My lovebird has frequent seizures. What should I do or give him?

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.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Harley. A veterinary visit is recommended in an attempt to determine the cause of the seizures. Many conditions can be treated or managed. At the minimum, anti-convulsive medications can improve quality of life. Good luck.

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.

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.

This presentation may be commonly cause by seizure episodes which may be mild to severe, partial or generalized, frequent or infrequent; and may involve twitching, paddling or convulsing. A bird may present a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness and control of motor function it may appear disoriented and unable to perch. Metabolic /nutritional causes, infective diseases like Avian Bornaviral Ganglioneuritis (PDD), Aspergillosis / Aflatoxins and West Nile Virus (WNV), traumas and brain injuries may all be causing these signs. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.