I was going to post this in the favorite budgie forum cuz Baby is our absolute favorite bird, but I think it's probably more appropriate here. Baby has been battling a chronic respiratory infection since December. We give her meds, and she gets better, and a while later she gets sick again. The time in between bouts is getting shorter and shorter.

 

I talked with her vet in May about her continuing treatment and illness and what he thought would be in her best interests. He didn't think we should do much more. Tests wouldn't give us enough info to be worth the pain and struggle for her. He figures its a chronic imbalance of her natural flora in her sinuses as a result of being so old (her immune system isn't strong enough to keep everything in check). Continuing antibiotic treatment will stress her organs more and encourage resistant strains of bacteria.

 

The move at the end of May was really hard on Baby and it took quite some time for her to get back to her old self (with the help from meds too). Since then, I finished her third round of antibiotics only a week ago. Before I started the last round, I noticed one of her nostrils was completely blocked! She didn't really show any other symptoms, but I knew it was best to treat early. I check her nostrils a few times a day to make sure they're not getting stuff built up and clean them when necessary. She's been sneezing more often than usual too.

 

Today Jared called me over to her cage cuz she was so adorably fluffed up with her head tucked under her wing, almost completely round in shape! She really really was cute, but I know that it means she's not feeling her best. I keep 3 sides of her cage covered with a thick blanket so she doesn't get any drafts or chilled from the AC, but she obviously was trying to conserve energy anyway. I scooped her up and held her close to me, cupped against my chest so I could warm her with my body heat. The poor girl was shivering and trembling! Finally she stopped being so puffed up and started nibbling at my fingernails and my shirt and moving around in the little cave of hands. She seemed very content for an unbelievably long time for her.

 

I've been SOOOOOO torn as to what to do. Do I start her back on the antibiotics? Do I just let her go quietly? Is keeping her alive longer prolonging her suffering? Is she suffering? She certainly doesn't seem like it, but of course we all know that birds hide their pain so well. She's alert, enjoys interaction, eats, plays, forages and she's been flying better than ever, not to mention how great she looks. Her feathers are vivid and full and beautiful. But she's a quieter, gentler Baby. She's always been full of spit and vinegar with a mind of her own, certainly giving you a piece of it if you were doing something she didn't like. Lately she hasn't been like that. She's content to sit snuggled up to my chest. Her change in personality tells me that she's not feeling good. Could it be her way of suffering? Or is she just entering a slower, softer stage of life and still enjoying things?

 

Jared and I had a long talk as to what we should do for her. He's been around her for 16 years and has watched her health wane and improve many times, and December was the first time she was given meds. He thinks she's perfectly happy and that just because she's not as feisty as she used to be doesn't mean she's ready to die. I think that if we put her back on her meds, we shouldn't take her off of them again, unless we change them again. But I'm not sure how willing the vet will be to do that. And it will continue to stress her organs to the point of failure at some point. I'm not sure what would be doing more for her - giving her medicine, or letting her go. It was easy to know with Grizzly - I just knew, he kind of told me it was time. I suppose Baby will tell me too, but I can't help but wonder if her change in personality to the sweet cuddly girl is her way of doing it.

 

So we've decided the following. We're going to be keeping a heater on her cage to help keep her warm and I'm going to continue to keep her nostrils clean and open. We're going to try to let her spend as much time as we can safely allow her out of her cage, so she can get as much enjoyment out of life as she can. And we're gonna watch her. And pray. Jared wants to let her do her fighter bird thing and he's optimistic about it. I'm prepared for the worst. If she continues to go downhill, we'll put her back on the antibiotics or see if we can get new ones. Or maybe she'll tell us its time in the meantime and then we'll act accordingly.

 

I want to make a little nest for her that I can hang around my neck and keep her close to me and warm against my chest. I want to be there for her as much as I can and i really hope that she doesn't go while she's alone. I just rock her and hold her and sing to her telling her how very much she's loved. Any ideas for the little nest? Maybe something that can be nestled in a sports bra? But I'm worried it would be too easy for her to get hurt doing it.

Edited August 2, 200717 yr by **KAZ**

l'm so sorry that you are going thru this , l really don't know what to say since l have never been thru this with my flock but l 'm praying for baby and also for the both of you .

l'm sure that someone who has more experince with this will come buy and suggest or help you with this situation .

Edited July 31, 200717 yr by birdluv

Baby is in our prayers

 

Know that she knows that you love her and that her passing will be peaceful because she has so many wonderful memories. I know that doesn't ease the pain but Baby has suffered so much and she deserves to be flying free. She has given so much for a little one and what she has been through is truly amazing.

Thank you....

 

If it were up to me, I would let her go, but she's my husband's bird too. However, I think that his willingness to let her do her thing instead of pushing the meds is a blessing. He can do what he likes from his point of view, being optimistic about it. And I don't feel like I'm going against my wishes for her either. I just hope its what she wants.

The stubborn little bird keeps hanging on. I take all the opportunity to hold her for as long as she can stand. This morning I woke up really early and laid down with her on the couch and we slept together for 4 hours! Last night and this morning I was really thinking that she's has to be nearing the end.

 

She turns her head at millet and hasn't had much to drink. In the 4 hours she was sleeping on me, she pooped twice. They were very large, weren't very watery at all, and they were sort of greenish. Nothing in her diet would have made them that color. She hardly moves.

 

I decided I needed to see if she would drink something if I offered it directly to her. She took 3 big gulps of water from a spoon and then wouldn't have anything to do with it. When i have her out, she seems to do better on her playground, at least making the look of foraging and ringing her bell. So I decided it was time to move her to the hospital cage.

 

I put the perch in low and added her two favorite toys. There's a ladder to get her down to the floor where I put a fresh bowl of seed, pellets and millet, and one of the rungs of the ladder is perfect for her to reach the water dish. The birds got some seed treat perches from my aunt for christmas, so I put one of them in there in hopes that she might eat it. The whole shebang is covered with a thick blanket on 3 sides and I have a heat lamp shining through the front. 85 to 90 degrees F isn't too warm for her, is it?

 

When I put her in there, she immediately started picking at the seed perch, even climbing on top of it. She's still on it, but not fluffy or shaking anymore and she looks a little more alert. I'm going to look into other things to offer her to drink. I'm also considering bringing her in to have Dr. Larry help her join the flock of angels waiting for her. I don't think Jared would go for it though.

Thinking of you, ((hugs)), try to give her some weak black tea with sugar, it has helped Sara a lot.

Enjoy her while she is with you, there is no turning back from that trip to the vet, and I am sure you will make the right decision whichever way.

HUGZ for both of you.

Poor little baby, I hope she doesn't suffer too much.

85 to 90 degrees F isn't too warm for her, is it?

 

That's about brooder temperature range and should be just about ideal. At her age she simply may not be able to control her own body temperature, just like when she was a newly hatched chick. She'll tell you if it's too hot (wings out panting), or too cold (fluffed up) but that range sounds good.

 

All the best to you both,

KathyW.

Edited August 2, 200717 yr by KathyW

Thank you everyone! Its been a crazy day in spite of Baby's condition. I'm guessing its not unknown, at least in the U.S., about one of the main freeway bridges over the Mississippi River into Minneapolis collapsed into the river during rush hour this evening. I live in one of the surrounding suburbs and thankfully I don't know anyone who was involved (that I've heard about, yet). Then, at about 10 this evening as we were taking the trash out to the curb, we discovered that an 18 month old baby walked out her front door and got lost in the neighborhood, just a block away from us. We we went out searching with a flashlight and the dog. Thankfully she was found not too long afterwards. It turned out the family had friends over and one of them brought her with them to the store and didn't tell everyone. I can't IMAGINE what her mom and family went through!

 

Yes Orca, I read about your Sara and made some of the tea as directed in the link you posted. She's drinking a tiny bit of it when I offer it, and then she grabs the spoon forcefully and tries to shove it away. *L* It makes me feel better that her spunk is starting to show again, even if she is feeling so low.

 

It really makes sense that she just might not be able to control her body heat anymore. Thanks for the reassurance about the temps Kathy! That she'd tell us that she was too warm is kind of like a 'duh!' thing, but you can't expect someone so close to the situation to think completely rationally and remember everything. *L*

 

I mentioned bringing her in to my husband and he was totally adamant that I was not going to kill our bird. *sigh* Those were his words. I could rant on forever about it, but I'm not gonna bring myself there again. So I'm debating on whether I should do everything I can to help her get better, or just let her slip away.

 

She has been chewing on the seed perch a bunch and I'm offering her the sweet black tea fairly often too, of which she drinks a little each time. She drank more plain water when I offered it to her just now. I think she's perking up a little, but I don't know if its a sign of her turning around so I should kick my nursing skills into high gear and medicate her to help the fight, or if doing so will only prolong her battle.

 

I suppose giving her a dose or two of the antibiotic wouldn't hurt if she really is losing her ground, and if she is making a comeback, it would be the best thing for her. If she doesn't show signs of improving after a day or two, I can always stop the meds and let her go.

 

The poor girl... *sigh*

Baby will be in my thoughts. It sounds like she's getting a great deal of comfort from being with you, so i would keep doing that.

Oh dear, we knew that Baby was getting on in age and has had a wonderful life, may she gradually go out in peace to the Rainbow Bridge, she seems to be hanging on for you and your husband, but that's what love is, isn't it? But if it gets too much for her, you know what is best thing for her to keep her out of pain and that's what love is as well.

I totally agree with you Phoebe, that helping her let go is just as much a loving act as anything else. Its convincing the husband that's the tough part. *L* She's more his bird than anything.After talking with him more, he's realized that over the past month or so, she's seemed fluffier than usual, probably because we have the air conditioning on quite a bit more. Since I put her in the hospital cage this afternoon, she's improving, so maybe it is just too chilly for her old little body to handle. We decided that we're gonna see how she's doing in the morning, and if she doesn't seem to be any worse, I'll start the meds again. I'm gonna put fresh paper down so I can see how much she's pooped and eaten off her seed perch overnight to help in the assessment. I do have to agree that if she really is dying, she wouldn't have shown any improvement over the course of the day. Jared also pointed out that when we thought she was going to die and we first brought her to the vet in December, she looked much worse than she has at her worst this time around. And if she hasn't shown significant improvement by the end of the week, I think he'll agree that helping her go actually might be the best thing.well dang! Just as I finished the posts, she rang one of her bells and hopped down into her foraging dish! Maybe she is making a turnaround...... *keeping my fingers crossed*

I think our little wonderbird has given us an answer for all our doubts. A few minutes ago, she was hanging upside down from the top of her cage! What dying bird in her right mind would do that?! *chuckle*

This really is turning into swings and roundabouts isnt it! Everything you are doing is right, keeping her warm, sheltered from draughts, encouraging, not forcing her to eat. You asked about a little nest type thing that you could wear with her in it... I had a very sick baby cockatiel, and I made her a little puch (I will find the picture and put it here for you shortly)I used a circular poece of fleece, and gathered it up round the edges to make like a kind of pouch. I attached a strap to it (just another, longer, strip of fleece) and wore it around my neck with the little one in it. I had the pouch so that it rested at heart level, I think she found that comforting. I guess Baby's fate really lies within the hands of the Gods right now, but be assured that youare doing everything right for her.Love and warmth,Anne xhere is ''Pickles Pouch'' x

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/Pre...Progress098.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/Pre...Progress093.jpg

Edited August 2, 200717 yr by Bea
images linked due to size

I don't even know if she's gonna need the pouch, though it does look easy enough to make.

 

She's MUCH more active and alert today, and she's a bit more bitey too. *L* She came to the front of her cage and down to the door when I came over to take care of her and when I brought her out on my finger and talked to me, she chirped and screeped away!

 

Her poops are much closer to normal and she's continuing to eat. I'm actually tempted to not give her the meds cuz I don't want to stress her liver and kidneys if its not necessary. I'm gonna keep her in the hospital cage so she can stay warm and cozy and still monitor her eating and pooping as best as I can.

 

It really seems like she's out of the woods - thank you for your thoughts and prayers everyone!

that is great news . it sounds like baby is going to pull thru , l'm keeping her in my prayers and thoughts .

Yup! Today she flew one of her most amazing flights I've seen yet. Down the length of the living room (like 20 ft), around the corner into the kitchen, where she literally HOVERED (which I've NEVER seen her do) for a few seconds before flying back into the living room again. I'm dumbfounded at it almost! It makes me want to laugh and giggle and dance like a little girl. *L* And this was without the aid of meds even. It must have been the tea (which she drank quite a bit of this evening when I held up a spoonful for her) and everyone's support. Thank you! *hugs and happy dances all around*

She's a perky little fighter that's for sure :-)

 

Keep doing what you're doing, it seems to agree with her.

 

Cheers and best wishes,

KathyW.

that is so awsome !!!!

She's still doing great, eating and drinking with gusto, making all of her typical calls, active as all get out. I'm kind of feeling guilty about keeping her in the tiny hospital cage, but I don't know if moving her back to her regular one would be the wisest either. She has her 2 favorite toys and it seems the heater keeps her nice and sleek. I'm just kind of nervous about the ability to keep her regular cage as warm as she needs it.

Hello, I started reading this thread with dread and I am so pleased to see that Baby is still doing well. I know that we can't ask them to live on past their alloted time here, but there are just some 'special ones' that it is so hard to let go of. Thinking of you, Baby.

 

 

Feathers.