*** Sad Update*** I think I may have to PTS my baby

[Yoyo'sMom]

Hi Everyone-

I just joined because I really need some support right now. I have a beautiful Meyer's parrot which I think I may have to put to sleep. I rescued him from a not very good bird store about a year ago. I new something was wrong with when I got him, as I'm a vet tech and I could see something wasn't right. Anyway he started off with balance problems on his perch. Which over the months proceeded to falling off the perch and now he's pretty much down on the bottom of his cage. The avian vet at my hospital did blood work and Xrays and we've consulted various specialists. The closest we can come up with is he has some kind of debilitating infection thats attacking his kidneys and nervous system. I'm trying one last ditch effort with an anti-inflamatory to see if it will help with his mobility.

The hardest thing right now is to decide if it might be time to let him go. I can see that he's going downhill but he still eats and give kisses. Although he's getting progressively quieter and like I said he can't get around very well. I just don't want to be selfish and prolong any suffering.

 

[Mystics Mom]

I am so sorry...You will know in your heart when the time is right.You are his Angel..THANKYOU for giving him love and care for what ever time he has here! many to you ...Welcome to Avian Avenue

 

[itzmered]

 

[ILoveTiels]

I hope this last effort gives him the strength to get through this.

if not, is there anything he can be given for pain until he passes? he still seems very happy. When Coraline passed, she was still bowing her head for scritches and chirping softly. Sometimes, being put down may not be the best. Sometimes, its better for them to go in your arms, in the comfort of home. I held her until her final moments which were very calm and peaceful. I told her i loved her and told her to let go, and she did. She showed no signs of being in pain.

 

[April]

Im so sorry to hear this,many to you and your fid.

 

[suncoast]

I am so very sorry. May I ask who your avian vet is and what tests were done? Did he do an xray? What about an MRI? What blood work? What has he been treated for? Aspers? PDD? Giardia? Ect.?


Ginger

 

[KimKimWilliamson]

I would give the meds time to kick in, and if no visible difference is seen, I would probably choose to have him put to sleep. Wouldnt want him suffering in vain.

 

[WingedVictory]

Thank you for doing everything you can for your bird!

 

[dolldid]

im so happy you joined us but sorry for your reason but hun were here for you and your baby

im no help but my prayer hope they bring comfort to you both
your heart wll be your guide hear it and all will work out
theres lots of members here that can and will guide you hear them well

knowing what you new when you bought your baby not many would have for this i thank you you gve him a better life than he had befor you he has had love and great care god bless you for this

soglad your here hugssssssssssss


doll mango

 

[Anne & Gang]

you will know in your heart when the time is right..so sorry you are both having to go through this

 

[Yoyo'sMom]

First of all thank you to everyone for their kind words and thoughts.

In response to what tests, etc.... We did a full blood panel, fecal and xrays. He did have giardia when I first got him so we treated with metronidizole and it cleared. Blood panel was unremarkable. The specialist that reviewed Xrays...I believe his name is Dr. Silverman in northern california said all looked normal but slight enlargement of the kidneys. The specialist Dr. at the lab that my Dr. consulted with said given the symptoms she thought maybe the borna virus of PDD was the culprit. She said to try Metacam which we did but that just made him cranky and he didn't want to eat. Currently treating with prednisolone and an antibiotic.

 

[Greytfeather]

Not sure what else to use besides Metacam. So sorry for what you're going through.
Prayers for your little one.
Hugs.

 

[yvette]

 

[Yoyo'sMom]

It's sooo frustrating to not know exactly what the problem is! He still has a lot of his mental capacity but his body is just failing. I spoke with a woman at an avian store close to me and she said she's seen this before with parakeets and amazons and described what he's going through to a T. i.e. initial lack of balance, falling from perch and eventually leg paralysis. She said she thinks it's from overbreeding. I'm struggling with the PTS part because every time I think he's coming close to the end he perks up a little. He's really a fighter. My husband thinks he's holding on for my benefit but I told him tonight it's o.k. to go if he has to. I would prefer he die at home but I don't want him to struggle too much. He's one of the sweetest little birds I've ever known.

 

[Birdiemarie]

I'm so very sorry your faby is going through this. Thank you for loving him and taking such good care of him.

 

[abbydp]

I am so very very sorry you are going through this. Thank you for giving him such a good home and letting him know what it is to be loved. I just went through this with my little Peep. We were also fighting an unknown illness that turned out to be PDD. She had none of the neurologic symptoms though, only the weight loss. Have you tried Celebrex? Dr. B in NC uses that with the metacam I believe and has been fairly successful if caught early enough. Peep was not caught until she was too far gone, so we did not try it. She had had enough and fought long enough, so we set her free from her worn out little body. I know your pain and exactly where you are on the rollar coaster ride. It's so hard - you come to terms and make a decision and then there is a good day and they are looking at you with their cute little face and you just want to keep fighting with everything you have. It's always the great ones that go early. I will be thinking about you and little YoYo and hoping these meds make a difference. If you ever want to talk feel free to pm me or email me. I can give you my number too if you need to talk. You know him better than anyone - if he still has fight left in him then fight with everything you have so you can feel like you did everything, successful or not. If you feel he is just worn out, then be strong enough to take his pain away. He will tell you. Whatever you decide will be the right decision, trust yourself and your instincts. Make the decision for him and it will be right. Huge hugs - I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

 

[Danita]

I am so very sorry you are going through this. The hardest thing about having a pet


You will know when it is time, they will tell you.
In my case, the night before, he did not run to the side of his cage to fall asleep with me. He would always watch over me while I fell asleep, then he went to his bed after. He didn't that night, he had had enough
Just the smallest sign sometimes is all you need.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Has he been tested for heavy metals? It could be a possible heavy metal toxicity. It sounds like your bird wants to fight, I'd give him that chance.

 

[Yoyo'sMom]

Thats a good thought because it kind of does sound like that but we didn't test him for metal poisoning because we barely got enough blood to do a full panel. Also one of the Docs. said he would have probably been dead by now from metal poisoning. Also there wasn't any radio-opaque material in his digestive system which would have probably shown up on the xray if he ingested metal.

 

[ILoveTiels]

It's sooo frustrating to not know exactly what the problem is! He still has a lot of his mental capacity but his body is just failing. I spoke with a woman at an avian store close to me and she said she's seen this before with parakeets and amazons and described what he's going through to a T. i.e. initial lack of balance, falling from perch and eventually leg paralysis. She said she thinks it's from overbreeding. I'm struggling with the PTS part because every time I think he's coming close to the end he perks up a little. He's really a fighter. My husband thinks he's holding on for my benefit but I told him tonight it's o.k. to go if he has to. I would prefer he die at home but I don't want him to struggle too much. He's one of the sweetest little birds I've ever known.

thats what i did when Coraline's time here was over. When an animal is put down, sometimes its on a cold table and the vet is the last to hold him/her. At home, they are loved, comfy and being held close to the one who loves them the most. If he doesn't improve with these new drugs, you should ask the vet to prescribe a pain medicine so that he at least wont be in pain and letting go might be a bit easier for him and for you.

I wish you and him the best. we are all here for you!