classylady

Liv I am SO sorry to hear about your loss, my sympathy is with you as I know how you must be feeling....I am still devastated about my darling Percy, it will be a very long time before I can come to terms with it all. I do hope you will cope with your loss, I wish you well....your little boy is flying free with my Percy....I'm sure they are well again now and happy xxx Chrissie

A big thank you to everyone for their help, advice and kindness over the few years I've been coming onto this lovely site. I am more than pleased I found all you budgie-mad folk here, you've helped me through times of crisis with my darling Percy, you've given me support and shown me that I'm not a silly woman because I love a little creature who enriched our lives beyond compare. I won't be a regular visitor now that Percy is no longer with me and as I always have found it very difficult to read the sometimes distressing stories that you have at times to tell and contend with. I know I couldn't read future posts without feeling your pain and anguish and remembering what my darling baby went through too. Thank you again for helping me through a very difficult (devastating) time just recently, without your caring words of support and comfort I would have been lost. I do so hope your darling birds keep healthy and that they continue to give you the pleasure and love that I know these lovely birds can give. I KNOW you will give them the love they deserve as you are so caring and kind. I wish you well and all the happiness you lovely people deserve. best wishes and hugs Chrissie

I had to take my darling boy on his last journey to the vet yesterday even though it was the one journey I never wanted to make. I can only be thankful that Mark the vet was so kind and compassionate and was reassuring us all the way. I will miss Percy always but I'm sure he will be with me and I know we will meet again. Dedicated to Percy - April 2002 - 25th September 2008 I heard you cry in your hour of need, "Let me go, let me fly free" I loved you too much to let you go, but knew in my heart it had to be so. Fly my dear friend, fly free from pain, we'll always touch hearts and meet again. I'll miss you more than you will ever know, but I had to let go, It was meant to be so. Chrissie (to my darling baby boy)

Friday Thank you everyone I know you understand just what I'm going through. I will reply to my PM's over the weekend but I wanted to thank you so much for all you've said. I am going to post a small message in the In Memorium now because I feel I need to. Thank you again, my heart goes out to you all for your kindness and caring. hugs Chrissie

MY LAST NEWS HERE First of all, please accept my sincere thanks for all your help, views, comments but most of all your caring shown over my darling Percy. Can I offer my condolences to everyone one who has lost a pet because it's something I know from experience that we don't "get over" but sometime hence - come to terms with in our own way. This afternoon Thursday 25th Sept at 15.30 GMT my darling baby Percy was put to sleep and I held him and told him how much I loved him, that I was setting him free and he would soon be away from the pain and suffering he'd had over such a long time. The vet was so very kind, so compassionate I knew out of all the vets my Percy had seen that when I needed it most, we were with the right one. Mark told us how he admired what we'd done all these years for Percy and that when it came to the right decision for Percy's sake, that we were doing the right thing. I had a job to let go really because my baby was talking when I got him out of his carrying box, telling me to "come on, scratch his beak"..... but I knew we just had to let him fly free from the pain. Mark did everything he should as Elly had described and we brought my little darling home about half an hour ago. My hubby is digging his final resting place, I can't face that at the moment but later will buy a plant to put there above my baby's grave. Thank you everyone, thank you for the last 5 years of help, support and understanding you've given me on this wonderful site. Without that I don't think I could have done half the things I've done and to know that here were people who understood it all and knew what I was going through. I will eventually look in the "In Memorium" section, I have avoided it for so long....but I need to go there when I feel a little less numb. I think after that I will leave the site as I can't bear the memories, but I will most certainly say prayers for you and your darling birds and keep you all in my thoughts as you have done with me. with love in friendship Chrissie

Hi all, Thanks again for all the input....and here's the latest update. Firstly I do know a little about gout because my father had it, and I do know for budgies that it comes from a kidney problem. My vet has said that when the bird had liver problems it can make the kidneys worse...so I guess IF he has gout then that would be why. The painkiller Metacam (I think I got it wrong before) hasn't touched him and he's gradually got worse with the leg to today where he is on the perch on his belly which is of course the lipoma he has. When he has been standing he holds his right leg up which causes balance problems...with his gut problem he is always scratching his vent but can't do that properly now. Yesterday he was chirping some of the time and he was eating well even getting down to the seed hopper. At the moment this morning all he is doing is laying on the perch, has had water when I hold it up to him and a little food when I hold it for him....so I'm far from happy how things have gone. I'm not an expert in animals esp birds at all, but I don't even know if this is gout because I guess due to Percy having been so unwell with the injection that the vet doesn't want to do anymore tests at this time. The xray he said, didn't show a tumour on kidney or testicles....but the xray (to me) was quite cloudy anyway, but as I say I'm no expert. Percy is finding it impossible to stand on that right leg though at times he doesn't have a choice when he needs to get round the cage. Yesterday first thing he did go to eat, but today he hasn't. I know you've all said I would KNOW when the time came....but last night watching him I was gutted....I thought I can't let him go on like this.....but then he was chirping and talking a little....I'm wracked with guilt and pain in not knowing what to do for my baby..... I know no other person can make that decision for me, but I don't know when to make the decision and that is giving me so much stress. Do I want to put him through all the tests etc when his liver is enlarged and he has never ending gut problems....now the leg problem, the urine problem (lots of it)....I'm devastated and not 100% healthy myself and I just don't know how long I can go on seeing him like this. I will phone the vet again today to explain what has been happening....but I know if I take Percy there he will (out of fear) be chirping and will look okay and the vet could say as he has done before, "Look he's chirping, he is worth fighting for..." I didn't know owning a budgie could be so stressful when they have a chronic illness, I have never encountered it before so it's hurting me to see how things are for such a wonderful little sweet character who cuddles up to me and kisses me....how do I deal with it all. I'm sorry to sound so pathetic...my illness makes me depressed at times and with stress it makes me feel worse....so really I'm no good at things like this but one has to carry on. Thanks for listening guys.....and thanks for all your help. Chrissie

Hi again, Just thought I'd update you on this. I took Percy back to the vet on Monday after phoning him to tell him that Percy couldn't get about much with his leg problem. He said that he still felt it was gout and that he'd start him on some painkillers. He's had 2 days of them now (Vetacam I think it's called, 1 mil mixed with some food and fed off a spoon) but he's not a lot better with his leg at the moment. I don't know if the meds have to build up to help the pain or what, I just hope he does get some relief as things aren't good for him hobbling about. At least he is eating virtually normally now again - that's a relief for sure. I'm still giving him the antibiotics on some mashed up cornflakes, he loves that. Apart from the leg he is much better than he was after the injection....the gut problem/infection still persists but that is normal for him... hopefully the antibiotics will help. Hope you all have a good day. Chrissie

Sunday afternoon - The vet who gave Percy the Ceftazidime injection is my local vet who deals with birds (and other animals). He's dealt with Percy before over the 6 yrs but when I found other avian vets some miles away I prefer to go there. With the latest bout of gut infection (or liver problems) I had no one but my local vet to go to as the others were on holiday or moved away. The one who had moved away I saw about 2 yrs ago and he left without me knowing where he'd gone, then after Percy became ill from the injection, I tracked him down again and he has been treating him since with Marbocyl P which is a tablet. I have to give him one eighth of it which I'm crushing up and mixing with a tiny bit of crushed up cornflakes mixed with some water. That's how Percy is taking his tablets at the moment. HOWEVER.....yesterday Percy had bucked up no end, he was eating lots of his own food and was talking and just almost back to normal, I was over the moon but realised he still had a long way to go. TODAY.....he is back to square one, not eating unless I help him which I do of course, and the worst part is he is in pain with his right leg/foot. He is holding it up, can't really get comfortable and is having a job to move. I did wonder if the Marbocyl P might have had side effects such as joint paint but I can't find anything like that. I am holding his food and water up for him to have and he is taking it, but his leg is really making him feel unwell. The vet said he couldn't find anything on the xray to indicate a tumour (though I didn't think the xrays were that clear myself but I'm no expert), so he suggested he might have gout. I don't know what sort of symptoms they have with gout or if they can do anything.... has anyone experienced this with their bird at all? I will speak with the vet again tomorrow and see what he comes up with, but at this moment in time, yet again I fear the worst case scenario because I hate to see Percy like he is today. I am still stressed out of course, though yesterday seemed to be a break through, but I guess I was hoping for miracles and now today, it's all changed. I am keeping him going and giving him lots of love so we are both hanging in there.... Chrissie

Yes the injection was given for his gut problem, that's all I took him for as his poo was sticking to his bottom and as usual, it had got worse over the week before I took him to the vet. Percy was okay in himself, was eating normally and was out and about flying in the room when he wanted. Every so often his gut flares up and they will give him antibiotics, this time he gave him the injection (antibiotic) and that's what has caused him to be ill. As it affects the liver in humans, then I can only guess it's done so in him with the way he's gone since the injection. He bucked up a little last night when we came home but that was the first time yesterday as he slept most of the day even after his tablet at lunchtime. Chrissie

Can I just thank all you lovely people who have written here on this awful and difficult subject. I appreciate your words and comfort and understanding, I know you've had difficult decisions to make too that's why I knew I could say what I was going through because more than anyone else, you guys on here would know what it's like. I gave Percy an eighth of a tablet crushed up and on some favourite food of ours that he likes and he gobbled it up yesterday. Soon after he was more bouncy and was ravenous, eating everything he could and drinking and coming over to me. That continued til we put him to bed last night, tho' even through his activity, he was still fluffed up and we knew he wasn't well. The tablet I have to give once a day is Marbocyl P and having read up on the side effects today, one is "transient increase in activity" and that's what I noticed with Percy yesterday as though he was hyperactive, in fact I had to cover his cage at one point to get him to rest. This morning, Friday he hasn't yet had his tablet and although he's eating, he is still fluffed and unwell....things are just not right. I will give him the tablet at lunchtime and no doubt he will be hyper and ravenous again but he's still not as he should be. I still don't know my decision yet or how to face it, though I have a sense as to know what it WILL be...tough and very sad as you all say. I will have a word with the vet again to see what he says, but we have two days where things come to a standstill here - the weekend....so it may be Monday before we can see how things are really going. One thing is for sure, if the local vet hadn't injected him with the Ceftazidime, Percy would not be like he is today, it's made him ill and as far as I'm concerned has brought about the thoughts that I am going to have to face. I knew I wasn't happy with him giving the injection but didn't know why....I even asked if it was safe....and so I "knew" something was wrong....why don't I ever listen to myself! Thank you again, I'm indebted to you all for your care and support. hugs Chrissie xx

I was wondering what thoughts you as budgie owners have about my latest dilemma and would appreciate your comments and feelings on this matter please. I brought Percy home from the vets last night after 2 days hospitalization ( for those who don't know, he was ill after being given Ceftazidime injection for a recurrent gut infection - he has liver disease and fatty lipoma and is 6yrs old). The vet said that Percy had bucked up no end and he had been eating some seed and was fairly lively and his droppings had increased though not 100% right. He'd given him antibiotics and x-rayed because I'd mentioned how Percy had been limping on his right leg and can't stretch it out or use it to scratch himself. The x-ray didn't show any tumour up that the vet could see so he mentioned that Percy could have gout. We brought Percy home and on the 23 miles journey he wasn't his usual chirping self and was quiet at times which has NEVER happened before when he's been transported. However, he was pleased to be home and had some seed and a drop of water. After that he sat on his swing (his perch), fluffed up and sleeping at times, also in pain at times too as he was lunging out with his beak which another vet told me they do if in pain. He wasn't settled most of the evening, he wanted to come over to me but didn't seem settled enough to do so. I just know that he was showing exactly the same signs as before he was hospitalised except eating a little more. The droppings decreased in the evening and I could tell Percy wasn't at all well. Having travelled with him many times before I know that he bounces back (usually) when brought home from the vets but this time it's different, it wasn't the journey that upset him. I do feel that whilst in the vet's the "fight" system kicked in and he showed he was getting better, but once home, relaxed and with us, he showed how he really was and that he was still unwell. This morning he is eating and drinking a little, still fluffed up on his perch. He had poo stuck to his bottom once again and I had to wash him. Oh my god he felt so thin, I weighed him on my kitchen scales again and he is 30 grms, some days ago he was 40 grms. I am feeding him up with stuff he will eat of our food but he seems at times to have trouble swallowing it. I have to continue with antibiotics, crushing a small portion of tablet and mixing it with something he likes, to see if he will take it. I didn't want to medicate by mouth as the stress for him is just too much. The difficult part is....and this is where I need your thoughts and feelings.....we sat watching him last night and thought he just cannot go on like this. 6 years of vets, medication, manipulation, injections, x-rays, blood tests etc etc etc....it is all too much for him and us too as we are so stressed out with illnesses of our own which don't help. We have thought long and hard that perhaps at this time we need to make a decision about bringing in euthanasia. It's not something either of us want to think about - I can't bear the thought, BUT I know we all have to make the best decision for our birds don't we? IF we took him to another avian vet or back to this one, they would do tests, etc etc and I feel at this point in time, we just cannot subject him to all this again. I don't even like writing this but because I don't know what others would do in the circumstances I really would like to hear some comments. I LOVE my darling baby, probably too much because I don't want to let go but I can't bear to see him like this. It's been over a week since the injection made him unwell and I can't see any signs of him getting better than this but would hope I'm wrong. Please help me with your thoughts and feelings, I need to do the best for him as I don't want him to suffer with the way he is going. Thank you for your help, I will take on board all your comments. hugs to you all Chrissie

Hi again, Tuesday morning... I took Percy to the vet yesterday afternoon (I used to see this avian vet but he'd moved from the practice and I didn't know where). He said Percy needed to be hospitalised and is going to keep him in until Wednesday. Said he would crop feed him, give him antibiotics and also x-ray him re the leg etc. I was upset at leaving Percy of course, but also relieved, as though a weight had been lifted off of me. I guess that's because I've been watching him deteriorate and could do nothing for him and at least now he stands a chance. Mark, the vet, said he would phone me today and let me know how things were....so I'm keeping everything crossed that my baby comes through this. I STILL feel his deterioration is down to that ruddy injection, god knows what it's done to him and I'm trying to find out if it was safe for birds...written to the company about it but not sure if I will get a reply. Percy was eating and drinking BEFORE the injection but went downhill as soon as he had it. Again I will keep you posted and again, thanks everyone for being there for Percy and me. Chrissie

Monday Morning... Last night Percy came to more and was eating our food and even a little of his seed. He was coming over to me and was playing a little while too. I can't tell you what that meant to me. His poo's are still mostly water which"squirts" out of him. Droppings overnight were, as has been most nights, very little and this morning he is very fluffed and on his swing (his perch). He did however come out to eat some boiled egg which he loves which I'm pleased about but he is very unwell now with him just sitting/sleeping. I am desperately trying to find an avian vet... in fact the one who is over 20 miles away has just replied to my email for me to phone them so hopefully Percy will be seen today. Again I will keep you posted....I don't know what I'd do without the good folk on here who have seen me through lots of difficult times over the years - thank you all. hugs Chrissie

Thanks for your help though Elly, it's comforting to know that people care. He has bucked up a little this morning (Sunday), doesn't really want his food so I mixed up some breakfast cereal in water to go to a mash and he loved it. Droppings are still few and far between and still mostly black though some are soft grey again. He just wants us to be with him which is understandable, but he is chirping, flying around and getting annoyed.... my Percy seems on the way back. I've emailed an avian vet who lives over 20 miles away and hopefully if Percy is okay to travel we will take him there IF he will see him. We need to know exactly what is going on re the leg problem and also if the Ceftazidime has caused this latest problem. I feel it has as he was eating and drinking fine before it, the only problem was the usual one, poo's sticking to him and really green stained. Thank again for your support, I will keep you posted. hugs Chrissie

Hi Elly They have in the past done blood and fecal tests and one vet did an xray. They diagnosed the liver disease from the blood test and then a couple of years later the xray revealved he had enlarged liver. I have seen 4 avian vets... well 3 and a half really as my local vet, although down as avian, he sees other animals too and he's the one I have least confidence in. I feel I've been let down by the vets over the 6 yrs, the best one being the female "exotic species" vet who is the one on 3 weeks holiday. She seemed to know what she was talking about and was the one who said Percy could have testicular cancer because of the leg problem, but she didn't offer tests at the time. Percy has gone from eating quite a bit this morning to eating not much at all this afternoon and evening. He doesn't seem to want his pellets or his seed and so I am giving him digestive biscuit when he will take it, even though I know it's not good for him but he IS eating it and in fact only wants our food. I am going to try and get him an appt with the vet who did the xray 2 yrs ago, he moved practice and I've just found him again so I will email him and see if he will help. It's a long drive and neither of us are in the best of health ourselves so it is all a strain and lots of stress as you may imagine. I feel that Percy is going down now, he is still talking at times, but for several hours he has been asleep or fluffed up on his perch. I've held his seed and pellets up to him and he just picks them up and drops them, I've done the same with brocolli and he pulls the florets off and drops them so I just had to try the biscuit which he is really going for. As far as I'm concerned if he will eat something then it might just help him.....I'm soooo upset now I'm really at my wits end at what to do. The poos when he does them are black still and with water at other times..... and all this has gone this way since that ****** injection of ceftazidime. I know he had a gut problem before I took him to the vet, but he was eating well and going to poo even if it was stuck to him.... but the injection put paid to all that. I don't know what to say.....maybe this is going towards the end, not that I want to think about it but it's going to happen one day isn't it? I will still try my best and do what I can for my darling baby, he still cuddles up when he can and is flying when he's out of the cage, but for how much longer...... hugs to everyone Chrissie x

I'm so sorry to hear that Sailorwolf, how devastating for you in your loss {{hugs}}. Reading this and what others have to say, I am thinking that this is happening to Percy. As you've described here, he is doing lots of wee...really wet on the paper, more so at the moment than solid poo, also hunching over his perch at times...oh dear...I am going to have to get him diagnosed aren't I? As for recent events. The Ceftazidime didn't have a good affect on him. After the injection on Tuesday, he hardly did any poo's at all and didn't eat much either. Thursday night no poos at all and again not eating. I weighed him yesterday morning, he was down to 40 grms (usually 50) and although he was chirpy and flying about, you could see he'd lost the weight. My avian vet who gave him the injection on Tuesday wasn't there last night but I was told to see another vet because Percy had to have the second Ceft injection. I decided that since he'd gone downhill after the first one I wouldn't let him have it done and I'm glad I didn't. The vet I saw was new to the practice and not at all au fait with birds, he told me that himself. He did however say Percy had a lot of muscle wastage and he needed to eat. He gave me some Baytril to put in his water over the next 5 days so I will try that. I am pleased to say that last night Percy was eating and drinking again....phew and was being his mischievious self for some of the time. No one seems to want to diagnose Percy's gut problem, the infections are secondary to the real cause but they don't come up with anything. Similary the leg problem where one vet told me it "could" be testicular cancer and my local vet has said he can't feel anything and it's probably not. But with all that you've said here it seems more than likely to me that it is....why is it that the "worst" of the avian vets is the closest one...sigh! I will try and sort something out on Monday and as our the local vets seem useless and the nearest other avian vet (15 miles away) is on holiday for three weeks, I'm going to have my work cut out. But as you all know, we will do anything for our darling birds even to the extent of paying £100's of pounds (in Percy's case) to keep them going. The vets bills here are horrendous...a guy walked in to pick up two small bottle of tablets for his dog last night £68 he paid.....and that's just for the tablets. I'm just glad that people do pay though as I hate to think of the poor animals suffering.... Take care everyone and thank you so much for your help. Chrissie

Thanks everyone for your support and comments. Percy actually does drink quite a bit for a budgie (compared to what I read of others) and yesterday was no different, in an hour or less he was at the water bowl twice and had two big gulps of water so I really don't think it's that. However, after I posted last night he did some "milky water" poos, no substance just water but they were white/milky. He was a little livelier too but then went back onto his swing with his back hunched over his vent which is something he always does when his gut plays him up. I do realise that black poo's can indicate bleeding, but as his poo's have always ranged from grey, green, dark grey/black, water etc etc..... I don't know what to think about last night except that it's the side effect of the injection (scream). I haven't seen him yet this morning will do soon, so am praying he has done some "normal for him" poo's. I just wish the vets would rule out things like thyroid, pancreas or kidney probs, they talk of it but do nothing, just say that it's his liver disease causing his gut problem but I've never thought that, I've always thought it a separate issue. Re the testicular cancer. The other avian vet (15 miles away) when I told her some months ago that he kept holding his right leg up, she said that it could be testicular cancer but would have to test him if he kept on like that. Well he was okay after that with no signs of holding his leg up...now last week he started to limp on that leg but it gradually got better but I notice when he sleeps on his swing (his perch) it is leaning to the left side where he is obviously leaning on the left leg to sleep. Told all this to my local vet this week and he felt for lumps and said he didn't think it was cancer as he couldn't feel anything (gasp) and it was probably just an ache he had. Well I didn't think you could tell testicular cancer from just feeling.... the other vet said she would have to do tests.... so I'm just up in the air at the moment. I don't think my local vet likes me using the other vet as he was rather annoyed this time that I couldn't remember the treatment she gave Percy for the e.coli infection...and said they should have faxed the details etc so I got the impression he wasn't best pleased I went there. I am trying to do the best for my baby so I will go where I need to go....but I'm getting so stressed about it all as I'm not getting anywhere with anyone and my poor darling is suffering because of it. Thanks again for your help, as usual it is very much appreciated. Chrissie

Hi Everyone, I'm really stressed out again and sorry to pile it all on to you dear folk here but once again I really don't know what to do. Percy who is 6 years old and has liver disease and fatty lipoma has always had a bad gut, showing in lots of different types of poo's none really normal (all mentioned here before by me). Once again, his poo's (what a subject - but a necessary one from what I read..) were sticking to his botty and everyone morning I had to wash them off. He is still chirpy most of the time but sleeping fluffed up some of the time too. Took him to my vet last night - Tuesday, the local one who is down for being an avian vet...but he sees other animals too so I know what you will say. Anyway, I told him about the poo situation and he once again reckons it's all to do with the liver and what it is doing to the digestive system. I can see that point but budgie also get gut problems when their liver's aren't compromised so I thought perhaps treat him as the latter. The vet then gave my poor baby an injection last night of Ceftazidime and says he needs one more on Friday to complete the course. Percy was okay (it was me who wasn't), but I've been out all day today so haven't really seen how he's been. Not much poo in the cage though so thought perhaps he was having trouble "going". Put a clean sheet in the bottom of the cage tonight and he hadn't done a poo for over 2 hours...I was going mental about it all. I decided to have a look at his vent and there was a long black thin poo on his feathers so he had at least done one. Apologies for all the details here. He has been again twice so at least he's been but nowhere near as much as he should obviously. They are all black poo's but nothing is unusual for him where this is concerned as his have never been normal. I rang the vet to ask about the injection, what it was etc but no one there to help tonight. Rang the out of hours vet who isn't familiar with birds and said the injection is an antibiotic which shouldn't make him constipated. She said she would have a look at him but doesn't really know much about budgies...and I thought the journey would be too much and I would monitor him myself even though it's so stressful. Anyway, the situation now is that he IS going but only just. Does anyone know anything about this antibiotic and if it will cure the gut problem et al? There is another issue with Percy (could be testicular cancer....but not diagnosed) but will write about that later as the gut problem is the main concern at this time. Once again I would be SO grateful for any help you wonderful people would be able to give me. You've always been so kind and so helpful here when I've needed you so I am hoping you won't lose patience with me and think "Oh no, it's her whinging again...". Sorry but I'm so upset about all this, I don't think I will ever know when his time comes and how could I when he is chirpy and talking even through all he goes through. Thanks again for listening to me and thank you in advance for any advice you can offer. hugs to all Chrissie

Hi Maureena I'm so sorry to hear about your darling Bluie. I don't have experience of this...yet.... but my darling Percy who is now limping on his right leg, might have a tumour after having read of your ordeal with Bluie. One of the avian vets I saw some months ago, when I mentioned that Percy was holding his right leg up a lot which was unusual for him, said it could be a testicular tumour which is pressing on the nerve in the leg. However, after a little while he was fine but now just recently he is hobbling about on that leg, though I wondered if I'd caused that by having to pick him up from the cage everyday to wash his botty as he has now got poo stuck most days. Having thought of it though maybe it wasn't me as it's the same leg that has given him trouble...I'm very upset over it all. Taking him to the vet later today to see about the sticky poo and will mention the leg too though yesterday he was better on it. Percy has had chronic illness for 6 yrs now (liver disease and gut probs) so I can understand how you must be feeling Maureena when you say it's a case of watching and knowing when to make that call.....I dread it for me, I can't even bear thinking about it. I do so hope you and Bluie will fight this with courage, I will be thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs. Chrissie

He didn't like it...sob.... I chopped it finely and he picked some out and threw it in his cage...grrr... will try again another time even though I tried a couple of days this week. Back to the drawing board Chrissie

Hi Everyone Thank you for all your comments and advice. I am going to give Percy some zucchini this morning.. just hope he likes it as he is very fussy at trying things lol. Thanks again Chrissie

Hi, I'm sure I read somewhere that you can give budgies zucchini/courgette but can't find it again...! So is it okay to give them and if so, is it better cooked or raw and if raw, would you grate it or chop it? Sorry to sound so thick but I'm trying lots of things if I can as Percy isn't brilliant at eating veggies, tho he likes a little carrot and brocolli and he loves nectarines and a little apple.... but when I read about the zucchini I bought one then can't find out about it.... so now waiting to hear what you have to say. Thanks for your help. Chrissie

With Percy's beak quite long due to his liver disease... he can't eat on hard things like carrot, so I grate it or cook and mash it. With brocolli he prefers to eat the little seed greens cut off into a dish but he does have a peck at a floret too. What I would like to know is.... can they have our cooked potatoes? He will try and eat it off our plate if we would let him but it contains pepper and a little salt so I don't dare but could I cook it up and mash a little on a dish for him... is it okay for them to eat? Chrissie

Hi Just to put my two penneth in if it helps. Percy (who suffers long term illness) has always tail-bobbed. I knew it was something to do with respiratory problems but not quite what in his case. Well as he has a fatty lipoma (and several lumps too according to the last avian vet I saw), I was told that the lump(s) are pressing against his air sac and was making it such that his "lungs" weren't filling up as they should. However, he usually does it more when he has the bad gut (ecoli and other things I've mentioned here in days gone by)...so that could be an answer too that the gut is infected and causing probs with the breathing. I do hope things work out for your little bird and you get her well again whatever the cause of it. Chrissie

Hi Michelle I am pleased you did call the vet, but I still think he should be seen by someone, but that's my personal opinion. I don't have the expertise to advise you as to what you should or should not be doing, I would hope that someone else will come on and be able to help you out on here, but if you can find an avian vet who is willing to see your darling bird, please try as at least it will put your mind at rest that you are doing all you can for him. I wish you well and hope to hear how you get on. best wishes Chrissie