AGY

Talk online with Cockatiel enthusiasts in Tiel Town

Moderators: kirsten, garrett, damian, chibi-tori

AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:27 am

As you've seen Ive posted that both Whook & Carl (budgies) have avain gastric yeast. They have been on megabac (super expensive vetafarm meds) for 10 days now. I brought a poop sample to the vet to see if the AGY is still presnet and unfortunately, it still is :(
I spent all day sunday bleaching the cages, washing floors & their sleepy blankets.
Has anyone else experienced this? And how would my birds get this disease? I keep my cages etc.. super clean. Could Carl have had it all along as a carrier? (he was a rescue budgie from a hoarder) The tiels seem to be free from it (so far)


Log in to avoid seeing this advertisment
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Claudia on Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:23 am

gosh, you are not having much luck :(
Have a read of this, even though it's about finches, it's very informative:
http://www.finchniche.com/f-agy.mgi

It does say, that if not caught early enough, you will never cure the bird(s) :(

I personally would be inclined to put my birds on Vetafarm probiotics to give the birds some "good bacteria" if you can get this over your way??
I have it in the fridge as my baby budgie got really sick with a crop infection recently.
User avatar
Claudia
Fledgling
Fledgling
 
Posts: 609
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 11:58 pm
Location: Australia
Feedback: 2|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:17 am

Ok that sounds like a good idea.
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby MFids on Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:22 am

Sorry, haven't had any experience with AGY (that I know of).

I recently lost a budgie, he was underweight but had fluid build-up in his crop that made it seem as if he was a healthy weight, his crop was distended, he had muscle atrophy (not feeling well he wasn't allowed to exercise much - not that he wanted to exercise when he wasn't feeling well enough to), and some vomitting of clear liquid. Bacteria was found in the liver, lung, and a crop swab? but the intestines seemed fine. On August first, before he passed away, he had a fecal that was clean, although low in good bacteria. The a-vet recommended putting him on DMB as well as getting him to eat yogurt and some Emeraid Nutri-Support. Just over a week later, his health rapidly declined. An X-Ray was taken, as well as several crop rinses. He seemed to be doing better after that visit but declined further two days later, and with the avian vets out of town, there wasn't anything I could do, and I lost him. I'm still looking into further testing since the necropsy said there was no definitive cause for death. Only speculation.


Here's information I've found on it - although you've probably already seen it all. (Megabacteria aka Avian Gastric Yeast aka Macrorhabdus ornithogaster)



Megabacteria in Budgies - A Review of the Literature
Megabacteria primarily lives in the proventriculus, the glandular stomach before the gizzard. There are three basic ways for a vet to diagnose it. In some cases Megabacteria can be found in a crop wash. The second, and easiest, way to diagnose it is through a fecal test. To perform this test, take a fresh fecal sample, do a thin uniform wet mount on a slide, perform a gram-stain test, cover it with a 22 x 22 mm. coverslip, and scan at 100 x magnification. The Megabacteria should look like large blue rods. Viewed at 1000 x magnification, the Megabacteria can be more easily seen. Be warned that a fecal test is indicative only about 80% of the time; some birds have it but tests doesn't show it. The third, and most accurate, way to diagnose Megabacteria is to present the bird for necropsy to an avian veterinarian. Megabacteria is found by examining a scraping of the gut lining; the proventriculus will be distended, containing a large colony of these organisms lined up along the wall of the stomach. Unfortunately, diagnosing this way means either waiting until the bird dies or is sacrificed, but in many cases it is the only sure way to diagnose the disease.


Avian Gastric Yeast Formerly Megabac
Megabacteria
Research News - Megabacteria
Megabacteria in Diseased and Healthy Budgerigars
Megabacteria in Budgerigars
Monica & Fids
Image
"I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is willing to learn
from them."
User avatar
MFids
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1797
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:20 am
Location: NV
Feedback: 7|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:07 am

Carl doesn't seem to be getting any better and it has been two weeks worth of meds.
I was wondering if avicakes may be hindering his treatment (?) Avicakes has a sticky substance probably a sugar or an oil and I am wondering.....(?!) :?
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Sunnybird on Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:44 am

I seem to remember that avicakes has molasses. Might be worth cutting them out for the time being.

I'll add this link for your information - if you haven't seen it yet. Notice the second paragraph from the end, where Dr. Wissman talks about dosing and length of treatment. Of course, this is something to discuss with your vet. But don't give up. Poor Carl.

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/yeast.html
Sunnybird
Hatchling
Hatchling
 
Posts: 106
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:48 am
Feedback: 0|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:54 am

Yes, I read Dr Wiseman's exotic pet info. Thank you.
I gave Carl regular seeds (and his Harrison's mash) last night and today his poop looks almost normal. I think I will cut out on the avicakes for awhile and see what happens. I thought maybe avicakes have mollasis so it might be hindering the meds since it is a sugar.
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:40 am

Well it has been over 3 weeks now since Whook & carl ahve been on the meds. Whook is fine but Carl has not improved. If anything, he is throwing up more than ever..
any thoughts?
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Claudia on Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:04 am

gosh that's so awful :( I have no advice I'm sorry :cry:
User avatar
Claudia
Fledgling
Fledgling
 
Posts: 609
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 11:58 pm
Location: Australia
Feedback: 2|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:02 am

I am going to give the vet a call regarding this. :(
The info links FIDS posted were very helpful in at least understanding what I am up against. the vetafarm meds should have worked but as the articles implied nothing may work if the proventricular is chronically infected (which has happened) and amphorecin-B has it's own problems being poorly tolerated (which it was) :(
what would you all do at this point?
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Claudia on Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:53 pm

personally, if quality of life is seriously affected and you have done everything possible (which you have).............the humane thing............euthanise :cry: sorry :(
User avatar
Claudia
Fledgling
Fledgling
 
Posts: 609
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 11:58 pm
Location: Australia
Feedback: 2|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Sunnybird on Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:14 am

Of course, I can't see Carl - you can - so you have the best opinion about his condition.

I think I would:

a) Talk with the vet, most definitely. Is there anything else to be done? Is there any medication to be added to the current one that would work together with it (to make it more effective)? Does your vet know of any other vet that either you should talk to OR that he can consult with?

b) Depending on Carl's condition, I would be inclined to give the medication at least the 28-30 day time frame. If you feel that Carl is suffering NOW though, that might require a different decision.

c) After the 28-30 days, if there is no improvement and depending on the vet's input, it might be time to let him go.

These things are hard. :(
Sunnybird
Hatchling
Hatchling
 
Posts: 106
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:48 am
Feedback: 0|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby bostonbudgie on Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:21 pm

The odd thing if you saw Carl despite his crusty head from vomiting you would think he is OK. He sleeps more than other budgies but he eats & poops. I do not know if he is suffering. My problem is that AGY is spreadable. Do I continue to keep a bird like this around my flock by putting them at risk.? I have an appointment with the vet this monday to talk about what to do.
User avatar
bostonbudgie
Flock Leader
Flock Leader
 
Posts: 1422
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Boston, MA
Feedback: 1|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby ParrotSlave on Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:29 pm

I ran across this thread while using Google to try to find an alternative to Avi-Cakes; the hit was due to the mention of discontinuing the Avi-cakes. My Ziggy is addicted to Avi-cakes, and I have been buying them 20 pounds at a time for years, but lately they seem to have gotten soft and mushy (they don't stick together as well), so I checked the ingredient list (for the first time in years) and got some surprises:
ground corn, canary grass seed, white proso millet, hulled oats, wheat flour, sugar, soybean meal, ground limestone, dicalcium phosphate, canola oil, whole egg, corn gluten meal, propylene glycol, cane molasses, gelatin, glycerine, iodized salt, L-lysine, L-methionine, choline chloride, citric acid, mixed tocopherols, manganese oxide, zinc oxide, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, menadione, niacin, calcium dipantothenate, riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine, vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin, ascorbic acid, and selenium.
Avi-Cakes for Parrots also contain crack corn (as the 3rd ingredient), and peanuts and red millet (as the 8th and 9th ingredients). Avi-Cakes for Cockatoos & Macaws also contain cracked corn (#3), peanuts (#9), and red millet (#10).
(emphasis mine.)
I don't remember white sugar being one of the main ingredients when I first started buying Avi-cakes, but, these days, there's more sugar than molasses in all 3 types: it would be more correct to say that they are sweetened with molasses-flavored sugar than with just molasses. I like blackstrap molasses because of the high vitamin and mineral content, although I would worry about the iron content in the case of softbills.
The non-whole grain wheat flour as an ingredient doesn't surprise me; most people don't know any better regarding their own food. What did surprise me, even more than the white sugar content, was propylene glycol. Lafeber lists more propylene glycol than molasses in all three of its Avi-cake varieties. I could understand using a trace amount, but that seems like a lot to me. Propylene glycol, in case you are wondering, is used in modern antifreezes because it is much less toxic than its chemical cousin, ethylene glycol. As a human food additive, it is generally recognized as safe. It is NOT considered safe for cats, but I find numerous references to propylene glycol as "practically" non-toxic to birds, whatever "practically" means. It is safe enough that it is actually used to administer medication to treat air sack mites in birds, but I don't like the idea of it being a constant in my bird's diet. I don't have any propylene glycol in my kitchen--although I do have powdered biotin and a few other uncommon pantry items that get added to almost everything, just in case Ziggy gets a bite (fat chance that he would ever miss out.)
I tried to find out how Avi-cake ingredients have changed over the years to see if my memory is faulty or if I didn't pay attention at the time, but I have no old packaging to compare. All I found online was that various vendors seem to be using old ingredient lists. The ingredient lists on Lafeber's website is quoted above, but the Foster & Smith website, amazon.com, ebay, and a few other vending sites, are all different for the identical Avi-cake product. I'm hoping that other vendors are not selling Avi-cakes from some other century, in which case the posted ingredient lists might be accurate, but I would speculate that various vendors have merely not updated their advertising, and are selling using information from earlier incarnations of Lafeber products. (One Godsend about the Avi-cakes is that there is a "best by" date on them.) We all know, of course, that the company has been "improving" its products.
Is there an update on this thread somewhere? Did discontinuing the Avi-cakes help?
User avatar
ParrotSlave
Egg
Egg
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:39 pm
Location: TX
Feedback: 0|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Re: AGY

Postby Claudia on Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:25 am

Propylene glycol :shock: :shock: :shock:
I would NOT be feeding my birds those in that case (not that they sell 'em here :wink: )
User avatar
Claudia
Fledgling
Fledgling
 
Posts: 609
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 11:58 pm
Location: Australia
Feedback: 2|0|0
Rate my sale, purchase or posting knowledge by clicking the feedback above

Next

Return to Cockatiel Chat

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests