Budgie, strange "jerking" behaviour

[blanco_budgie]

Our budgeriar, Blanco, female 3yrs, is exhibiting some strange behaviour lately. After an illness (entero-bacteria infection), which was successfully treated with antibiotics (Vibramycin and Baytril), she has taken to a new "habit" which can be best described as fits of jerking of the neck and "chewing" something which apparently is extracted from her throat/crop. While doing this, she is always sitting slightly hunched forward, bobbing her head, and from the sound she seems to be producing some form of saliva/fluid from her throat (my layman's explanation). She never did this before her first illness.

She is still doing the jerking and "smuckering" with the beak. Otherwise, she's not exhibiting any symptoms of disease -- she's active and has even feather coat. Her feces are a bit watery and green, but I expect this is a side effect of the Fungizone, which should pass now that she's off the medication.

Has anyone experienced similar symptoms on their pet birds? The vet suggests we can do an X-ray to determine whether there's any "mechanical" damage to Blanco's throat -- or, knock on wood, an ulcer. Wouldn't I notice if she's suffering? As I said, she's active and happy, eating and drinking normally plus generally chewing stuff to pieces :)

Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated!

- Joakim
Bergen, Norway

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

What you are describing can be associated with many different problems.  Causes can include: parasites, for example: Trichomoniasis (Canker) and others, viral or fungal infections of various digestive organs such as: stomatitis (mouth infection), or pharyngitis (throat or pharyngeal infection).  

A bird with a chronic gastritis due to ulcer (as your veterinarian suggested) or to Avian Gastric Yeast could also exhibit these “habits”.

Additionally, the problem could be neurological (such as a seizure disorder), or, behavioral.

Your veterinarian should be able to differentiate many of these with diagnostic tests including X-Rays, and pharyngeal, crop and fecal cytology.  The X-Ray may also show an enlarged liver, or intestinal problem.

Fortunately, your bird is doing well, not losing weight, etc.  Blanco has already been treated with good antibiotics so bacterial infection can probably be eliminated.  Has your bird been treated for common parasites and with antifungals?  Whatever the answer I would have the X-Ray and cytology performed to help get this long list of differentials reduced.

This is a difficult one.  I wish you and Blanco good luck!  If you have any more comments or questions please don't hesitate to ask again.  Thanks

Dr. Cheng

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[blanco_budgie]

Dear Dr. Cheng,

yes, she has just been through a 3-week antifungal treatment. We've been giving her 10 tablets of Fungizone diluted in 100ml water as only option to drink. She's been drinking from it, too, I've checked. This was in response to the vet's lab test (from a crop sample), which indicated a fungus infection. Otherwise, the vet said, the bird was fine. She had Blanco for observation one day, but I don't think  she actually saw Blanco doing the "jerking" thing... She said "Blanco is behaving normally."

I need to call the vet again, since the Fungizone treatment is over. What should I say? Is the behaviour a unmistakable sign of illness? I guess so, since she never did this before she was ill the first time (entero-bacterial infection, 4 months ago).

I guess the next (and only remaining) thing to do is an X-ray and/or cytology? Hope for some more comments :)

J

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Dear Owners of Blanco Budgie,

I have found that fungal infections may take longer than 3 weeks to cure.  After I have completed a course of treatment I will request that my patient return for a repeat cytology for confirmation that the treatment is complete.  If I find some remaining bacteria or yeast (or both), I will continue the treatment for an additional treatment course.  Some infections in birds are very persistant.  I am still happy that Blanco seems to be healthy otherwise!

Please let me know the results of the X-Ray and cytology.

[blanco_budgie]

Yes, that is correct; in giving us the Fungizone prescription (3 weeks ago), the vet suggested a re-check of Blanco's (crop/fecal sample) for any remaining infection. I have contacted the vet, but won't get this done until next week...

I will surely post the result of the test here!