   Rembrandt is a DNA sexed male, 6 year old Blue and Gold Macaw. Remmy, as I call him, has one physical problem. He has what is known as Macaw Hypersensitivity Syndrome, basically it is allergies and asthma. Why and How this happens is just not really known as yet, therefore that is why it is called Syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality. Remmy's symptoms are normally sneezing, clear discharge from his right nare, open mouthed breathing and minute wheezing. The signs that he will be having an attack are that he begins to poke at his nares with his nails and also mild wet sneezes. He has had several full blown asthma like attacks where he was gasping for air. In that case I immediately take him to his Vet, Dr.Briggs, Ocean County Vet Hospital, Lakewood, New Jersey.. Personally, I believe this all started when Remmy was only 5 months old. Remmy came home when he was 4 months old and it was not until much later that I had found out he was forced weaned. One day Remmy just stopped eating and I called the breeder immediatley, only to be told NOT to be tempted to hand feed him. I watched my sweet baby begging to be fed, but I listened to the so called breeder. Remmy cried constantly and after several days of listening to the breeder I stopped listening to the breeder and went with my instincts. I hand fed Remmy. In the meantime I had begged the breeder to come to my house and finally I threatened him and he came. When he walked into my home,he took one look at Remmy and said, "You have one sick baby here," I in turn screamed at him, "No YOU have one sick baby here." I forced him to take Remmy to his vet, yes forced. Remmy was so weak that he could not even stand. I had spent many a sleepless night just sitting, holding Remmy and crying. Remmy's blood was brown and he was very anemic, his blood protein levels were 3.5 and I was told he would not survive. They could not even get a weight simply because the vet did not have a gram scale. As you can see,my Rembrandt sure did survive. I think I willed him to live. Since that time many years ago, I have become overly sensitive to all my birds.I have never once been wrong yet when I felt something was amiss with my babes. BB'S Perch LinksStompers Perch | Happy Birthday Naomi | Showcase | My Awards | Na-Nook's Perch |