- Joined
- 10/24/09
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- 2,099
Two weeks ago we noticed that Viking, our little male Cut-throat Finch, had droopy wings. We pulled him from the aviary and took him inside.
He was eating fine, singing, very active and looked healthy. We thought the cold might have been the culprit so we monitored him for a week to see if he showed any improvement. We wormed him and gave him some added vitamins by beak.
Unfortunately we didn't see an improvement and within the week we noticed that his vent had become dirty. So we phoned the avian vet and made an appointment. We took him in yesterday.
After a few tests his gram stain came back fine and they could spot no bacterial or fungal infections in his various swabs.
They palpated his abdomen and discovered that his pelvic bone had widened, much like a female's would separate and become wider just before laying an egg. This, of course, should never happen with a male bird.
Viking was diagnosed with a testicular tumour that was causing him to produce female hormones. An X-ray could have been preformed to confirm this diagnosis, but because the vet was very sure that this was the likely cause of his illness, I was adamant to start treatment as soon as possible.
He received his first Lupron injection yesterday morning. He was to go back weekly for the next three weeks for more. After that the treatment would be once every three months.
We were very hopeful.
Viking passed away overnight. I don't know why.
I will miss him so much. I just lost Artemis to a testicular tumour last week. It is all happening very fast.
Fly free Viking. You have no more pain now.
This is the only photo I have of him. It was taken on the first day I got him with his aviary. It's crappy and the aviary is dirty! I don't even have one of him in the planted aviary I got them.
I miss his little chirps already.
He was eating fine, singing, very active and looked healthy. We thought the cold might have been the culprit so we monitored him for a week to see if he showed any improvement. We wormed him and gave him some added vitamins by beak.
Unfortunately we didn't see an improvement and within the week we noticed that his vent had become dirty. So we phoned the avian vet and made an appointment. We took him in yesterday.
After a few tests his gram stain came back fine and they could spot no bacterial or fungal infections in his various swabs.
They palpated his abdomen and discovered that his pelvic bone had widened, much like a female's would separate and become wider just before laying an egg. This, of course, should never happen with a male bird.
Viking was diagnosed with a testicular tumour that was causing him to produce female hormones. An X-ray could have been preformed to confirm this diagnosis, but because the vet was very sure that this was the likely cause of his illness, I was adamant to start treatment as soon as possible.
He received his first Lupron injection yesterday morning. He was to go back weekly for the next three weeks for more. After that the treatment would be once every three months.
We were very hopeful.
Viking passed away overnight. I don't know why.
I will miss him so much. I just lost Artemis to a testicular tumour last week. It is all happening very fast.Fly free Viking. You have no more pain now.
This is the only photo I have of him.
It was taken on the first day I got him with his aviary. It's crappy and the aviary is dirty! I don't even have one of him in the planted aviary I got them. I miss his little chirps already.
