I guessed as much!

I took Jimmy to his new vet today, and the vet suggested what I’ve thought for a while now: Epilepsy.

Apparently epilepsy isn’t uncommon among certain kinds of birds. It affects lovebirds and red-lored Amazons, but it could also happen in Green Cheeks. I guess the cyclical nature of the seizures and the fact that they happen at night when he’s asleep are the big clues. If it was illness or metal poisoning, it would have taken the little guy from me by now.

So now I have to give him 4 units of phenobarbital twice a day, just a little liquid in his beak with an insulin syringe. He’ll be a little loopy and sleepy until he gets used to it, but it should stop the seizures.

Heh, pheno-BIRD-bital, more like. The pharmacist felt bad that she only had regular cough-syrup bottles for the little teaspoon of his meds, which is a month’s worth for him.

“I have to charge you $10.99, too, because that’s the lowest we’re allowed to charge for this.”

DOH!

Fortunately, I saved his old bottles from other meds, so I washed one out with hot water and will put the medicine in there when it’s dry. Then my little guy will have a good night’s sleep tonight–as will his mommy after all of this worry! I’ll tellya, if I had known this two years ago when I got him… Not that I could put a price on his life, but it would have saved me about $3,000!

I’m just glad it appears to be something we can work with. And the little chunk gained some weight. He’s 84 grams! He’s usually about 80, the little butterball.

Although I suppose I shouldn’t use that word. See, there’s this chicken. Her name is Priscilla Poult. The staff there found her last Thanksgiving. They think she fell off a poultry truck. Now she lives there. I walked into the office and she came strolling into the receptionist’s area, as calm as she pleased, owning the place. She earns her keep, though: She lays eggs. Pretty cool, eh? Check out the bow on her tail.

 

I love you, dahling, but give me Park Avenue.

 Yay for happy endings!