Washington State University is giving a severely starved parrot a good prognosis, after an emergency and very rare blood transfusion.
Zinnia underwent a rare and emergency blood transfusion from Dr. Marcie Logsdon, in the Exotics and Wildlife Department, after WSU diagnosed her as starving and extremely anemic.
The double yellow-headed Amazon parrot lived in Spokane. She was unable to talk, walk, fly or even open her eyes when she was surrendered to her new owners, Haylee “Dove” Leyva and Finn Wichert, of Pullman. Her condition was dire.
Her new owners adopted Zinnia as a rescue. They weren’t sure she would survive the trip to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman.
“We were concerned that giving her treatment was going to be too much on her body. At one point, with birds being so sensitive, after a certain point, their body just shuts down. So, when you try to help them, whether it be with diet or a medication, that can be too much on their body,” said Finn Wichert.
Now, weeks after the transfusion, Zinnia is again full of life and personality.
“She also did not act like this at all. She barely made any sounds. “We weren’t sure if that was because of the state she was in, or if that was how she was just going to be, butshe has gotten her very sassy personalityback,”said Hayley “Dove” Leyva.
Dr. Logsdon used her own red-lored Amazon parrot, Oliver, as her blood donor. Before now, she had only done transfusions on wild birds- including hawks and eagles.
Now, WSU says Zinnia could live 35 more years.
