Sara is a bit better today, even though she is still fluffed up but she is singing, I had the lamp on all night and I gave her some weak tea with sugar, and even she nibbled on the sugar grains, this morning she had some pancakes (I know, but I couldn't resist her eyes ). There is problem that the lump is really big and it is blocking her poo from going out easily, and because it is a bit runny the poo is sticking to the lump and the lump has very fragile skin and I don't know how to clean it, when she is trying to clean it she is poking herself. I am still not able to accept the idea that she might die, but I pray if that is going to happen, to be painless and easy on her.

she is sitting inside my sleeves right now, it is her favorite place to sleep.

Poor Sara, maybe just wet some tissue really well to help her clean herself. (No wet wipes or whatever). I think you are going into the "palliative care" stage and just need to keep her comfortable. So sorry I cannot offer more positive suggestions. If she appears to be in pain you know what must be done.

How is sweet Sara today? (she is on my mind as well as a poor, abused cockatiel that was thrown against a wall as he bit his owner and his wing got broken, thank goodness he has been surrendered to rescue). I pray she is comfortable and doing okay.

How is sweet Sara today? (she is on my mind as well as a poor, abused cockatiel that was thrown against a wall as he bit his owner and his wing got broken, thank goodness he has been surrendered to rescue). I pray she is comfortable and doing okay.

Sara is doing okay, she perked up and she is playing again but she gets tired easily, she asks to go out of the cage often and she plays with us and kisses us, she really knows how to show us her love, her lump bleeds from time to time when she scratches it with her foot, but I immediatly put some iodine (sometimes I dilute it with warm water). But today something happened which scared me to death, Tim-Tam My boy budgie currently in separate cage, we took him out of the cage while Sara is out and he right away -like crazy in love- jumped on her and accidently poked her lump with his foot and a liquid started coming out of the lump (water like liquid) that reduced the size of the lump a bit and Sara felt weird so she started inspecting her lump and she scratched it badly, with lots of blood coming out, after about 10 minutes the wound stopped bleeding and she was back to normal even happier, that was this morning and now it is evening time here in sydney, she looks fine and happy, I am still using the desk lamp next to her cage because once she is in the cage she is fluffed up.

I am really sorry to her about the cockatiel, and I am sure he is now in good hands Phoebe, and thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers.

and about removing her poop, I am useing you advise, I am wetting some tissues and apply it on the the lump for few seconds, I am putting a dash of iodine with the warm water to make sure there is minimum germs getting in, but the best way is to clean her immediatly while it is still wet.

You are being so diligent with her care and it's so touching her pal loves her so much too! All you can do is make her comfortable and love her and that's exactly what you are doing, wish EVERYBODY cared for their pets as much as you, I mean some do just like you but others are sadly neglectful and uncaring, huggos!

Please let your vet know what happened and that clear liquid was expressed from the lump. Since she seemed to feel so much better after the pressure was relieved somewhat it may possible the vet could safely lance it to drain the fluid. That would certainly relieve some of the pressure and the weight she is carrying with it. It would be worth the phone call in my mind, even if it is determined later he cannot do it for whatever reason. What a tough situation for you and Sara...(((hugs)))

 

I am thankful she is still doing well. It does sound like you are taking extraordinary care of her!

I left a message for my vet this morning to tell her what had happened and I am waiting for an answer, but previously I suggested draining it because it looked like a bomb about to explode and she thought that was not a very good idea because this way we are stirring the Germ center and giving it permission to move around her body. But I'll wait and see what she says today, because the lump shrunk a lot and the skin of it a bit crinkled and Sara is much happier, Her weight was 64g two days ago but today she weighs 58g, I don't know if that was the liquid which expelled or something else but, I can see her acting much better.

she is eating well, even though she prefers me to hand feed her but I think this is just her being spoiled girl

I spoke with the vet, she said it is good that Sara feels better but also she thinks that the liquid will fill up again, she said that I should keep the area clean so no outside bacteria will come in through the scratches, and this is what I am trying to do, Sara today was singing (I didn't hear her doing that for ages).

the vet said I should ALWAYS dilute the Iodine when I use it because if it is concentrated it will dry the bird's skin and the skin will crack because of that.

I am really thankful for you guys and for the forum where we can put our concerns and thoughts and you find passionate people sharing your feelings and give you good advise.

THANK YOU

Edited June 12, 200717 yr by ORCA

I honestly think you're doing such an amazing job with her.

You're being so careful with her care and you can tell that you love her so much.

This little budgie is so lucky to have you and your family and I wish you the best of luck. I hope she stays comfortable for as long as possible.

Reading this post really touched my heart.

I lost my best friend and dog last summer and what I would give to have had the time to say goodbye. He was hit by a car so it was very sudden.

You and Sara are both lucky to have eachother and to have the time to spend with eachother when things are still alright.

Again, goodluck. :ausb:

Donkeys years ago when I was trained to be a vet nurse, I worked with an incredible female Vet ( in a mostly male Vet world at that time )...I will never forget what she told me.

 

You dont ever give up on one of God's creatures, until it has given up on itself

 

so, in remembering that, I say...as long as Sara carries on the fight, you just keep doing what you are doing ( as you know in your heart anyway ) ....cos it looks like Sara hasnt given up on herself quite yet :angel1:

Edited June 13, 200717 yr by **KAZ**

Very good words of wisdom Karen! :ausb: Unless they indicate they are in pain or failing badly, we continue to care for them as best we can. One of the girls at work today told me it was time to put her midsize dog down, she is almost 18, blind and starting to fall over but she is still continent of bowel and bladder but hasn't eaten for the last few days, only drank water. As long is Sara continues to do well, we are so very happy!

Thank you everyone for the kind words and the support, I do love Sara but I think when we own a pet it is our duties to take care of them and love them, we chose to take them out of their enviroment while they had no choice, so it is the least thing we can do is to love them and it is such a rewarding thing.

here's the updates of Sara's news:

She is doing well, I can see her improving and I wish that this is the miracle I am praying for, my vet say not to keep my hopes up because she thinks that Sara is going to die from that. Whatever the case I am happy that she is better whether this is an improvement or not. after the accident with Tim-Tam the lump looks definitely better and sara every day is happier than the one before.

But recently she is acting weird toward her shadow, as if she never seen it before, she stares at it, she chases it and sometime she just jerks , I don't know, is this a new game she is playing??

Sorry about your lose Standbyme last year, I can imagine how sad you feel, and I understand how much the time I am spending with Sara is important.

talking about the one way trip to the vet, I hope I will not need it but I don't imagine I will be able to do it, earlier this year I found on the street a baby dove which has been attacked by magpie, she looked terrible, I took her to the vet and he said that she is dieing and it is a matter of minutes or hours, and he recommend to put her to sleep, I kind of had no options, and this is what we did. but I know I sobbed for hours even though I just knew this bird for two hours. So I hope and pray that no one including me will be in a position where we have to have this decision.

Glad Sweet Sara is doing better, good news! After volunteering at the Wildlife Shelter for over 14 years you can imagine the shape some of the poor animals are in when they arrive and I have no problem with euthanasia but I am lousy at that , I HAVE NEVER GIVEN THE INJECTION MYSELF, WIMP THAT I AM!! But, as I have said before, that's where animals have a benefit over people and when the time comes, it comes.

:bluebudgie: Glad Sweet Sara is doing better, good news! After volunteering at the Wildlife Shelter for over 14 years you can imagine the shape some of the poor animals are in when they arrive and I have no problem with euthanasia but I am lousy at that , I HAVE NEVER GIVEN THE INJECTION MYSELF, WIMP THAT I AM!! But, as I have said before, that's where animals have a benefit over people and when the time comes, it comes. :ausb:

How is the cockatiel with the broken wing Phoebe, I hope he feels better at your care :greenb:

:bluebudgie: Actually he is not with me, shall see him this weekend when I deliver some birds to the rescue but apparently he is doing great! Glad to be away from his former environment no doubt. :parrot:

Updates:

I can't explain what is happening, but the lump is shrinking, it looks like an old saggy bag at the moment with some scabs from previous scratching incidents, Sara is great, happy and playful, She is a real fighter. :glare:

:glare: Miracles DO HAPPEN!! Hope the fluid doesn't come back, hooray Sara!!

wow good to hear maybe the release of pressure is what was needed.

That is absolutely fantastic news, I really hope it continues for Sara. What a little trooper.

 

 

Feathers.

I don't know why all of that is happening to me, once I'm over with one issue something else start.

Sara's lump is still shrinking, it is a pea size now after it was about an inch in diameter, (that is the good bit about my story) but in the last couple of days Sara's other foot (not the one with the lump on the thigh) is hurting her, she is lifting it up all the time and it has a little if no grip, I had a thorough look at it, there is no bruise or any injury, it is not swollen or red, it looks normal apart from the toes are stretch open, the nails look fine, also, she is unable to fly, she is active and she wants to fly but whenever she trys she falls, she can flap her wings easily (she does that while she is standing on my finger or the perch but when she takes off she falls right away. I am really sad, I was excited because I saw her improving by the minute and now there is something else?? why?

I thought she might have had a fall or something but there is no sign of injury. and she is eating normally, she asks to play and do her normal things, my husband is suggesting to give her some vitamins or something to strengthen her, he thinks that the previous illness weakened her and now her body is showing the signs. I don't want to go to the vet because she gave up on Sara long time ago. I had a look at the FAQ section but I couldn't find a related matter, Do you have ant thoughts?? and if I need to give her vitamins how do I do that (I never done this before).

I would say that there is something internally going on could be another tumor or it could be an infection from the inside that is pinching a nerve that is causing these issues. I trip to the avian vet I would think is necessary to figure out what it is going on. It could be seperate from the lump or it could be related. I can't be for sure.

I think she needs to see the vet again, unfortunately. Although she seems better with the lump shrinking after it was 'lanced', all that fluid has to go somewhere. I wonder if it is possible her body is not absorbing and releasing the fluid fast enough and it has leaked out into her body. The lump was very large, and on a bird as small as a budgie the amount of fluid inside was probably huge. I don't want to sound scary, but if there were any infection in the fluid and her system was not able to get it out soon enough through the urine, it might be contributing to her flight problems.

 

It is sad the vet 'wrote her off a long time ago', but unfortunately some of them do that for the smaller birds. But she is still alive and it sounds like she is fighting like h*ll to get better so I would take her back to the vet. The vet will be able to palpate her and tell better than I whether she has fluid inside, a tumor, or something else. At least I know I do not have the training to tell you what to do to help her, and I have kept birds for over 30 years. I can only throw out guesses, and that ultimately won't help Sara, although I wish it could. It sounds to me like there is pressure inside her where it should not be. The cause could be several things from the fluid leaking inside her (fluid pressure) to a tumor to an internal bruise....

 

How is her appetite? Her general demeanor? Does she still perch straight? Hugs to you, and please keep us updated. We love Sara.

Yes, let us get Sara checked out again, it all sounds so strange.

I'll do first thing tomorrow, she is eating, perching and even playing alright. it is when she is standing her leg is not touching the perch, and when she walks she limps a bit, also she will attempt to fly but she will fall.

she can flap her wings easily and freely, just the ability to stay in the air is the struggle. her feets feels warmer today, but no sign of redness or injury.

The avian vet which I go to is quit a distance from where I live and I hope this trip is not going to stress Sara very much.

I had a similar problem with Pippin earlier this year. It started out with him holding his leg up and not being able to put it down. I made an appointment at the vets and was told it could be he had pulled it or worse case it could have been an enlarged kidney or testicular tumour pressing on the nerves. He was put on a course of Baytril and over the next couple of days progressed to where he was dragging his little leg around. Eventually the antibiotics kicked in and he started to improve and is fine now, although he is back at the vets again tomorrow for his sinus problem.

 

I know that Sarah has been a poorly little girl but until you see the vet and I do recommend she goes, we are all just guessing at what the problem is.

 

I have my fingers crossed for you and Sarah.