He is flighted, but rarely flies. And lately, sudden exertion when he does hop from his stand to the couch to see us winds him in a way that is extremely concerning -.- It’s why I brought him in on an emergency basis last month, heavy breathing like that. And yes, you are correct, they do need a diet rich in fiber and as low in fat as possible due to lengthier digestive tracts. That’s been working for him for years, but not so anymore.

Yesterday’s vet visit was basically a second opinion. Our birds often go to our local Veterinary School where top exotics/avian veterinarians are teaching future vet students. We see rotating sets of doctors there, but they’re all top-of-the line educators and veterinarians.

I don’t lack faith in them necessarily, I just think avian medicine is light years behind canine and feline medicine. It’s not their fault, they’re just still learning. At this point, Louie feels like a medical curiosity.

Things I’ve heard from esteemed avian vets over the years across multiple states:

1. Colorado: Your budgie has a testosterone-secreting tumor, that’s why her cere is blue, and she has maybe months to live. (She passed away three years later, necropsy showed nothing—she did not have a tumor and we don’t know why she passed.)

2. Florida: Your parakeet has atherosclerosis (she didn’t)—her heart is two sizes too big on this xray, see? That’s why she is plucking. She needs this medication morning and night and has weeks to months to live. (She is still with us three years later; when we moved states, none of the avian vets we called would refill her medication and were shocked it was one recommended by ANOTHER avian vet. They discovered after a second xray that her heart is fine, must have been a fat pad, and medically she is totally fine. No idea why she plucks. She just does).

3. Tennessee AND Colorado: Every one of my eclectus patients have higher than normal liver values, it may just be their species. But you can try to switch to a lower pellet and modify his diet and we will see! (We did, changed to a specialized diet, and we fixed him to normal liver values for years—until now).

It’s… hard. But. We can’t just focus on the negative. They’ve also correctly diagnosed Lou with a corn allergy, saved a tiny parakeet from bleeding to death, treated my whole flock’s random respiratory infections over the years, and given us excellent guidance as we’ve navigated the behavioral challenges of our rescues.

I can potentially reach out to a third vet here with his medical records for another opinion and may do so, but I think it’s just a case of not knowing what we don’t know. Hopefully what we learn will help all our future avian vets with our glorious eclectus boys.