The Oasis Sanctuary

I recently spoke to the Vet who had seen Anna’s bird Charlie and the rest of her flock.

He gave me a copy of the paperwork from Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics, Inc, a veterinary laboratory out of Ohio. The paperwork has a list of 26 possible tests ( a few of which are not avian, but reptile tests.) Included on the list are such things as DNA, Psittacine Beak and Feather (PBFD,) Aspergillosis, Mycobateria of various types, Polyoma, West Nile….

….AND the new PDD Assay.

Nowhere on the paperwork, front or back, is there anything which states that this is in the Beta testing or research stage. It does not ask you to call them or speak with them. It merely states that the results take 7-10 days.

At the bottom of the page, however, where it speaks of privacy etc it DOES state that they are not “liable for any….damages….”

And the Vet has to sign off.

So….it is easy to see why many of us are so confused about this test.

I should not be surprised at the interest and controversy which my previous post on the new PDD test brought to light. I very much appreciate the input from the public, and the communication, both pro and con, which I have received.

I am not an expert in these matters. In my Blog I merely discuss what happens to me or my friends  (and their birds) or to birds at The Oasis.  Obviously much of what I experience puts me on the learning curve. My greatest personal joy in life in learning something new….

Since the original was posted I spoke to my friend “Anna” who went to the lab’s website and found this: “VMD is accepting a limited number of samples from clinically, well-documented cases of birds affected with myenteric ganglioneuritis (Proventricular Dilation Disease, PDD) for validation of a molecular disease test. Please contact VMD for more details and submission guidelines.”

This is understandably most distressing to Anna as her Veterinarian did not tell her that this test was in the testing stages. Nor did the articles, passed around the internet, which crossed my desk last fall, talk about this being off in the future.

Remember that Anna’s Vet suggested that she might consider euthanizing her bird to protect her flock…

I have a meeting this week with The Oasis’ Vet. He said he would sit down and explain what he understands to be happening with this test. I will be happy to post what I learn.

So the question remains: are birds being destroyed due to “testing”….??

I remain curious but hopeful that the research being done in the US in the name of saving lives does not, incidentally or accidentally, do more harm than good.

Is It A Reliable Protocol?

A few months ago, in the fall of 2008, some incredible news was circulating through the Internet….

A bone fide test for PDD (Proventricular Dilation Disease, formerly called “Macaw Wasting Syndrome”) had been found.

PDD is a neurological disease which most commonly causes the nerves which trigger digestion in the proventriculus of the parrot to atrophy. Slowly, the bird starves to death… Sometimes this disease also can cause seizures or physical instability as it damages the brain.

Until this point in time, the only testing available were crop biopsies which were, all too often, inconclusive. A positive was a positive…but a negative didn’t mean much. All too often the only definitive diagnosis was made upon necropsy.

A true positive diagnosis is a death sentence. And since the disease is contagious…although no one knows for sure how contagious it is…many birds with a positive biopsy result, especially those who were in multiple bird households, were destroyed.

Recently, a close Friend of The Oasis, who for this article will be called “Anna,” took one of her birds, an African Grey named “Charlie” to the Vet.  Charlie was passing undigested seed and was not feeling well overall. The antibiotics first given didn’t resolve Charlie’s problem…so the Vet decided to try the new PDD test on the bird. Two other younger birds who had been tested by him, and came up positive, were truly found to be PDD positive on necropsy….

Anna’s bird came back positive. Since she has other birds in her home she arranged to bring the others in for testing. In the meanwhile, another antibiotic was given to Charlie to counteract what was seen as a secondary infection.

The Veterinarian suggested that Anna consider euthanizing Charlie.

Anna and I had several long talks. My personal belief system states that where there is life there is hope….

We discussed carefully isolating Charlie from any “negative” birds and to put certain basic bio-hazard or hospital protocols into place (last one fed, careful hygiene, sterilization procedures and clothing changes.)

All the birds were tested again, including Charlie.

A week later the Vet called with the second round of testing results. Apparently the lab felt there had been in error in the batch of tests….All except Charlie came back inconclusive… but Charlie now came back negative.

The lab said that they would do a complete re-test on all the birds at no cost.

The testing was done, but this time each and every one came back negative.

And by now Charlie is no longer passing seed. So Charlie has had one positive and two negative test results. All the other birds, who are acting healthy and appear well have had one positive and one negative.

Obviously neither the Vet nor Anna nor I know what to think. Since there is only one laboratory in the US doing the new PDD test, they cannot go elsewhere to have the testing redone. Although, even if they could, what would it mean at this point in time?

I spoke with Anna’s Vet to assuage my curiosity. He believes that in all likelihood if anyone has PDD it would be Charlie. Anna continues to keep him separated from the other birds and follows her new protocols.

But this puts into question the efficacy of the new test. Is it putting out false negatives? False positives? Is it lab error?

And the scariest thought is…are people euthanizing their birds out of fear, simply based on a new test??

Bridget the Blue and Gold Macaw has been with The Oasis for over ten years. She arrived, with her buddy, Star, a Scarlet, in 1998. At that time they were reputed to have been together for over 35 years. Since both were “wild-caught” birds, there is no way to ascertain exactly how old she is, but based on our current information we assume that (winter 2009) she is close to 50 years old.

Bridget is a beautiful bird. Well feathered. However, when we attempted to put her in the Macaw Aviary last May, we discovered that she is severely arthritic. Subsequent X-rays showed her shoulders to be very calcified.

Additionally, as has happened in a surprising number of situations, when given other options, she and Star “divorced.” Not able to fly, she could not stay in the flight and was brought into the bird building.

We began her on a regimen of Adequan, an anti-inflammatory used for animal arthritis, similar to Glucosamine and Chondroitin, but more long lasting. She received an injection every ten days. She seemed comfortable, and hung out in the bird building, making new friends.

On the Sunday morning before Christmas, after our weekly Staff Meeting, I received an urgent summons: Bridget had facial bruising. Could I come take a look.

My first thought was a bite or such from another bird.

My second thought was that perhaps she had been held too tight when getting her injection.

It was not to be that simple….

When I went into the building I saw that she had a huge swelling, filled with blood, under the beak. The left side of her face was bruised and swollen. There were no bite marks.

Bridget was trying to breath with difficulty. I looked into her open mouth and saw that her mouth was terribly swollen.

I called Todd, our Vet, on his private cell-phone. I left a message on his page: 911. Sunday is family day. I could only hope that he would be available and answer. Within moments my phone rang. I described the situation. By now Bridget was gagging up water and blood.

We agreed that she would be seen that day. I ran around like mad, collecting my clothing, while staff got a large carrier, towels and food. I left within an hour and met with Todd in Phoenix, three hours away, by 3 PM.

Bridget was in extreme distress. Her white count was very high and she was terribly anemic. Her breathing was labored and she could not eat.

Todd and I agreed that she would be staying in intensive care….

Over the next week…including the days that the clinic was closed, Christmas and more, Todd came in, often staying part of the day. He checked on her morning and evening and hand fed her. While the swelling and bleeding was resolving, she still was not eating and was having difficulty breathing. Her white blood-count remained high even though she was on a couple of different antibiotics, including one which was being administered intravenously.

By the end of the week, after Bridget had been on oxygen for several days,Todd decided to have Ruth Ann bring in another Macaw and do a transfusion on Bridget.

Both birds were anesthetized and blood was withdrawn from the donor and administered to Bridget.

Within hours she was feeling better. She no longer needed oxygen and began to eat a bit on her own.

I spoke to several avian oriented Veterinarians including Todd, and no one can figure out what went wrong…

Bridget is still fragile and frail. She is out of the hospital and currently in foster care with Ruth Ann, so she can remain closer to Todd should she need further help.

…but I am thrilled that this sweet old girl has lived to see another New Year.

Important Tests to Get Before Bringing your Bird Home…or Out of Quarantine

These are the tests that The Oasis Sanctuary considers “base line” introductory tests for any bird … particularly those joining a flock or a household with other birds:

For all birds (the exception is finches which are too small! They need some prophylactic meds for air-sac mites, as do canaries.)

1- CBC/Chemistry (Full Avian Panel)

2- Psittacosis (also called “Parrot Fever” or “Chlamydia”)

3- Fecal Culture and sensitivity

There also needs to be a thorough physical exam including, but not limited to:

1-     mouth

2-     nares

3-     joints (for arthritis)

For specific Breeds:

Old World Parrots (Africa, Asia, Indonesia)

Add:    PBFD (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease) aka Circo Virus 1

For New World Parrots (Central and South America)

Add:    Physical exam for Papiloma

Annual visits to the Avian Vet should also include:

1-     CBC/Chem.

2-     Fecal Culture and sensitivity

As well as the physical exam

From time to time an electrophoresis might be needed, or x-rays. Your Vet will add what s/he thinks necessary for the care and well-being of your particular bird.

Holly is walking on my shoulder, purring loudly in my ear and rubbing her little face against mine. She is about four months old, a very cute little Calico kitten.

She was dumped out here, in the cold of mid-winter, at a time that the coyotes come up into the sanctuary’s driveway and into our orchard and sing their night-long songs of hunger and hunting…

This morning when Oasis staff-member Chris went into the three-sided barn he found her sleeping on a bale of hay. Unlike the occasional feral cat we come across, she didn’t run. She allowed herself to be picked up and settled into Chris’ jacket. He brought her up to the office where we set up a litter box and food and water for her in the Guest bedroom.

Holly, so named as it is just a few days after Christmas, is skinny. It was 23 degrees out this morning and this little one has neither the fat nor dense coat to protect her from the elements. Nor does she have the skills to avoid the predators…although she does hiss and spit at the dogs who are confused by this unusual behavior.

Holly, however, would rather cuddle than eat, and mewls loudly, complaining when left alone.

She was sneezing this morning when first brought in…although that has ceased and I see no evidence of respiratory infection…no runny eyes or snotty nose. None the less I will keep her away from the other cats for a few days until she has settled into life here.

Then we…she and I…will decide whether Holly becomes an office kitty or comes home with me and joins the cats covering every counter-top in my house.

At the end of February 2007 I ran into an acquaintance who asked whether the director of the Benson Animal Shelter had reached me about two deaf puppies needing foster care. Since he hadn’t, I called him and he met with me within a half hour at the shelter.

Two white and red balls of fur, Aussie mix puppies, bounded toward me. They were about 5 weeks old; Henry weighed 4.5 pounds, Murphy weighed 8. In addition to being deaf, the boys had obvious sight problems. These pups were the product of breeding a Merle (splotchy-type Aussie or Cattle Dog) to another Merle; their problems caused by a weak gene.

The pups had been found almost a week earlier, an hour apart, on the west side of the San Pedro River outside Benson Arizona. Murphy was brought to All Creatures Veterinary Hospital in town. Henry, picked up by another Good Samaritan, was dropped off the Benson Shelter. When Paul and Dr. Nancy spoke, it became apparent that these two could be related, so Murphy was taken to the Shelter. The two crying puppies settled down as soon as they were back together. Paul immediately sent out volunteers to comb the area where the puppies had been found, but no others were located.

Henry, the smaller of the two, was fragile and Paul was not sure whether he would survive. By the time I met them, both were active, rapidly growing and putting on weight.

Within days of the boys arrival at The Oasis, Paul signed them over to the Sanctuary. Paul felt the abandonment of these pups was especially cruel as they could not hear any predators or cars. He said he would have taken them into the Shelter without question had they been dropped off.

At 4 months old, in addition to being deaf and vision difficulties (Henry’s sight was limited to limited to about 20 feet) they began to have had epileptic seizures. Due to their limited world, the two were extraordinarily bonded and dependant on one another. Even with their obvious difficulties both were doing remarkably well and weighed over 30 pounds each. They were learning a few simple hand signals such as “sit” and “come.”

I began doing Internet research as soon as the two little ones came into my life. There are wonderful websites with information on deaf, epileptic and sight impaired dogs.

Murphy and Henry had no idea that anything should be different in their world and were adjusting to their lives….

Within a year the two boys had grown up and have become absolutely incredible dogs. Henry’s problems, however, continued, while Murphy became more and more normative….

During the first year, Murphy had 5 or 6 seizures. While “grand mal” type (loss of bladder etc control, as well as major convulsions) they did not seem to last as long as Henry’s. Henry went through a period where he would have severe seizures anywhere from once a week to every ten days…and they would occasionally come in series.

I went to several websites including www.deafdogs.org and got as much information as I could on these deaf-blind Aussies (popularly referred to as “Lethal Whites.” ) But there were no real solutions provided for epilepsy other than serious medications such a Phenobarbital which had long term and potentially fatal side effects.

I did learn, however, that natural Vanilla ice cream, warmed to room temperature, would help the dogs after seizures by raising their blood sugar levels which would be depleted by the convulsions.

I continued to do Internet research.

Henry, Murphy and I took a trip up to Phoenix to a Veterinarian who had familiarity with epileptic dogs. I brought along the bloodwork that that had been done by our Veterinarian in Benson. After review the Phoenix Veterinarian agreed with the Benson doctor that the dogs had low blood sugar….but his suggestion for trying to control the seizures was surprisingly simple: 1 or 2 cc’s of KARO (corn) syrup twice a day.

Murphy’s seizures disappeared immediately. Henry’s seizures slowed down to once a month or 6 weeks. At about 8 months of age I stopped giving Murphy the KARO syrup and he remained seizure-free. Henry stayed on the KARO syrup, but I cut it back to once a day and by the time he was a year old his seizures had stopped as well.

It had been at least 6 months since Henry had a seizure, and several months ago I stopped giving him his sweet “medication.” And for a while he continued to remain seizure free…

Murphy became quite independent. He would run around my home property with the other dogs and Murphy found his way all the way over to the Sanctuary office, about ¼ mile away down the dirt driveway.

Henry remained more cautious. Although he would follow Murphy around and rough house with all the dogs, he would stop and try to find me. I began to believe his sight was slowly failing. When I would wave or gesture madly, if he was more than 10 feet away, unless the wind were blowing in his direction and he could sense me that way, he definitely remained at a disadvantage.

However, I discovered that there are odd  advantages to having deaf dogs. They focus on me more and respond to simple hand signals. And since it is useless, there is no yelling involved. Also, they are not fearful of thunder, gunshots or the vacuum cleaner…

While Murphy remained seizure-free, after almost a year without seizures, Henry began having major seizures again which came in clusters.

I felt that it was time to try heavier drugs and called my local Veterinarian for a prescription for Phenobarbitol. I began him on 32.4 mg twice a day. And it appeared to work…for a few months. Then we added 1000 mg Potassium Bromide at night…

I must digress here…

Henry is my “familiar”…he and I share a strong connection not always felt between any two living beings. I had a connection like this with Beemer, a cat who lived with me for 13 years. With Henry, both he and I become anxious…for different reasons, no doubt, when we are apart. I work that we may have a seizure. He just needs the stability of my presence.

Henry began traveling with me as his seizures started up again. He, and a carrying case of medications and supplements, would ride up to Phoenix with me. We went to Las Vegas together for an Expo…at which he was a “star.” He comes to work with me daily, sleeping under my desk.

Henry became the amazing-deaf-mostly-blind-epileptic…and now farting…dog.

I was warned that the Potassium Bromide would make him gaseous.

Henry can clear out a room.

The seizures continued.  Henry’s sight declined. Now he seemed to only see within a 6 feet radius of where he would stand.

I took Henry to see a Veterinary Neurologist in Phoenix.

I really liked the Neurologist. She liked Henry…saying he was the nicest Deaf dog she had recently met…that all too many were rough, rowdy or nippy. She drew blood. She adjusted medications. Ultimately we upped the Phenobarb to 64.8 mg, and then upped the Phenobarb to 97.2 mg morning and night with a mid-afternoon dose as well. Even with the adjustments, every month like clockwork at the full moon his seizures would continue. Clusters of them, one after the other often spaced 4 or 6 hours apart. I would inject him with Diazapam (liquid Valium) and it would help…briefly. During the most recent of his bouts, the seizures continued for three and a half days. At one point Henry alerted me to his seizure in the kitchen when I heard a loud thud as his head hit the stove.

It has been hard to watch. All I want is a quality of life for him.

I have gone back and re-read articles I read two years ago. I have researched more. I sit with baited breath waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The medications he is on have made Henry gain abnormal amounts of weight. While Murphy remains puppy-ish, most people who meet Henry believe him to be an elderly…or at least older…dog.

My 15 year old Pup-Pup sleeps 18 hours a day.

Sadly, I watch Henry do the same.

In early December I received an e-mail under the heading of “Bird Inquiries.” Most such emails are about a bird or two needing placement options. However this particular e-mail was about over 100 small birds from a “sanctuary” in Northern California which would soon be closing their doors…

As in most cases, the founders had high hopes and a great compassion for birds. But as all too many people have learned…sanctuary work is not just about loving and caring for birds. It is, unfortunately about creating a business which can care for the ever-growing number of animals needing safe-haven.

Money is scarce, the job of fund raising daunting. Within a year of receiving their provisional non-profit status from the IRS, their doors would close forever.

I immediately sent out an email to about a dozen bone fide adoption programs and sanctuaries we work, outlining the situation.

While several people and groups offered help, due to logistics, several organizations emerged as the major players in this drama: Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue in the San Francisco Bay area, Primarily Primates in San Antonio (now a part of Friends of Animals) and The Oasis Sanctuary in southern Arizona. (Note: Foster Parrots in Massachusetts will also be accepting a few birds from this rescue, but due to transportation/weather considerations those birds are in foster care with Mickaboo.)

Thrown into this mix were Chris Sanders and Diana Welsh, two exotic Veterinarians who run Wildwood Veterinary Hospitals in the San Jose and Portola Valley California areas. They had plans to visit family in Austin Texas over the Christmas holiday and agreed to drive the birds from California, through Arizona and onto Texas. Oasis friend, who is both a volunteer for Mickaboo and Chris and Diana’s employee, Louisa, also acted as an intermediary, finding a low cost vehicle able to safely transport these birds.

I had recently been out to see Primarily Primates as part of a re-certification visit for American Sanctuary Association. I saw several beautiful and under-occupied bird aviaries. They also have an on-site Veterinarian who is capable of normal care for avians. Stephen, the director, had told me that if any birds needed placement to let him know. When I contacted Primarily Primates, Stephen agreed to accept 6 ring neck doves, a dozen conures and approximately 30 cockatiels.

I spent time in communication with Michelle at Mickaboo, who, with her Volunteers, caught the birds and crated/caged them for their long trip. They also triaged the birds and ended up finding foster for approximately 40 birds who were not in shape for the long journey. Some, who were friendly little conures and such, will be adopted out by Mickaboo when they are ready to go into new homes. (Contact Mickaboo if you are interested. They, and many other birds currently in their care, need homes.)

With the help of one of The Oasis’ corporate donors, which provided us with an emergency transportation grant, we were able to rent a passenger Van from Penske truck Rentals in the bay area. Upon hearing that the van would be transporting these homeless birds, Penske dropped their normal mileage rate from 22 cents per mile to five cents!

The Arizona birds…15 budgies, 15 lovebirds and a lonely Quaker…would be dropped of at Tom and Ruth Ann home in south Scottsdale, which, for the past decade, has served as our Foster Care facility. The birds would be arriving in the Phoenix area during the night of the 22^nd-23^rd of December. I arranged to be staying close-by. At 2:17 in the morning, Chris called and told me that he and Diana had arrived at their motel which was near the foster house.

It was pouring, a cold and heavy rain, rare in Phoenix.

At 3 AM I arrived and helped Chris, Tom and Ruth Ann removed 80 or so birds from the Van, get them out of the weather, set up and covered up for the night.

By 9 the following morning the weather had cleared. I arrived back at Tom and Ruth Ann’s. We uncovered birds and I began moving the Budgies into their temporary quarters. By 10, Chris and Diana were back and we reloaded the birds going on to Texas. And at 10:30 Steve Bodinet from Channel 3 in Phoenix, who had done a wonderful Gulliver story last summer, arrived to do a short piece on the birds.

The Oasis’ birds will stay at Tom and Ruth Ann’s until they are Vet checked and approved to come to the Sanctuary. Primarily Primates received their birds on Christmas Eve. Chris and Diana made it to their family for Christmas.

A number of people and organizations working together can do amazing feats. If you wish to contact any of the organizations to volunteer or help with funding the medical care and testing these birds will need, you can contact each of us as follows:

Mickaboo at http://www.mickaboo.org/

Primarily Primates at: www.primarilyprimates.org 830-755-4616

The Oasis Sanctuary at: www.the-oasis.org 520-212-4737 or 602-863-1543

Need a Vet? Call Chris or Diana at the Wildwood Veterinary Hospitals at: http://www.wildwoodvet.com/hosp.htm

I want to thank everyone who helped in this Holiday rescue. We could not have done this without each and every one of you…

If you want to help with the cost of the care of the birds we have taken in please contact Charlotte at 602-863-1543 or make a donation through our website. Remember: It does not take much….but IT DOES TAKE YOU!!!

With best Wishes for the New Year….

Sybil

PS To see Steve Bodinet’s video about the birds at Tom and Ruth Ann’s, please go to: http://www.azfamily.com/video/?z=y&nvid=316030