OMG - I can see now that it could make people grossed out .. I have never ever seen one before and well - It was very yuck.... Poor little bugger - Good luck with Wednesday and Congrats to Duncan for raising $$$ today - Even though it was FREEZING

Thats twice as big as the worst I have seen too. Hope it gets sorted fast for him and he can start to feel better

 

That is why I was so surprised when you said you treat them yourself!

 

The vet said (oh I can't remember) but that it may have been a large flight feather that has been broken off at the "root". (Does that sound right?) which has made it grow so fast.

 

But she said that she's seen feather cysts grow even faster than Fizzer's.

 

I'm glad because one of the earlier posts seemed to suggest that we'd "let it go" which we most certainly had not.

Thats twice as big as the worst I have seen too. Hope it gets sorted fast for him and he can start to feel better

 

That is why I was so surprised when you said you treat them yourself!

 

The vet said (oh I can't remember) but that it may have been a large flight feather that has been broken off at the "root". (Does that sound right?) which has made it grow so fast.

 

But she said that she's seen feather cysts grow even faster than Fizzer's.

 

I'm glad because one of the earlier posts seemed to suggest that we'd "let it go" which we most certainly had not.

Feather cysts grow really really fast. Broken feather at the root...maybe. Usually new feathers that do not emerge properly. But a broken feasther at the root could cause other feathers near it to not emerge as they should. I would say maybe three feathers involved.

Oh my GOLLY!! I feel so helpless just looking at your beautiful bird Fizzer(excluding the cyst that is ), and wish your son the best of luck with his bird.

 

 

Carolyn alias:Budgielover13

Edited August 11, 200816 yr by KAZ
Edited

Inspite of the cyst he looks quite content and he is a handsome boy, I pray everything goes well. Good for your son he is doing great raising money. Cupcakes is a good idea too yum.

Wow, that is much bigger than I anticipated it being! It has got to be uncomfortable, I'm sure he'll be glad to have it gone. Keep us posted on how the surgery goes.

Feather cysts grow really really fast. Broken feather at the root...maybe. Usually new feathers that do not emerge properly. But a broken feasther at the root could cause other feathers near it to not emerge as they should. I would say maybe three feathers involved.

I had an ingrown armpit hair once and it grew as fast as Fizzer's cyst. It was terribly painful too although Fizzer seems to be in pretty good spirits considering that gross big lump on his wing so I'm hoping he's not in too much pain (actually he doesn't seem to be in any pain at all and he has a good appetite and is still playful)Only one more day and he'll be feeling a LOT better I'm sure. The vet was absolutely lovely and I am very confident that she will do a good job. When my son told her all about his fund-raising efforts with our local animal shelter she was impressed by his enthusiasm and she said she will save the microscope slides for him to have a look at, since he's obviously very interested in animals.

Inspite of the cyst he looks quite content and he is a handsome boy, I pray everything goes well. Good for your son he is doing great raising money.

Thank you! He is a very handsome boy and the vet mentioned that he is very well cared for and seems healthy and robust. She said cage birds usually fare a little less well under anaesthetic than wild birds because they get less exercise, so she was relieved to know that the little cage he was in was only his "infirmary" cage and he normally lives in a very large flight cage and gets plenty of exercise and a varied diet.I know it's risky but I feel pretty confident that he'll do fine. My son is a great little carer and he's always gone to a lot of effort to make sure his birds are well cared for so they're generally very healthy and content.

Wow, that is much bigger than I anticipated it being! It has got to be uncomfortable, I'm sure he'll be glad to have it gone. Keep us posted on how the surgery goes.

It's pretty gross isn't it? I say "gross" in the medical sense because it is such a huge mass. (And it's "gross" in the "ick factor" sense too)But it's probably a good thing to have as an archived picture for reference purposes if people haven't seen one as massive as that before so I'm glad my son got the photo.Oh and just for the record - when he was weighed at Lort Smith on Saturday he was 44 grams. It will be interesting to see how much he weighs on Wednesday since the cyst seems to have stopped growing. Just out of interest, does anyone want to hazard a guess how much that cyst weighs? They will weigh him before and after surgery.

Fingers crossed that everything goes well tomorrow

Ditto. Good luck for tomorrow... Big hugs to you and your son and I'll be thinking and praying for the three of you!

Thinking of you - hope all goes well today.

UPDATE.

 

Unfortunately it did not go well. Poor little Fizzer died during surgery. The vet called my husband and I'm just about to take my son back in to collect the cage and have a chat with the vet.

 

From what my husband said, it turned out to be a tumour.

 

My son is really upset but he said he'd never have forgiven himself if he hadn't tried his best to help his favourite pet.

 

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes. I know it's "only" a budgie but it was really important to my son that he didn't just "do nothing".

 

xx

Oh no, I am so sorry that it didn't go as planned for you and your son. Biggest hugs to you both and know that you did everything you could to save Fizzer's life.

Fizzer :angel1:

Oh Mate I am so sorry

 

You did all you could. They are so fragile under surgery.

Very very sad

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry

Oh dear... that's so sad! I hope the loss is not too disheartening for your son, and that, given time, he will continue to enjoy the wonderful side of keeping pets. Thinking of you!

l'm so sorry :hap:

My heart goes out to your son for his great loss :hap: . And generally speaking the good times so out weigh the bad, although this won't be of any comfort to your son just at the moment, but here's hoping some more good times :feedbirds: shine through soon.

In my thoughts

Carolyn alais:Budgielover13

I am so sorry to hear that you lost him :hap:

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes.

 

We just got back from the hospital. The vet was really lovely. It turns out that Fizzer did actually have a bit of a feather cyst as well but it was a complication of a tumour after all and he had cancer all the way into this wing bone. She removed the lump and the wing tip and she said he had a pretty good chance but he stopped breathing. She said (apart from the tumour) he was a really fit little bird and his heart was great but he just couldn't breathe and they tried very hard but he wouldn't wake up from the anaesthetic.

 

If anyone in Melbourne needs a wonderful caring vet for their bird, Dr Sasha at Lort Smith was just awesome. She was caring and gentle with my son and is great with children. They had Fizzer cleaned up in a little "bed" with just his face showing and a little cover over his body. My son wanted to see him so she took off the cover and showed him where she had removed the tumour. She invited my son to call her back if he has any questions and when he gave her a "Thank You" card she was genuinely touched.

 

She's their resident expert in "exotic pets" and she has a special interest in birds, although she was very upfront and said she doesn't have any additional certification in avian medicine, she has a lot of avian experience and she explained everything in clear detail.

 

My son was really upset but he was also very comforted by knowing that so many people didn't think he was silly for paying so much attention to "only" a budgie. I have shown him the posts here and he was really amazed and heartened at people's kindness and good wishes.

Biggest hugs Smudgie. You and your son, especially, did a tremendous job for your little feathered pal. I've just been through a similar situation and I understand how you feel.

My Pm says it all

I am so sorry for you. And don't worry no one here thinks he was only a budgie *hugs*

im so sorry Smudgie, he looked like a very handsome boy

 

little guy :hap:

Biggest hugs xoxo

Biggest hugs. He was a very loved little budgie so I know you did everything you could have. If your son decides in a few months that he is ready to share his heart with another budgie please give me a yell. I would be absolutely honored for one of my babies to share it's life with such a caring young man.