Hi everyone,

 

Sara- my wonderful budgie- is 7years old, and since she was a baby she had variety of health problems which she always overcome.

she had respiratory problems, she had weight issue, flying issue, and many others but about a three month ago she had two lumps one on the tummy and one on the leg (thigh) the vet gave her antibiotic (Baytril) after testing that the liquid inside her is not cancerous, she suspected that Sara has some cysts on her ovary.

the medicine worked well and the tummy lump sort of disappeared, but not the leg one which the vet thought it is a fat lump. before that treatment Sara was hardly able to breath, tired all the time, but she is back to normal now, apart from her leg lump which is growing consistently.

the vet gave her another medicine (Clavulox) to treat the infection on the leg (she thought there is infection behind the fat lump) but that didn't work.

the vet said the only option now is to operate on the leg to remove the lump, but of course knowing sara's condition and her age, she said this is a risky to do and we should do it only when the lump effecting her quality of life.

Sara looks happy, playful, but she drags her lump behind her when she walks and she tries to cope with the extra weight when she flys but that is not stopping her from doing anything.

I can't imagine Sara under the surgery, and I don't know how big that lump will grow if we don't do anything about it, to me it looks massive, it is the size of a BIG cherry tomato.

did anyone have similar issue, and what do you think of the idea of operating on a bird??

Sara means the world to me, and I am ready to do anything to help her.

I took some photos, can you tell where to find information on how to post it (I forgot)

Thanks

ORCA

Edited May 17, 200718 yr by ORCA

Hi Orca, sorry to hear about your budgie, perhaps she has lipomas? (benign fatty tumors, I have 2 budgies with them and they are just fine, one of them is almost 9 and the meanest budgie ever). I try to feed them as many fresh vegetables as I can and keep the fat content in their food down. As well, my avian vet prescribes Synthyroid (people meds) dissolved in their water which shrinks the lipomas. To post pictures, check out FAQs or simply click on any moderator's signature (but not mine) and it will tell you the allowable dimensions, looking forward to seeing your pictures! :ygbudgie:

Thanks Phoebe,

 

I found the info about the image size and format and I transfered my photos as requested but I still don't know how to post it, when I am clicking on Insert Image it is asking for URL, can you help me with what to do??

Thanks Phoebe,

 

I found the info about the image size and format and I transfered my photos as requested but I still don't know how to post it, when I am clicking on Insert Image it is asking for URL, can you help me with what to do??

 

No problem, I had major headaches when I started out, you use the IMG one, copy and paste.

Edited May 17, 200718 yr by Phoebe

Here is some photos of Sara's lump

 

They are not that clear, sorry I couldn't get better than that.

Edited May 17, 200718 yr by ORCA

Totally convinced that they are lipomas, gross aren't they! Happy had about 4 all over her body and her breathing was being compromised. Again, she was diagnosed almost 7 years ago and has had Synthyroid added to her water every other day since then and the tumors haven't been eradicated but they have shrunk and it keeps them at bay. Happy can fly a bit but not great, Monty has NEVER flown but he has other challenges. Chances are that your avian vet is not aware of this treatment but do suggest it to them, it has worked for Happy and Monty.

Poor Sara, that is quite some lump she has under there. I can offer no useful information about it though, sorry.

 

 

Feathers.

Welcome to our forums , Robin is giving you the best advice. I haven't dealt with lipoma and as you said you have read and read articles so anything I pull up you probably read but I can if you want me to look on the net.

 

If this was my budgie I know I wouldn't put them under surgery I do believe it is too risky for these little ones and since she is coping well I would leave it . That is me though.

 

She is a pretty girl.

Totally convinced that they are lipomas, gross aren't they! Happy had about 4 all over her body and her breathing was being compromised. Again, she was diagnosed almost 7 years ago and has had Synthyroid added to her water every other day since then and the tumors haven't been eradicated but they have shrunk and it keeps them at bay. Happy can fly a bit but not great, Monty has NEVER flown but he has other challenges. Chances are that your avian vet is not aware of this treatment but do suggest it to them, it has worked for Happy and Monty.

That's a relieve, I was really concerned especially that I see it growing every day (or at least I think so) definitely I will raise this with my vet and ask her to prescribe the Synthyroid if this is the case.

thank you Phoebe, glad that Happy and Monty are well, Do you have some photos.

Sara Has a friend "Tim-Tam" He is one year old, he never stop kissing her, sometime I move him away when I feel it is too much for her because she has such a kind nature she will never bite him or do anything to stop him even if she is annoyed.

I will keep you informed about what will happen and hopefully it will be all good news.

thanks again.

Working at a vet clinic that specializes in birds and reptiles, I have a hard time suggesting surgery. Little tiny guys have about a 50% success rate of any surgery, and while I haven't seen any budgie operations, I've watched plenty of surgeries where the little bodies just stop breathing. My vet doesn't recommend surgery for budgies because the risks are so high.

 

Talking to your vet about the synthroid treatment would be a great idea. If he's hesitant, ask him to do some research on it.

 

If her quality of life diminishes and you think you want to consider surgery, educate yourself on the risks of the procedure. Ask your vet as many questions as you can think of so you can make a well informed decision. You might also want to look into treating symptoms at that point, just to make her as comfortable as possible till the end. If she has trouble flying and getting around, perhaps changing her daily routine to minimize those things might keep her happier.

 

Good luck!! It sounds like you've provided her with a WoNDERFUL life in spite of her issues. Way to go!!

I tried to contact my vet but she will not be available before Monday.

also I searched to find some information about the fat lumps and I found that some of the characteristic of it that it does not increase in size, and sara's lump is growing.. or at least I think so, Is there any way to measure if the lump is growing, sometimes I feel that I can't tell the difference because I see her all the time.

I am not sure if weighing her will tell because the difference will be small?? any suggestions.

A good way to know if they lump is growing to to weigh her. Weighing a budgie is the best indicator of health. Click here this is article if from our FAQ section BBC Article Weighing your Budgie the avian vet advised that birds should be weighed at least 1 a month if not even 2x a month.

A good way to know if they lump is growing to to weigh her. Weighing a budgie is the best indicator of health. Click here this is article if from our FAQ section BBC Article Weighing your Budgie the avian vet advised that birds should be weighed at least 1 a month if not even 2x a month.

thank you Elly, That was very helpful article, I know Sara is a chubby girl but I will keep a record to know whether she is putting extra weight or not.

I don't know what type of budgie Sara is but she weigh 57g and from what I read in the article this is massive, I'll keep an eye on that and see.

thanks again.

she looks like a pet budgie from the picture so yes that is big but don't forget the mass is part of that weight also.

Today I spoke with the vet and I asked her about the "Synthyroid" she said this is not for Sara's situation, beside they don't prescribe it here in Australia and she thinks that the problem started as a fatty lump and get infected and now it has at the center of it some dead cells (She described it as gangrene) and this is why the antibiotic is not reaching there to kill the germs.

she said the only way to treat it is to remove it is by surgery and she said if we do the operation while she is still well, that give us better chance of surviving,

from what I heard and what I know the surgery is 50% chance of surviving and in our case it is even less, and it is not an option to consider.

I am really sad and I don't know what to do.

I asked the vet if I can give Sara another round of Bytrail and she said try for seven days.

I know Sara hates this medicine and just now when she saw me carrying the bottle, she refused to come to me (It has very very bitter taste which lasts for hours -I tasted it) I hope it will make a difference.

hugs, I am so sorry to read this news

there is nothing topical they can put on it?

This is a very hard decision, I would weigh the pros and cons and what is best for Sara. I see the vets point and then I see your point too.

hugs, I am so sorry to read this news

there is nothing topical they can put on it?

This is a very hard decision, I would weigh the pros and cons and what is best for Sara. I see the vets point and then I see your point too.

I am praying for a miracle,

Sara passed through lots of difficult situations and I am hoping for the medicine to work this time. meanwhile I will keep weighing her.

also I asked the vet about that, she said there is no cream or anything can be applied locally.

Well my prayers are with you and I know you will make the best decision for Sara. In just the short time you have been a member I can tell how much you love Sara and care for her. ((hugs))

Some updates on sara's lump

 

The lump is still growing, and it looks very scary. Here are some new photos.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/orca_01/sara12.jpg

 

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/orca_01/Sara11.jpg

 

Sara's still happy, playful, this is why I am unable to decide on the operation.

my concern for now is how to protect the lump from being scratched, because she drags it behind her.

OMG, poor Sara! Cannot you not mix the antibiotics with a little bit of fruit juice to make them more palatable for her? But I don't think that is an infection really, to be honest with you, it sort of looks like the tumor my Rosey Bourke developed. As long as she isn't in pain that's good, but if she starts to suffer, you will have to make that DIFFICULT decision, hugs and best wishes for both of you.

I think it looks more painful for me because I am not there seeing her playful and such. Bless her heart and I am sure you will know when it is time. What a wonderful budgie.

OMG, poor Sara! Cannot you not mix the antibiotics with a little bit of fruit juice to make them more palatable for her? But I don't think that is an infection really, to be honest with you, it sort of looks like the tumor my Rosey Bourke developed. As long as she isn't in pain that's good, but if she starts to suffer, you will have to make that DIFFICULT decision, hugs and best wishes for both of you.

She finished the antibiotics and it didn't help her at all. and actually the vet didn't expect the antibiotics to work.

so what happened to Rosey Brouke? and what sort of tumor she had.

My sweet little Rosey was VERY happy all her life (about 9 years) and then developed this rapidly growing tumor that got aspirated a couple of times and was not an infection so we put it down to cancer. Your poor Sara's tumors look exactly like Happy's tumors (massive) before she got the meds years ago and they shrunk. Your pictures are very graphic;it would appear that there is some superimposed infection/tumor growth there. I pray for sweet Sara.

Hiya,

 

So sorry to hear about your Sara I've seen a couple of these cases at the vet I work at and recently had to euthanise my own budgie because of cancer...

I hope you don't have to do the same thing,but I recommend you get pathology run again on the lump as she has the signs and symptoms along with the major risk factors for cancer.

 

Good luck I hope it all goes well!

 

Sorry forgot to tell you if Sara does turn out to have cancer there are options other than surgery such as chemo and radiation therapy which are quite effective and may be safer than surgery at Sara's age :hap:

I can bearly look at those photos of Sara without being upset for her. I hope you find something that works for her.

 

 

Feathers.