My conure has seizures and is lethargic. When should I see a vet?

I would strongly recommend a veterinary check up as soon as possible to determine the underlying cause of the seizures and give appropriate treatment. Infectious diseases affecting the central nervous system, nutritional causes, toxicities, secondary seizures (liver problems), metabolic diseases (hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia) are only few of the differentials. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi and thank you for your question, Seizures are a serious condition. You will need to get him to an avian vet because 1) he needs to be diagnosed correctly before any treatment can be given. 2) it is not possible to prescribe medications online without examining the patient. Regards

Thanks for reaching out about your canary. The cause of the convulsions must be determined prior to prescription of a medication. Anti-seizure medications might not treat the primary problem. Any exposure to toxins? Near the kitchen? A veterinary visit is recommended ASAP, as convulsions can be fatal. Good luck.

If possible, the cause of the seizure activity should be diagnosed. Afterwards, an effective treatment or control regimen can be recommended. Seizures in birds can be caused by trauma, infection, tumors or neurological disorders. Start a seizure log. Note length of seizures, time of day/night, diet, behavior before/after and any other pertinent information. This may help the veterinarian diagnose the cause. Consider a consult with a veterinary neurologist. If one is not available, the local veterinarian may be able to consult with one via phone after an exam.

Sorry to hear about Chiku's situation. There are not too many actual avian clinics in the country, so sometimes you need to just find a veterinarian who feel generally comfortable working with them. Another option is to contact a veterinarian who spends a good deal of time working with farm birds like chickens, turkeys, and ducks. While these aren't the same as Parrots by any means, they have a much better grasp concerning their anatomy and physiology. If Chiku is truly having seizures on a semi regular basis, he may be suffering from a disorder like epilepsy. Just like dogs and cats, this condition can be treated medically with a daily dose of phenobarbital usually. It may not completely control the seizure activity, but it can drastically reduce the frequency and severity of them. I would look into finding a veterinarian like one I have described and see if they are willing to work with you in these regards. Hope this helps.

I would be concerned that something serious is going on with your bird. Weakness and seizure activity can be a sign of progressive liver disease. Ideally you should find an avian veterinarian in your area that can help diagnose what is going on with Tequila. The vet will most likely recommend lab work and possibly X-rays. I’m sorry we can’t be of more help. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly and including a photo. Shaking and twitching is not normal and should be investigated by a veterinarian, and the sooner the better. Decreased appetite and shaking are not normal signs. Ingestion of toxic foreign bodies or other toxins, liver or kidney disease, calcium deficiencies, neurologic problems, are all possibilities. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Good luck.