CARE recently had two cockatiels transferred to us from a local humane society. Obviously sick, we rushed them to the vet, and they were diagnosed with lockjaw, which comes from the parents. It also has a very poor prognosis.Lemon, a lutino cockatiel, was in worse shape than her cagemate. (We do not have a picture of these birds available yet, but the above picture is of a healthy lutino cockatiel that was surrendered to us last year).
She required extensive care from us. Lemon needed to be gavaged several times a day -- a task made more difficult by the fact that she could barely open her mouth. We had to clean out her eyes and nares three times a day in order to get the mucus out. She had to be given two antibiotics and one pain medication. Additionally, we did physical therapy three times per day to make sure her beak wouldn't clamp shut.
Her cagemate showed fewer signs -- basically just the sniffles. He was treated and, after receiving a clean bill of health, adopted into his new home.
Lemon just went for her three week vet check and is doing great. Her liver levels are a little high yet, so we're treating her with a different antibiotic for two more weeks, then will test her again. Hopefully, at that time she will be released to go to her new home.
Most people wouldn't even try to save a lockjaw bird the prognosis is so poor. But we believe in giving every bird that comes to us a fighting chance.
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