From: pica  (Original Message)

Sent: 5/11/2005 3:44 PM

Hi, haven't posted in a while but here's my question if anyone can help.  I just lost my RS male eclectus to a unidentified, as of yet, virus that he as had since i bought him.   We are considering having another one in a few months but i would really like to talk to an eclectus owner that has had his parrot for quite some time, i 'm told they are a delicate species and i don't think i can handle what we've just been through a second time.    Is there anyone out there with a good experience to share   thanks Danielle

Danielle, I remember you from when you joined us. I am so sorry he didn't get well. Will you get a report on the exact cause of his death? I hope so, in order to not bring another bird into your home with a possible virus in the house. There are a few viruses that live for a long time in the dust that hides in corners and behind furniture. Very hard to get it all cleaned out.

I have Diana, a Vosmaeri, who is 9 years old and plucked naked except for wings and tail.

She was very ill as a youngster with zinc poisoning and then got Pacheco's virus. My vet couldn't believe we saved her. Took lots of time, lots of medicine and lots of TLC but she's been in remission for about 4 or 5 years. She has plucked ever since the zinc poisoning. She has permanent intestinal damage from it.

I don't know if they are more fragile than other species. I had another bird, a conure, who died of Pacheco's after Diana was much improved from hers. I suspect that Patti, the conure, may have been a carrier of Pacheco's. She didn't get sick til after an injury and went downhill very quickly.  Conures are known to be carriers of Pacheco's. Not all of them, of course, just some.

Annie

Hi Annie,

Yes we are definately waiting for the final results before bringing in another one. Right now there are 2 labs working on his case because his brother also died 3 wks before Tobi, he`s in another city, so both labs are getting together to see if it`s the same cause.  In the preliminary report it states that there  are many similiarities with PDD but the extent of damage is far greater than what PDD is known to do. I shure hope we can get a conclusive diagnostic, i`d hate to think we cannot share our lives with another parrot in the future.

 

Danielle