JAMES HARRIS, DVM
Treating psittacosis can take time
 For about 3 1/2 weeks now, I have been treating my budgies and finches with doxycycline for psittacosis. Each bird gets it orally via a syringe. The diet has been pretty much the same since we started the treatment: no mineral supplements or table foods, and I give them bottled spring water and plain seeds (unfortified).
The birds seemed to respond well during the first week of treatment and the droppings were perfect. Now the droppings are weird again. Is this normal? They occasionally have polyuria, diarrhea, and lime-green droppings.
In addition, one of the budgies continues to have tiny, bright-red specks in his normal jade-green stools (they look like fresh blood particles under the magnifying glass) and he sometimes has yellowish- or reddish-brown droppings which also often seem to be tinted with blood. Lately, he sometimes also still has dark brown-blackish droppings.
Could it be that this particular budgie has an intolerance to the doxycycline, or that his psittacosis was more severe and its a sign that its coming out of his system? Im as careful as I can be handling him but he fights me and struggles really hard. Could the resistance be causing him some kind of internal damage or bruising?
Last week, I noticed red sediments in the medicine bottle so I assumed it was no good and needed to be replaced. We started using the new bottle of doxy last weekend, but the droppings still look as weird as before we started the treatment. Im starting to wonder if the doxy is working at all, or maybe theres something else in the disinfection procedure that Im not doing right?
None of my birds act sick at all. They play normally and eat well. But I'm afraid they'll all still be sick when we retest. Im getting so discouraged. Help!
--Spark, lbahl@9bit.qc.ca
 A 45-day course of doxycycline is the usual treatment for psittacosis. The infection primarily affects the digestive tract and associated organs, including the liver. Bright-green droppings are one manifestation of the damage psittacosis does to the liver.
As treatment progresses and the patient responds, the liver should heal and droppings should return to normal. However, a cure is not guaranteed. If it comes, it may take time, which varies depending on the bird. You must be patient, continue to administer the medication, and follow your veterinarian's advice for follow-up testing and additional treatment if indicated.
Your own vet also would be in the best position to evaluate the bright-red specks you are seeing in your birds' droppings. I would strongly advise supplying him or her with a sample of what you described.
As for the sediments you saw, it's possible your medication was old; there are a number of forms of doxycycline on the market, some long dated and others shorter lived. Or you may simply need to shake the bottle to mix the contents more thoroughly before using. Consult with your vet.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
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