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:

Edited March 17, 200718 yr by lovey

Beautiful words Lovey. I feel so terribly sad about Pretty and I feel for all of you, Merlin included

Lovey, I can't get over how fast it was. You are an amazing person to put up this post and be open to any questions. Even in your grief you are still thinking about making it a learning experience for others. I don't have an opinion on wing clipping, but knowing how much your love your birds, I know you clipped Merlin with HIS health and safety in mind. My thoughts are with your and your family.

 

*hugz*

 

Feathers

Lovey,

 

Thanks for sharing this with us. Pretty was a huge part of our BBC community and he will be missed. I'm still in shock every time I see the thread telling us he passed. I hope you and your family are well. How did the kids take it?

 

I'm so glad you had a positive experiences with the avian vet and that Merlin appears to be okay. I think he has given you some great advice. Let me know how the pellet conversion works out. I really would like my gang to have pellets. I do buy a seed mix that has some pellets in it, but usually they are tossed to the bottom of the cage. Perhaps I can get the babies eating pellets.

 

Thanks again for sharing with us.

trust me ladies I am crying through this whole thing but I know everyone asks WHY and my biggest thing is WHY all the time and I think it helps us all heal especially me if I can share.

 

Shawna I pm'd you about the pellet conversion question.

I'm glad that you had such a good experience with the vet with Merlin and you got some good advice. I think that clipping him at least temporarily was a good idea.

 

It really sounds like for as painful and tragic this whole experience has been, you've really handled it gracefully. You've done everything right, and you've given so much to your birds. Pretty was very lucky to have such a peaceful passing in the loving arms of his momma. I hope that some day you can find comfort in knowing how much you helped and loved him.

Thank you again.

 

You are such a strong person and a very giving one to be thinking of sharing all of this so soon after Pretty's passing. :angel1: I know you and your family are heartbroken, and I am thankful that you are allowing all of us to help you through your grieving process. That is what friends are for. Thank you for letting us know what has happened. You did everything you could have done - you did not miss anything. I am so sorry.

I think you are a very brave person and you are doing so well in spite of what has happened to you. Pretty was a lucky budgie to have owned you.

This forum makes me strong because our members understand and I feel comfortable sharing. If I told others I did this even my family they would think I am crazy having these thoughts. It is too deep for them I suppose. Each and everyone of you are to be cherished.

:ausb: My motto is, "I've always been crazy, it keeps me from going insane". (thank you Waylon Jennings). Looks like a very good clinic, thorough and not giving you the bums rush to get out of there. I truly wish we had more avian vets here, people come from downtown Vancouver ( I live in the burbs) to see mine which makes it hard to get an appointment. :bluebudgie:

Sitting here reading this thread and crying as I know just how much our darling birds mean to us and I would be SO devastated at losing my little sweetie as I know Lovey is at losing Pretty. You are so brave to share your experience and sadness with us, I don't know I could be as brave. As you said, people here understand and that is what is brilliant about this site. My thoughts are with you and your family and anyone else who suffers the trauma and devastation of losing their darling birds. I know with Percy's chronic illness it could happen to him at anytime so I hold him very close to my heart knowing I'm lucky to have him whilst he's here, though what I will do when his time comes I dread to think. Thank you for sharing things with us and thank you everyone for being here as and when we need you.

 

hugs

Chrissie

Thank you Chrissie

I know this is really late after wards but life has been extremely busy. Elly, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Pretty. I hope time helps you heal. Again, love comes your way from FL!!!!

 

~Misty

Thank you Misty.