injectable antibiotic and vitamins. She'll be kept on formula, but monitored in case the crop fills up with fluid again, and any non-injectable meds will have to stay on hold until she can keep them down.

'If she gives up the fight', said Dr. Ana Luisa, 'I'll let you know straight away. But for now, I'll do everything in my power to help her make it. And... you never know... we all need a miracle sometimes.'

I'm including here a link to a video of Bonnie this morning, for those with a strong stomach who need to know how she was then -- be warned, it's very upsetting, that's why I didn't embed the image.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjm8hH6wluM

Appreciate the update, Teresa.
We're all pulling for Bonnie to make a full recovery.

Please keep us posted.

Teresa, Dr. Luisa sounds like a true

Her treatment plan of crop flush, sub-q fluids and injectible antibotic sounds like an excellent combination for the best outcome for Bonnie.

I'm so glad you were able to get her to the vet. Miracles do happen

Sending continued healing thoughts and prayers.


Louise

I'm glad you got Bonnie to the vet and I will be praying that she makes full a recovery.

Maybe the vet could treach you how to give sub-Q fluids. With all your rescues, that would be a good thing to know how to do.

I'll ask the vet about learning to give sub-q fluids.

Something else I pointed out to the vet was what appears to be an abcess on her left knee:
But for now let's see how she reacts to the treatment.

Thank you for your good wishes and positive thoughts!

Teresa- I just try to keep up with your updates and saw the video. Bonnie is in good hands and I think if she wants to live she will make with all your help and love. It is wonderful that you have some vets who really care about these birds. This must be a great support and comfort for your own soul. I am sending all my thoughts to you and Bonnie and hoping for a miracle...

Teresa.............Any news from the Vet regarding Bonnie's condition?


Louise

I'm sorry to say that Bonnie passed away in the early hours of this morning.
She had initially perked up with the sub-q fluids, but remained unable to hold any food down. She wanted to live, but the canker robbed her of that chance.
It was a great comfort to know she has been in the best of hands at the vet's. Dr. Ana Luisa is a very caring soul who will do everything in her power to help a poor little rag of a feral squeaker... It is a real blessing to have someone like that fighting your corner.

Farewell, my bonnie girl. Fly free with the Rainbow flock.

I am so very sorry to hear of Bonnie's passing, Teresa.