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Never forgotten...

2K views 16 replies 15 participants last post by  Lisa 
#1 ·
It is in shocked disbelief and through tears I type this message to you. Today we have suffered our first birdy loss...much too soon!

Fluffy was taken from us between 8pm and 9pm tonight following an emergency trip to the vets. She was a hand reared cockatiel and the softest cuddliest bird you could dream of. Our kids were fond of handling her and she didn't have a mean bone in her body. She was only 2years old as well...

Fluffy came to us in December but by early January suddenly became ill. She was rushed to them emergency vets when in a 36hr period she suddenly couldn't fly anymore and it turned out she was weak from a sudden drastic weight loss. She received basic care, critical care forumla and antibiotics. Consultations were held over the phone the next day with an avian vet who advised to carry on and check back when the antibiotics ran out. She went in to see them and had another week of antibiotics and stool samples, they didn't want to take blood as she was so weak. She also received at home avipro and extra canary seed and millet as they are easy to eat. She refused all soft and fresh food. She had UV and a heat lamp and was moved into her own cage.

She perked up over the next few weeks regaining her strength and vibrancy. She didn't however gain anyway weight but at least started to maintain at 66g for several weeks. In phone consultations with the avian vet they said she may have been overweight for her size when we got her (90g) but it was still a little low. They advised the sudden weight loss could have damaged her liver and it was probably still healing.

We tested her cage mate for beak and feathers as its healthy enough to take blood and the results came back clean, as did the stool samples although we wormed everyone anyway to be sure.

She was well enough I took a pic and entered her in the Jan photo competition... The kids were playing with her again and everything was back to normal...

I'd been weight every 2 days for weeks but after my last call to the avain vet about my concerns with her still not gaining weight he advised leave it a week and if it was the same (next week) to bring her in again. He wanted to minimize the trips because of the stress involved. Sometime this week she started looking a little rough...little sleepier and getting a mucky vent. Today she looked like she was crashing as she was really fluffed up...her face was swollen and she couldn't fly again.

I rushed her the 30mins drive in a taxi to catch an avian vet before they shut. She had the history sent over from the other vet I used.

She confirmed fluffy had a secondary infection which had been impossible to spot when on the surface she appeared so well. Her air sacks were crackling this time and she was SUPER stressed out about being handled and cleaned. Her weight had plummeted in only the last few days from 66g to 58g. The vet said she'd be lucky to make it past the weekend but gave antibiotics anyway and advised to book in with my normal vet on Monday.

She only charged me £26 for everything which means she didn't charge exotic consultation bless her as it starts at £40+!

Sadly fluffy was in a bad state when I got her home and popped her in the brooder we set up. She was lethargic, panting and fluffed up. On the vets advice I left her quiet for a few hours before trying the antibiotics...when I went to check her she was gone...

Rest in piece my baby girl. You will be so sorely missed!

Vet thinks she came to us with an underlying issues and tried to comfort me that we did everything we could and it was bad luck.

Money was never an issue...she cost us around £400 for everything and she was worth every penny xx

If I forgot anything I'm sorry...

Sent from my SK17i using Tapatalk 2
 

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#2 ·
That last picture was taken less than 2weeks ago with my son :(

As it's an infection it is not contagious to the rest of the birds as it's not the same as a virus...small comfort though...

I have to tell that boy in the morning why the cage is empty...

Sent from my SK17i using Tapatalk 2
 
#11 ·
Really sorry Layla :( I honestly thought she'd be better. Rest in peace fluffy :hug:
 
#14 ·
Thanks everyone...

Still seems surreal. Hubby is really upset :(

We decided my son still wouldn't understand death, he's barely 4yrs old and his sister is only 2yrs. We ended up telling them she got even poorlier in the night and has gone to live at the vets as she isn't getting better so now the vet will look after her and she wont be coming home. He seemed to accept it fine and just checked Rooh was still 'his' :hug:
 
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