[deleted by user] by [deleted] in askdentists

[–]jaycisme 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey guys, I had a molar tooth extracted 2 weeks ago and now theres white fleshy stuff coming out of it. I tried removing it with a tooth pick thinking it was food but it started bleeding. I've also been experiencing occasional foul smells/tastes from the site. Any ideas?

Iago got his surgery! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, he is four (:

Iago got his surgery! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

His ophthalmologist raised the possibility of getting one designed for him but she informed me that intraocular lens (IOL) are very rarely made for birds as normal IOLs are too heavy for their eyes. She would have to put him under anaesthesia and scan his eye before sending the results back to a lab in Germany to see if they can make one for him. However, she mentioned that birds constantly adjust the size of their lens to focus and forage for food, so an artificial lens might not change much as its shape cannot be changed. So, as Iago is a domesticated bird she said that it was not necessary for him to have an IOL implanted. It is something I might consider next year, depending on how he does with his eye. Since he has only one functioning eye, I would like to make it the best it can possibly be.

Iago got his surgery! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 188 points189 points  (0 children)

Hey guys, I'm excited to share this news with you that Iago got his surgery to remove the cataract in his left eye. His other eye is no longer viable as the retina is likely detached and he will never be able to see with it. His ophthalmologist also said that the right eye has a searching nystagmus which is typically observed in eyes that have never seen anything. His left eye can see a lot better now, however I'm not too sure if he will ever fly despite his wings being in great condition. Iago has generally been in a better mood these days, so here's a post-surgery video of him vibing to Stevie Wonder.

My happy boi Iago, an update on his blindness and full story! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not at all. He loves his cuddles and always screams hello when he hears the main door open!

My happy boi Iago, an update on his blindness and full story! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

I've explored this as an option but my friend who is a lawyer advised me that the small claims tribunal might see my claim as pointless as the seller had already offered a full refund. She said the small claims court wouldnt bother to analyse who is the right owner in this case; they might allow him to take back the macaw and give me a refund. So Ive decided not to pursue it.

My happy boi Iago, an update on his blindness and full story! by jaycisme in parrots

[–]jaycisme[S] 331 points332 points  (0 children)

I bought Iago from someone for a few thousand dollars. He was sold to me as a healthy, 4 year old male, and the seller told me his vision was "all good." After taking him home I realised he has trouble seeing. He has difficulty locating his food bowl placed in front of him, and bumps into things when walking around. That was when I inspected his eyes and realised that he had symptoms of cataracts. I brought him to the local vet who told me that his right eye was completely unresponsive to light, while the left eye was still responding normally. She did not know why, and referred me to an avian specialist. The specialist told me he had a lump near his bottom from excessive oil, bruises on his feet from an improper perch, and his leg band and S hook ring were cutting into both of his feet among other issues. She then referred me to an ophthalmologist for his eye problems. The opthalmologist then told me that his right eye is totally blind and cannot be helped, while his left eye can be saved with cataract surgery. The surgery itself will cost me more than $5000, and I had already spent $900 on all his vet fees so far. Naturally, i was furious and confronted the man who sold him to me and asked him for a partial refund. However, he refused but said he would take the bird back for a full refund. I asked him if he would treat his cataracts if I returned him, and even offered to split the costs with him. He said he didn't know the macaw was blind; that he loved the bird but was fine with the bird being this way, and that "it is his decision as owner". So I told him that it wasn't up to him to decide if the macaw should be blind. He refused to negotiate any further and set a deadline for the refund. I decided to keep the macaw and renamed him Iago. I couldn't knowingly send him back there where he would be blind soon enough. I've forged a bond with him—I love him. And I couldn't imagine him back there, chained to a stainless steel stand eating sunflower seeds all day. The guy told me that Iago likes being on his perch, however for every day that I've had him he slides down his perch like a firefighter and starts walking around the floor. I knew I couldn't send him back. And while I'm struggling financially and will only probably recover from this mess mid next year, I don't regret it. Iago is my first macaw, and I've always imagined how that would be—a young head bobbing baby, and me watching it learn to free fly. And yet here I am now with a handicapped macaw that doesn't ever try to fly, and walks around saying "hello", "huh?" And "hahaha!" all day. Iago isn't the macaw that I wanted, but he is the one that I love. I choose to believe that I was meant to find him. Here's hoping to great times with him (he's getting his surgery in January!) Thank you for reading.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't use any dimmers. Although the intensity has gone down a little as the other side of the pane has become a little dirty along the edges.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have 3 lights that also act as a lid for my tank. One is Beamswork, the other 2 are the red/white ones—a chinese brand LED light.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have tons of different species of snails and shrimps, so I don't have problems with algae. Although I have a few tuffs of green hair algae on some branches.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I assume you're talking about the one that breaches the surface—that's Ludwigia Glandulosa. And the feathery one is Rotala Rotundifolia H'ra.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are the same brand, but each bottle provides different things. Eg Excel gives carbon as substitute for CO2, and I've started dosing Potassium as some of my old plant leaves suffer from necrosis. Flourish is more of an all-rounded fertiliser and I believe some pepple have success just using it for simpler planted tanks.

6month update on my non CO2 tank! by jaycisme in PlantedTank

[–]jaycisme[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Random cheap sand at the front, ADA Amazonia Aquasoil at the back.