Elly

thank you feathers Here is a post to continue this whole ordeal http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....topic=14219&hl=

I know many of you are in shock about Pretty's passing and trust me it doesn't seem even real to me yet either. I wanted to let everyone know what happened so we can all come to terms it and I know typing this up as hard as it was will help me heal too. "Pretty's last photo shoot" and I was just thinking a couple days before this all happened I need to get photo's posted of the boys. It seems like a normal day that day. Merlin stepped up to come out and Pretty flew out as usual. They were singing and chattering away. There was nothing irregular about Pretty's breathing, his poos or anything. In fact when I cleaned the bottom the cage there was nothing that jumped out at me. As always I talked to them gave them fresh veggies and such. Before I left they were put away and when I came home later in the afternoon I checked on them. Pretty was acting very quiet, he was shivering and his wings were out. He stepped up for me and his feet were hot and he couldn't balance well. Tim said get him in to the vet at that time it was 6pm and around here the vets are closed but I was able to contact one down the road from us that said yes we see birds bring him in. My major concern was Pretty I didn't even at that point ask if he was avian or not. I knew if he wasn't seen until morning and something happened to him I would feel like I didn't do all I could. I certainly didn't want to take him to the animal ER where they don't know anything about birds. The vet was kind and he said Pretty was very weak at this point. Pretty was still perching but not well. He asked me to hold him and told me that because he was so weak that he could die through the exam but he was a champ. The vet looked in his throat and showed me with his scope the redness splotches and said at this point he has lost weight (he didn't weight him) but he could tell by feeling the keel bone and he felt that he had a respiratory infection and that he had it for awhile. I was in disbelief he never showed any signs of being sick none. So he gave me Baytril to give to him 2 drops PM and in the AM. Pretty got his first dose when we got home. At around 9:10pm he started to fade really quick. I had him in the small travel cage and he started to fall over to the side a bit. I knew he was fading his kept sinking and he couldn't hold up his head. So I placed him in my hand and talked to him and kissed him and told him how special he was. Then I put him in the crook of my sweater to keep him warm. He passed peacefully right at about 9:15p. At that time I had just got off of IM with Karen and told her the news but Robin was still on with me along with another friend on IM. Robin aka Phoebe was there the whole time with me when he passed to Rainbow Bridge. I didn't have to do this alone with such wonderful friends. I was so worried about Merlin. Bea's good advice to me at a time I couldn't think she said take Merlin to the vet tomorrow to get him looked at. I booked him down the street with the avian vet hospital. I was so impressed with the facility. They major in avian medicine and they have over 3000 bird client along with that they have 2 other hospitals that they work with in the area that do major procedures on the bigger birds and are board certified in avian medicine. Between the vet and the tech they seriously took so much time with me to listen to me about what happened with Pretty, the other vet experience, examining Merlin and even talking to my 6yr daughter. He laid my mind at ease that though the other vet may have not been experience in birds that at that point even if they would have seen him it may had been too late. Budgies and Tiels he said are the worse for masking illness. Pretty never had any nasal discharge, bad poos, irregular breathing for me to notice one thing he did say is the taking their weight every couple weeks is major and that is the first indicator of illness in a bird. So I am off to buy an electronic gram scale and he said I could just get them right on e-bay and advised me to weigh Merlin often. On Merlin he did a gram stain and a fecal test which both came out negative. He did a physical exam where he put a little bit of rubbing alcohol on his keel bone to separate the feathers and it really showed the skin and the bone. WOW, I didn't know budgie skin was so transparent and thin and he said that looked good. Merlin weighed in at 41g which is said is a good weight for him (a bit slight so if he gained a couple more g that would be okay too). His throat looked good. He advised this exam yearly and said every 5 years x-rays should be done because of the keel bone they can't feel the internal organs such as the liver to see if it is enlarged or not. He advised me convert him over to pellet and only 10% seed, he said that most budgies by the time they are 5-6y are nutrient starved. Seed is just candy and a lot of carbs which he said is great if they are in a wild setting because they fly all the time but our house pets don't and it is not good for them so pellets are better. I know there is debates on this BUT I am working on it to convert Merlin over to pellets so he has a little bit of both. He was very impressed with all the veggies and fruits that I provide him almost daily. What also impressed him was the interaction between Hailey and Merlin. She had her hand in there and he hopped on it and he was so docile. He said most people put these guys in cages with no interaction he could really tell that they were part of our family. I said they have daily flight time, along with a huge cage he said they have the life (Laughing out loud). What was really cute is Merlin kept rubbing his fluffy head on the cage bars So fingers crossed Merlin is healthy and didn't contract with Pretty had. The vet said Pretty could have had this and it could have been dominant and then arisen because he did have a very bad molt and that could have triggered this. He said it is not common for them to die so young and even if he did a necropsy it would be hundreds of dollars and still there may be no answer to why. I also had him clip his nails and I debated back and forth but because I was there I did ask him to clip his wings (I know I know). Here is why I made this decision. Merlin has gotten shyer since Pretty passed and I don't want to play the chase game from curtains to curtains. He steps up great in the cage but I don't want him to fly into a wall and get hurt I just can't fathom loosing him. So for his safety right now and I also want to work on bonding with him. Pretty and Merlin were partners in crime. So whatever Pretty did Merlin did. Ex..Pretty stepped up Merlin did, Pretty flew always Merlin did. So though some of you may not be happy it was a tough decision but I felt was best for now. The vet said he likes them clipped for safety and the fact that when they are high up on the curtains it does create the dominance factor. The higher you are on the roost the more dominant you are. I am glad I made that decision because today I took him out and he flew from me immediately and wanted to go back to his cage. Merlin now still calls for him but he is chattering away and at times does look so lonely especially when he is on his perch by himself. I can't imagine what it would feel like to have someone sleep with you all the time and then bam they are gone and I can't explain it to him. So that makes me feel very sadden Merlin as I do needs time to adjust so right now I will make sure he is eating okay, drinking and give him his time to adjust from loosing a precious friend, to going to the vet and being clipped. So that being said that is what has happened over the last couple days. In terms of what happened, how did it happen, what did I do, how is Merlin etc.. If you have any questions let me know as I am open about this experience and it has been a learning step for me. If anyone lives by me and wants the name of the hospital let me know I will PM it to you they do have a website. Pretty I love you!! you fly with those angels in heaven mummy blows you kisses :angel1:

very sweet

I am sure Merlin is 1/2 English but not full so as Bubbles said there is no reason not too.

awe they are so sweet it is wonderful having a friend preen your itchy head

sweet pics Diego is has grown up to be a gorgeous teil

maybe it was a love bite (Laughing out loud)

OMG how sweet I must go back to the video and pics with Pretty and his balls when he would chuck them over the cage. Oz I am SOO glad you are doing better keep up the good work.

nice to see you back and I would love to hear more about your experiences as you move forward toward being a vet

I am so overwhelmed with emotions so much has happened over the last 24 hours. Just a little over 24 hours ago I was holding Pretty in my hand as he passed over to Rainbow Bridge. As I collect myself over the next couple days I will share exactly what happened, how it happened, what the vet said about everything, including Merlin's check up at the avian vet today to ensure he was okay. Right now I am still in shock myself as I try to deal with losing a precious life that didn't even make it to his 2nd birthday. Though I had to stop in for a short visit and thank you all for your kindess, words of support, comfort, appreciation. I really can't put into words how I feel I just know that Pretty was loved from near and far and WOW that is just amazing. I feel the need to say thank you to each of you individually because you all have become an extended family to me. Robin you are an amazing friend and I am so glad our friendship has grown the way it has. Thank you so much for posting this for me I don't think I could have done it yesterday or even today. When you write the words it makes it reality and I guess I don't want it to be real quite yet. You were right there with me when Pretty faded and passed over to Rainbow Bridge and I will never forget you being there at that moment. Cheeta thank you, I am still in shock myself I just can't believe my Pretty is gone. Karen you are another member on this forum that I have built a solid friendship with and I can't tell you enough thank you for your support and comforting words during this time. I thought he was going to live to be 15+ yrs old but I guess that shows us that our plan is not always God's plan and the angels wants him sooner. I don't know why and I never will know but I know they are taking good care of him right now. I know how you feel about wanting to run down and give hugs I will never forget Bubbles and the day she had that accident my heart sake and ached. The Eulogy you made up is beautiful, one day I might be able to look at it without sobbing thank you for taking the time to find those pictures on the site and posting them. I must find the video I posted of him talking that is a great one too . Daz, thank you for your kind words and a poem I will cherish. I have copy and pasted it as well as I will print out this whole post and make it part of a memoir of him. Armchairangel, when I went to the avian vet today with Merlin and I told him what happened he said even they probably could have not helped him and that it was probably too late. I play back in my mind what ifs and I should have seen these symptoms but he truly had no symptoms at all Pretty masked them very well. I didn't even know until late afternoon because he came out for flight time that morning too with no breathing issues. Thank you for your comforting words. Bea, thank you and I want to thank you also for your words last night. You remind me of me a lot when I was your age, you are such a beautiful young woman at heart always remember that. Kirby, awe you make me think of good memories thank you. I remember that like it was yesterday. Pretty was the reason I found BBC looking for more knowledge and making sure I was taking care of him the best way I would. I appreciate your comforting words last night when you IM'd me and today. You are beyond your years Nathen. Riebe, thank you so much and I love your flock. Sailorwolf, thank you so much. You have gone through some tough times here too with your babies ((hugs)) FGM thank you so much for your comforting words. budgie_addict, I feel the hugs right now HoppySpadge, thank you, I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful community. CheekyChucky, I appreciate your comforting words he is now flying like a wild budgie Zebra, thank you. Merlin looks very sad especially this afternoon. Booms, thank you I know you have been through this so you know what I am feeling. I appreciate your words. Chrysocome, thank you very much. Shawna, I got your PM thank you so much it meant so much to me. Kestral I appreciate your words thank you. Thirtyfive Black, thank you very much it is so sad. Nerwen, thank you for everything you have taught me especially in genetics where would I be without you. Pretty would have been a blue and white budgie but I know he is a gorgeous recessive skyblue pied flying free through the clouds as the sunlight makes his blue bright and beautiful. Hurdy, thank you and you have helped me learn so much too. Cindy thank you so much it means so much to me. Your right it is going to take a while. Everytime I went to see Merlin I kept saying Pretty Poo because I always said that first and I had to correct myself. Everything thank you for everything, if I missed anyone please I apologize I did this through tears.

oh Shawna those pictures are precious

I hate even posting this I felt like I should have noticed sooner. Pretty had a heavy molt about a month ago and he looked poorly but I attributed it too his molt because he bounced back. We had some huge change in the weather where it went from 20 to 50 to like 70 F in 3 days then back today into the 30's. Today he was fine this morning but when I got home he was very still next to Merlin, wings out and he was shaking. He stepped up immediately and I took him to examine him. That is NOT normal. He perched but his feet were hot. Being it was already 6pm here I didn't think I could find a vet that sees birds but I did (he was not avian but I had to do the best I can for him). He was very kind and knowledgable and asked a lot of questions. Cleaning food bowls, water bowls, the bottom of the cage - how often, what I feed him types of veggies etc.. In the end he said he has a respiratory infection that he probably had for a while but now the symptoms are showing (shows how birds mask their illness). He gave me Baytril 2 drops in the AM and PM. He said he woudln't take blood because he was too weak and even had me hold him for the exam. Which Pretty was a champ about it no biting or anything. He has also lost weight (again another reason to have a scale) but he was eating fine. I also need to keep him at 70F +, keep him quarentine and give him his meds for 5 days. He said it was a 50/50 chance. Please keep Pretty in your prayers. Sidenote: Merlin is okay and when I asked to treat him too he said no (I know a lot of you will say WHAT) trust me I was thinking that too but he said he didn't want to treat unless he was sick so keep an eye on him too. My thoughts are though if Pretty didn't show it Merlin wouldn't either right until it could be too late. Being this was the first time I ever met this vet I didn't want to question his ability in care as I was appreciative he took me in last minute.

Yes I can see it in the form of the head they are beautiful. The second baby is already posing little boy he is (Laughing out loud) . Too bad he is a boy you could call him Posie . He looks like he is going to be a good size.

keep us updated on Pippin

WOW is all I can say. Certainly wasn't the cat's fault in anyway could have happened with a dog. I do hope the cat did find a home in the long run . I can see why you were angry toward the cat though. I hope you can regain your flock again and welcome back

well when you are as gorgeous as Stubby what is a boy to do

beautiful and I agree Also Hurdy is correct this is because they can eat the bedding and it can become impacted in their crop .

are they all from your show breeding then? Just trying to figure it out. The 2nd one looks English

awe he looks sad too plus he is moulting poor Ozzie boy , we love you!

Some look like Blinkie (Laughing out loud), Fizzy does you will have 2 of them now : (that can ONLY be a good thing). Mumble I absolutely love she is beautiful.

they are beautiful Karen Now I see that some I believe are your show babies? Which ones are show quality?

Here is a fact sheet on it (not pertaining to just birds) but again just a fact sheet. http://www.silver-colloids.com/Reports/reports.html Here is a link about using in bird http://www.herbsnbirds.com/sick-stressed.shtml

awe even though she is moulting she is still beautiful :hap: great pics!

how is Peter doing today?

Female budgie rip and shred more then males because it is their nature to do so in the wild. It is not that she is hungry but because it is her instinct to do so. You could give her a paper ball on the side of the cage or hang something up not too big to see if she will shred that more. Also make sure she has preening toys those help alot too. If nothing works she just loves to rip on the bottom of the cage and you will have to accept it (Laughing out loud) . Your second question because he is a budgie :hap: again what they do. I believe just like quails chickens (chooks) are yes okay to have with budgies but I know someone with an aviary can answer that better for you. Welcome back