Psittacine Beak and Feather disease

[vivalis]

Hi, everyone. Its been awhile since I've posted so let me quickly update you on my situation. I have had my budgie Phinny (see my avatar) for about 9 months. I decided to get him a friend since I started working full time in June and have had a lot less time to spend with him. I bought Luna, a beautiful white and gray-ish blue budgie towards the end of August. (I haven't gotten around to buying a new battery for my digital camera, or else I would definitely have posted pictures of her. She is gorgeous!) Anyway, I have been very diligent about quarantining the two of them. I always wash my hands between feeding and handling them. They were always in separate rooms until this weekend when I let them be in the same room (because 30 days had past), although not near each other.
About two weeks ago, I took Luna to my vet for an exam to make sure that she was generally healthy. She passed her physical exam with no problems and I agreed to have some basic laboratory tests done on her to be safe. The vet tested for Psittacosis, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), and parasites.
The vet called me this afternoon to tell me that Luna had tested positive for PBFD. He also said that it was extremely rare for a budgie to have this - that neither he nor any other bird vet at his practice had ever had a budgie test positive for it before. He said that he was suspicious of the results and advised me to keep up the quarantine for another 2 months after which Luna will be tested again. He also advised me to have Phinny tested since the disease can be airborne. If Luna starts acting sick within the next 2 months, I'm supposed to bring her in earlier. So far, she has not acted sick at all.

Yikes! Does anyone have any experience with this one? Could Luna be a carrier and never get sick? How likely is it that either of the birds will get sick? If I had just quarantined her and never taken her to the vet, I would never have even known about this. Has anyone had or heard of another budgie with PBFD?

I feel terrible! I just wanted Phinny to have a friend to play with when I wasn't around. Now I might have exposed him to a nasty disease. I hope neither of them get sick...

[Enna]

wow i've never heard of a budgie get this. In most case the bird with the Psittacine will have be to destroyed to prevent it from spreading. I was also warn the pet shop or where ever you got the budgie from about this. Also is there any way to get your other baby tested for this and if she is fine bring her to a friends to try and keep this from spreading. I pray that the test was wrong for your birds sake.

[Budgiekin]

Oh my goodness! I sure hope the test results were incorrect! That is a very serious disease! My fingers are crossed for you and your little sweety Luna. Please keep us posted with what's going on!

[Donna]

I don't have a clue about this disease but I just want you to know that my heart goes out to you. I can understand your worry, but please don't blame yourself if anything does happen. You were thinking of your 1st Budgie's happiness and that's why you got him a friend. Then you took your 2nd Budgie to the Vet to have a check-up. You even quarantined your Budgies. You did all of the right things - so you have nothing to be blaming yourself for.

Things like this happen, but I am with Budgiekin on this one. . . I am hoping (along with her) that the tests didn't read right and that it was a mis-read. We'll just believe with you, that when you go to repeat this test again, everything will turn out fine.

Please know that there are many on the forum that care about you and we want to support you through this time. Hang in there!

Donna

[redgirl]

I have never heard of this disease before but then I am not an expert or anything. Praying the test was wrong or this can be sorted out. Hope everything turns out to be ok xxxxxxxx

[murphygirl]

Dear Vivalis,

As with many of the forum members, I don't know much about this disease, except that is indeed very rare. To learn more about it, you may want to visit http://www.exoticpetvet.net/ and click on Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Today. It has some interesting information but unfortunately, there is no preventative vaccine or cure.

Is your vet willing to re-test to make sure it wasn't a false positive? It sounds like he or she is a wonderful avian vet. And you sound like a wonderful Mommy!

Keep up the good work. You are on the right track and are doing everything humanly possible to provide the best health care for your babies. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Luna.

[pal0m1n0]

Interesting information, I definitely bookmarked the site. If anyone remembers the post showing a strange growth on their birds beak, could it possibly be this disease?

[vivalis]

Thanks for your support, everyone! I really appreciate your kind words.

I am hoping that all of this is a mistake and Luna does not actually have PBFD.
Do you guys think it worth having her re-tested right away? The vet wants to wait 2 months because it is possible that she could clear the virus if she actually has it. I think he is trying to save me some money because the test costed about $50. I am definitely going to get my other bird tested.

Poor Luna! She is such a sweet girl.

[Enna]

I don't think this just goes away sorry. This is actually some dangerous stuff your dealing with. I wouldn't venture into a pet store any time soon and i would get your other baby tested. I'm not saying this it make you spend money but if they have this they can die from it. If your other budgie is fine i would get him out of the house as soon as possible to try and keep it from spreading if he does have this. If your bird does have this i would go back to the store and get a full refund, Give them the proof 1th. I would like you and anyone else who may want to, to read this.

The story (http://www.ellen-parrots.com/frames-pbfd.html)