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I had this in Amazon chat and am taking Chilli to vet in AM, but any general info anyone might have would be helpful. Thanks so much.

Hi Everyone,
You all have always been helpful in answering general questions about Chilli, my 14 year old female amazon parrot.
Last year she had surgery to remove a (benign) growth from her eye, but got a reaction afterwards either to being put under or the large dose of (shot) doxycycline) the vet gave her after and started throwing up white slime like stuff. That time it was a yeast infection and she was given Diflucan (I think) and recovered, but was quite ill for awhile after surgery and stayed at vet in incubator.

However, when we first got her about ten years prior, we had given her cantolope and she had same reaction (throwing up white slime like stuff). I took her to vet right away and that vet found nothing wrong (did blood work, stains, etc)...and attributed it to possible cantalope being too ripe or not agreeing with her.

Now, this weekend she has started throwing up again (white slime). The only change in her routine or feed is that Saturday I had put about 5 small apples slices in her treat bowl. Normally, I give her only one or two and hand them to her, but was going out for a few hours and thought I'd let her munch and remove what she did not eat when I got back. I got tied up and did not get back for about 6 hours. She had eaten all of them and they may have sat out that long before she ate them. I noticed that night she was a bit quiet, the next day (Sunday) she started throwing up the white slime (only about 3 times, nothing constant). Her breathe Sunday also smelled sour like fermented apples, but today is smells normal. Today she is slightly better and eating a bit (just her pellets, etc) no extras. She is still not eating her normal amount and while much more active then yesterday, is still not herself. She threw up once today (not as much as Sunday) and it is white slime. The vet is working us in tomorrow (Tuesday).

My question is, has anyone had a reaction to apples like this (perhaps too much at once when she is not used to it?). I realize only the vet can say for sure but my mind would be somewhat eased slightly if I knew if anyone experienced this with apples (or any fruit/food) bird may have eaten more then it was used to? Thanks so much to anyone with input.

We both appreciate it greatly.





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I'm glad your bird is getting a vet exam tomorrow and hope the cause of this worrisome vomiting is found and is curable.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Does anyone know if this type of vomiting is sometimes typical of stomach/digestive upset due to food? Thanks for any input.

Kia (DYH) has thrown up from time to time..maybe three times in five years. It's always been clear. I didn't trace it to any foods or anything and she seemed fine right before and after. Since it happens rarely and not in connection with anything else...I just assumed it was eating too much or too fast or something like that. Good to get it checked out though.

Thanks for info

Vet checked her today. Said everything looked good, but the sample I brought in of the white slime she was regurgitating up had tons of yeast in it. She said she felt like probably the overeating of the apples, especially if they sat out awhile before she did, could have overloaded sugar and the yeast just thrives in that. She said she did find slight bacteria but not alot. She gave me Baytril for 7 days for bacteria and Diflucan for 14 days for the yeast. She said she did not feel that since the Baytril was to be taken with the Diflucan and the Diflucan taken a week longer that it would contribute to more yeast (the Baytril).

So, that is pretty much all I know. Chilli is acting much more active and had stopped regurgitating last night and (so far) today, even before meds, so I am hopeful she will be ok. She is rechecked in two weeks to be sure.

Vet said not to give her any fruit/sugar during this time. Apples are about the only fruit she likes anyway. She does eat veggies and the vet said those were ok.

If anyone has had any experience with giving a bird Baytril, please post. I have given the Difulcan before and had no issues. Thanks.

Poor Chilli I'm glad it's no worse, but sorry her treat made her sick. I'm surprised too. Still learning something every day I've long thought apples were one of the safer fresh foods to leave with my birds when leaving for hours. Won't be doing that anymore! I hope she's a good girl who takes her medicine w/o fuss. I've given a lot of Baytril to my cockatiels, but they are MUCH easier to handle than most Amazons I know.

Chilli is pretty good at taking meds, so I think she will be ok with both. The baytril is "watermelon flavored" the vet said. I am a little uneasy giving an antibiotic to a bird that already has a yeast infection, but this is a excellent vet, best in area, so I trust her.

I am glad to hear you have given the Baytril to your birds with no issues, that helps to know that a great deal as I am always leary of using meds I have never used before. Thanks so much for letting me know.

Now, i just have to figure out how to pay for all this, but at least Chilli is ok and that is all that matters to me.

As to the apples, the vet said they are ok in small doses, but not to ovedo it (after she gets well) and not leave them out more then an hour or so as they ferment fast and the sugar really rises in them. She did not say not to give her any ever, just not during her yeast infection. It is odd as I had heard people put apple cider vinager in water for yeast infections. I think the ver was more alluding to the fact of the sugar content and eating too much at once, more then apples are bad for them.

spensergirl wrote: I am always leary of using meds I have never used before. ... I think the ver was more alluding to the fact of the sugar content and eating too much at once, more then apples are bad for them.

Baytril is like the penicillin of the avian world, VERY commonly used antibiotic.

I've always known apples have no nutritional value, being mostly sugar and water, like grapes, but I did not realize how quickly they could ferment and become unhealthy. Good information to have, but sorry our lessons come at Chilli's expense.

I know, I feel badly also as I am so careful with her and was sure it would not harm her, but just put out too many and did not get them out in time.

I feel bad for her that I accidently made her sick, but if it can help others and their birds, then I am at least happy about that one part of it.

From what I gathered, don't give too many or too often and do not let sit out over one hour.