Info regarding "Me-2", male umbrella cockatoo, approx 2 years old:

This bird presented as a baby in a pet shop 01/22/03 for a toe injury. he was healthy otherwise ATT.

On 07/19/2003, he presented on emergency for severe dyspnea, panick attack-type. he had inhaled a seed and it was lodged at his tracheal bifurcation. He was treated with a caudal air sac canula/nebulization for mucus in his trachea/anti-inflammatories/antibiotics...he stabilized but the seed remained lodged at this location for a couple of weeks. He was managed with multiple air sac canulas bilaterally (as he was unable to breathe without them) along with hand feeding since he refused to eat, and the pet shop then allowed endoscopy. The obstruction was extremely difficult to access due to tracheal size limitation, and the mucoid seed mass was removed from the bifurcation but lost during the procedure as he reflex-gagged and coughed (had to be aborted, due to apnea during procedure). Mucus was found on the wall behind the specialist and it was assumed to be removed but not guaranteed. He was treated for 6 months with antifungals as well to cover any infection from the canulas that could complicate the matter.

This bird remained on our hospital until 11/04/2003, he was difficult to maintain without nebulizing, medicating and hand feeding each day. Since he could not tolerate the additional feather dander in the air at the pet shop, of 2003 I believe, our clients the Evans since they could provide the care he would need long term.

The owners understand this bird will not likely live a normal lifespan due to the chronic scars and respiratory risks involved long term (caudal air sacs will never expand normally and will always be "stiff"), but they love him and wish to do all possible to make his days as wonderful and normal as possible. he is presently maintaining on a fabulous home program of excellent diet, hand feeding supplementation when necessary, regular bathing, daily weighing, air purifier, humidifier 6-8 hours/day, steam therapy, nebulizing when break-through dyspnea occurs (our formula of alkalol, saline, DMSO, Gent, Tylosin), and an oxygen system to deliver his O2 or nebulizing in his homemade inhalation chamber (O2 set at 10 Ltrs/min to provide nebulizing, less if using O2 only for session). He has chronic intermittent pain of caudal air sacs (scars) when he bangs himself around, etc, managed with Metacam BID or Ketoprofen BID orally at home. When severe pain of caudal air sac regions, he responds well to direct application of DMSO to air sac regions and O2 in a chamber within 20 minutes. Whenever he has severe pain, he creates a panic attack for himself and breathes very heavy which can confuse the diagnosis of why he may be presenting for examinations ATT. If he is pink mucus membrane-wise and presents in this fashion, try that first along with pain meds to see if he responds before more invasive measures. Less is always better with this patient.

This bird now has DVM aversion at this point, he has been through so much and has an excellent memory of it all. He panics more with handling by the DVM just in anticipation (we have the techs catch him up and treat him whenever possible), so avoiding drawn-out handling helps tremendously. Handle him when needed but make it fast and he will do fine. He tolerates blood draws jugular, wing trims, etc...do without a towel (catch up with towel is fine, but get him out for the handler after that or he will overheat quickly).

I am at your disposal should an emergency arise, at any hour if you can reach me. Page and Seth are excellent clients and personal friends of mine, If they are stressed about his condition I don't mind being contacted for whatever reason.