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parakeet off balance

21 16:30:35

Question
Yes Chrys, as stated I did take the keet to an avian vet, not just dog or cat vet, on Monday.  He told me about the thin keel and some respiratory problems, but the balance problem concerns me most now.  We have had keets live 11-12 years eating only seed diets when I was a child.  This one only likes her seed and eats little else though offered.  I don't think it is a stroke because the chirping stopped a month ago and the balance just began a few days ago.  Somehow it is all related.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Dear Chrys, my female clearwing is becoming more off balance the last week.  She slowly falls forward while standing.  I took a long trip, husband was home, and upon returning she was in the middle of a molt and had stopped talking and chirping.  Very vocal before and always greeted me.  I thought she was mad for me leaving, but it has continued.  Eats fine, otherwise normal.  Then about a week ago she puffed up, sometimes on bottom of cage, not much though and tail began to bop and balance off.  Took her to an avian vet Monday who put her on antibiotics and said her keel was very thin.  She's always been a slight bird.  Told him she eats well, but mostly millet and refuses her oats, some fruit and egg, but won't eat much.  She was showing some improvement and last night looked pretty good, but today her balance is off more and she looked awful.  Eyes no longer sparkle.  I can see she's suffering.  Tumor? stroke?  She's about 4 or 5 years.  She also began making a funny squeeking sound while eating when she bends over to feed for a week now.  Never heard that before.  We've had parakeets since I was a child.  

Thank you,
Janet
-----Answer-----
Hi, Janet.  Thanks for posting!

You need to take this bird back to the vet ASAP.  I hope you are using an avian vet and not a cat/dog vet.  This could be so many different things, I couldn't begin to guess.  If she's too thin and ill, she may not survive.  Yes, parrots can have tumors, strokes...just about anything horrible we can get/suffer from, parrots can, too.  If this bird has been on an all-seed diet most of her life, it could be taking it's toll.  Sounds to me like this bird has a serious respiratory problem.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Janet.

You need to take this bird back to the bird vet for the balance problem.  At least call them to see if you should bring the bird back in.  The balance problem could be related to the respiratory issue, but the vet needs to know what's going on in case it isn't related.  I can't diagnose over a website and I'm also not an avian vet.

You were lucky if you've had keets live a full life while consuming only seed for all that time.  I've seen keets die within a few years from eating only seed.  Results in lots of health problems because seed is high in fat and low in nutrition.

Sorry I couldn't help you more.

Chrys