The "Tweeters"

[carolyorkie2010]

Seeing as some of you have really taken Tweet the Budgie to your hearts, I thought he should have his own special fan club thread where you can post your good wishes for his Xray on Wednesday or anything else you want to write. So far his fan club consists of Rose; Capn B; Sam; Chris.

[bitsnknots]

I'm glad that Tweet is alright today after his ordeal yesterday.  Long may it continue.

[carolyorkie2010]

The vet phoned whilst I was out with the dogs this evening, so I missed the call; I wish she had phoned my mobile, then I would have known the xray results; got to wait until tomorrow now............

[saasher2012]

Oh no! What time do they open in the morning?

[carolyorkie2010]

They open at 9; but usually the vet is busy, so it could be late in the day when she gets back to me, she could even be at the other branch, Will phone as soon as they open anyway. Fingers x'd its nothing bad...................

[saasher2012]

Good Morning Tweet & Mum, bet your going stir crazy waiting for news? Fingers, legs& eyes xd for good news.xxx

[carolyorkie2010]

Well, I've spoken to the vet and Tweet has a few things going on! He's FAT; there is lead in his gizzard (goodness knows where that is from!) and it could be toxic for him; his liver and kidneys are big! The vet is now wanting to blood test him. I did tell her I could only afford the xray, bearing in mind that to put it in perspective he is only a budgie and there are limits  what it is realistic to spend on one. Oh dear, problems, problems. He needs a special food to get his weight down but it has to be done very carefully with a budgie.

 I certainly didnt expect all that to be going on with him. If he needed an op for the lead, the vet is 35 miles away and we have no transport. Any advise anyone as to what I should do? To say he has all those problems, he is certainly a lively little bird (or should I say "big" bird seeing as he is fat)

[saasher2012]

I'll come back to you when I've read up on it Carol I'm a bit tied up at the minute!.
You said you changed his cage was it very old?
What are his toys made of ?.
What are your water supply pipes are they very old? Sorry about the questions just trying to find out where he could have got hold of lead for it to be in his crop!
.

[saasher2012]

Hi, Google Heavy Metal poisoning in budgies!

[saasher2012]

Google food for fat Budgies, very interesting reading, one thing I did notice they say you shouldn't feed lettuce, if I remember correctly & I'm sure if I'm wrong someone hopefully will correct me is lettuce contains loads of water but more importantly laudanum !
The information I gleaned from just glancing through it is that Budgie seed is very fattening & more fruit & veg should make up the majority of the diet & although they might not take to it at first it is important to persevere with it, Celery apparently is a very good food.
As to what you should do about an operation I'm afraid only you can make that decision, I do know that feather loss is a symptom of metal poisoning , but Tweet doesn't seem to have all the other nasty symptoms, I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. ((()))xx

[carolyorkie2010]

Hi Sam, I didnt change the cage, just changed the layout of it, then put it back to how it was. The water pipes are probably about 40 years old unless they have been replaced at any time. His toys are plastic. I usually give him lettuce a couple of times a week but it says on the list of food they can have that lettuce (not Iceberg though) is allowed. Have spoke n to a few people this morning who havwe siad its best to let him live his life now and not get anything else done and do the right thing once he stops being happy. Will read up on what you have suggested and thank you. The vet will be phoning later to tell me how much blood testing would be. I wish I hadnt had him xrayed now, then I wouldnt have this problem.

[rose2008-2008]

Awwww im sorry about Tweets problems,,,its such a worry. Let us know when you find out about Bloods Carol?.

[carolyorkie2010]

IF I have the bloods done, Rose, I will certainly let you know. xxxxxx

[saasher2012]

OK! I would agree with what the other people said, he's gone through a lot & you might not be so lucky next time its always a risk but with little birds it's even more so, there is a possibility he has had the lead in his crop before you even had him, if he's happy, which he obviously is enjoy him, he will let you know if & when he needs that final decision . Big ((((())))) to you both!. XXX

[rose2008-2008]

Hope Carol and Tweet are ok today???.

[carolyorkie2010]

Hi Rose - yes we are fine today, thank you. Hope you are too? Tweet is in  naughty swearing mode today, he keeps saying the word that rhymes with cat and other naughty ones! He also said "Go to bed, Tilly" He is soooo comical; I hope he can enjoy his life for a long time yet. As  Sam said, he could have had the lead in his gizzard since I got him. Maybe not, though, as he has only had the losing feathers problem since March. Anyway, if he is happy, then I'm happy. He keeps saying "Sweetheart." (I call him that alot.)Hugs to you and Bubbles. xxxxxx

[bitsnknots]

Oh it must be a worry for you Carol.  I'd like to know how the lead got into his crop.  Tweet seems happy enough though bless him.

[carolyorkie2010]

Yes its a bit of a mystery how it got there, Chris. All I can think is that he has nibbled the bars of his cage at some time, although I'm not sure what the cage is made of; aluminium, I suppose? It's chrome anyway, so not sure. All his toys are plastic, no paint on them that could contain lead. I dont suppose we'll ever know. Animals are so resilient, they put us to shame. If we had his problems we would probably take to our bed, we certainly wouldn't be singing and talking all day long; they just get on with it.

[bitsnknots]

You're right Carol.  Animals do put us to shame.  I think that they can sense though when humans are trying to help them.

[captainbovine]

I don't think the Trill would have been a problem, does he have those treat bars, as they have a lot of honey in them and that makes birdies fat. We used to give ours a slice of apple, they loved that.

One of our birds would go balistic if you had anything green on your plate, peas, lettuce, etc. He wouldn't shut up until you rolled up whatever it was you had and shoved some in his cage!!!

he could have picked up something in the seed that had some lead in it, but it's usually paint they pick at. He could of had it there before you bought him.

If he's happy I'd leave him be, you'd know if he was ailing. Bless him. Go Tweet,!!!! xxxx

[saasher2012]

There is just one question I'd like to ask if I may, how if they've only X-rayed Tweet do they know conclusively that it's lead in his crop, I'm sure you haven't said he's had a blood test or any other forms of testing just XRays, or have I missed something?