ivermectin overdose

Question
Maggie,

I work in a feedstore and recently witnessed a budgie receiving an ivermectin overdose for scaly face. He is now in my home, and I can't afford a vet. He eats fairly well now, but I still have to suppliment a couple feedings a day with an eye dropper. He is blind, staggers much at times, and has even had what I would think is a couple seizures. The ivermectin was given to him almost a month ago, the same dosage killed a different budgie within 5 days. I've named this little guy "The Captain" and my heart breaks for him. Oh, I also have used only pedialyte for drinking since I brought him home almost two weeks ago. He has a lamp on one end of his cage for warmth, has all perches low to the bottom of cage, has newspaper on bottom of cage so his little claws don't fall through the cage. He is missing two toes due to the scaly feet. At this moment he is really getting after some millet in his cage, in another moment he may have violent tremors which I think is due to neurological damage from the ivermectin. What else can I do to help him and make him comfortable.

Thanks so much,
Cathy

Please send this to my email also.

Answer
Hi Cathy,

Thanks so much for your interest in helping save this little guy!!

I would recommend contacting a rescue group in your area, this bird probably needs some intense vet care... and if you can't afford it... prehaps you could "surrender" him to a rescue group, but offer to continue foster him. This way the rescue group (if they have room/funds right now and can accept him into their program) could take care of the needed vet expenses and then when (and if) he gets better, he could be placed up for adoption into a loving, forever home where he can continue to recieve any needed vet care.

Or, if you really don't want to surrender him... at least contact them to see if they could help you better evaluate his condition (maybe if the rescue group has volunteers near you, they could come and visit to give you some pointers... once they see him in person and could better evaluate his condition/needs. (they wouldn't be vets, but just very experienced bird people with sick and/or special-needs birds).

You can search for a rescue group in your area at the following websites:

http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/rescuelist.htm

www.companionparrot.com

http://www.netpets.com/birds/birdresc/birdgrp.html

I hope this helps.

-Maggie