Budgiemaz89
Moving in
So, yesterday I noticed by budgie (Jack, who I have had for 9 years) favouring his right leg and sort of hobbling on his right leg as he moved around his cage. I had read somewhere that this could be a sign of a dangerous underlying issue so I took him to the vet the same day. She prescribed him an anti-inflammatory (Metacam) which is administered orally in the evening and morning for 5 days (0.01ml) in case he had just hurt himself flying around/climbing. So far he has had one dose yesterday evening and one this morning.
However, today I've noticed that his leg seems to be worse. Whereas yesterday he did have both feet on the perch, he is now holding his left foot up the majority of the time. When I pressed on his foot (very lightly), he reached out to bite me, which I assume means he is in pain (or I might just have annoyed him)? Yesterday morning he also seemed a lot more chirpy and he hasn't eaten a whole lot since yesterday (now that I'm thinking about it I can't recall him eating anything before we left to go to the vet at 3.30pm and he didn't have anything after; we got back at 6pm). He has had a nibble but it took me holding the food literally at his beak. He has had some water (which I had to deliver to him too).
The vet did say that it could very possibly be testicular cancer. She said to keep him on the anti-inflammatory for the next few days but that if he did worsen to bring him back for an x-ray. I was just wondering if it was too soon to take him to the vet again today for an x-ray? And if it was testicular cancer, what are the treatments? How long do budgies typically live with it?
While I have painted a pretty bleak picture here, he is still grooming himself and his feathers do look pristine and bright. His cere is still as blue as ever. He has sung to himself (and to his mirror toy) and chirped to the birds outside the window. He has had a fly about too. I wouldn't say he is on 'death's door' - far from it- but I can tell his foot is bothering him as he isn't as mobile and he has trouble turning around. He also can't stretch out his wings which I think is frustrating him too.
The situation is very awful at the minute because I've my little boy for so long and he's always been healthy and bubbly despite a few very minor sicknesses that he's always overcome. My other budgie (Chiko *yes, I know it's a boy's name) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about a month ago so having another budgie with cancer will be tough to cope with.
(I've attached a few pictures; sorry for the blur, my phone was being funny).
However, today I've noticed that his leg seems to be worse. Whereas yesterday he did have both feet on the perch, he is now holding his left foot up the majority of the time. When I pressed on his foot (very lightly), he reached out to bite me, which I assume means he is in pain (or I might just have annoyed him)? Yesterday morning he also seemed a lot more chirpy and he hasn't eaten a whole lot since yesterday (now that I'm thinking about it I can't recall him eating anything before we left to go to the vet at 3.30pm and he didn't have anything after; we got back at 6pm). He has had a nibble but it took me holding the food literally at his beak. He has had some water (which I had to deliver to him too).
The vet did say that it could very possibly be testicular cancer. She said to keep him on the anti-inflammatory for the next few days but that if he did worsen to bring him back for an x-ray. I was just wondering if it was too soon to take him to the vet again today for an x-ray? And if it was testicular cancer, what are the treatments? How long do budgies typically live with it?
While I have painted a pretty bleak picture here, he is still grooming himself and his feathers do look pristine and bright. His cere is still as blue as ever. He has sung to himself (and to his mirror toy) and chirped to the birds outside the window. He has had a fly about too. I wouldn't say he is on 'death's door' - far from it- but I can tell his foot is bothering him as he isn't as mobile and he has trouble turning around. He also can't stretch out his wings which I think is frustrating him too.
The situation is very awful at the minute because I've my little boy for so long and he's always been healthy and bubbly despite a few very minor sicknesses that he's always overcome. My other budgie (Chiko *yes, I know it's a boy's name) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about a month ago so having another budgie with cancer will be tough to cope with.
(I've attached a few pictures; sorry for the blur, my phone was being funny).
