flappergirl35
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 5/27/18
- Messages
- 59
- Real Name
- Jennifer Beckman
Hey guys,
I apologize for not posting in awhile. Things in my life have been very busy, and I've not been able to visit the site as when I first started.
I have an emergency, and I need some advice from experienced bird folks. I have a 15 year old male budgie named Charlie. About five years ago, he was diagnosed with having fatty tumors. The tumors are pressing against his heart, and it causes him to fall off his perch and have what looks like little seizures when he gets stressed out or handled too much.
He doesn't do well on car rides or at the vet's office. Last time I took him to see the vet, he had seizures in the car and office. I decided to put him in palliative care for his old age. Five years after his diagnosis, he's still around.
This morning, I noticed some poop stuck to his vent area. It's not that unusual for him to have that, because of his fatty tumors. He's unable to clean back there normally. When I saw it this morning, however, it looked like his vent area was badly clogged. I removed him from the cage and plucked the poop off as best I could, and he ended up having a small seizure. My question is, what should I do now?
He's been on a seed diet his whole life, and I know it isn't the greatest, but I had no other option when I first got him, and he wouldn't switch at all to pellets. He doesn't like being handled anymore.
He used to come out of his cage all the time, but he hasn't for a few years now because of his diagnosis. I really love the little guy and I'm hoping that I can help him feel better. He's in a sunny location with his two mates atm. I'm wondering if it's better to leave the poop on his vent, or take a chance and remove it?
Is there an easy, low-stress way for me to remove the poop, so that I don't upset him too much?
I'm also wondering if there are any suggestions to helping me keep him comfortable for the next while. I don't want to cover him with his towel, because I'm thinking it might be depressing and dark for him. I keep my kitchen nice and warm. He's not fluffed up, and right now he's eating normally and grooming as best he can.
I apologize for not posting in awhile. Things in my life have been very busy, and I've not been able to visit the site as when I first started.
I have an emergency, and I need some advice from experienced bird folks. I have a 15 year old male budgie named Charlie. About five years ago, he was diagnosed with having fatty tumors. The tumors are pressing against his heart, and it causes him to fall off his perch and have what looks like little seizures when he gets stressed out or handled too much.
He doesn't do well on car rides or at the vet's office. Last time I took him to see the vet, he had seizures in the car and office. I decided to put him in palliative care for his old age. Five years after his diagnosis, he's still around.
This morning, I noticed some poop stuck to his vent area. It's not that unusual for him to have that, because of his fatty tumors. He's unable to clean back there normally. When I saw it this morning, however, it looked like his vent area was badly clogged. I removed him from the cage and plucked the poop off as best I could, and he ended up having a small seizure. My question is, what should I do now?
He's been on a seed diet his whole life, and I know it isn't the greatest, but I had no other option when I first got him, and he wouldn't switch at all to pellets. He doesn't like being handled anymore.
He used to come out of his cage all the time, but he hasn't for a few years now because of his diagnosis. I really love the little guy and I'm hoping that I can help him feel better. He's in a sunny location with his two mates atm. I'm wondering if it's better to leave the poop on his vent, or take a chance and remove it?
Is there an easy, low-stress way for me to remove the poop, so that I don't upset him too much?
I'm also wondering if there are any suggestions to helping me keep him comfortable for the next while. I don't want to cover him with his towel, because I'm thinking it might be depressing and dark for him. I keep my kitchen nice and warm. He's not fluffed up, and right now he's eating normally and grooming as best he can.