help! tricky is sick

[kath]

Tricky is 13 years old and gave up flying well about 4 years ago.   It was almost like he had asthma.  He likes his cage and is not really finger trained anymore.  He started getting more watery & greener stools about a year ago, but didn't seem to slow him down at all.  Talked to a vet who seemed to think he was pretty old and it was just aging and liver disease  About 2 weeks ago my husband found him on the bottom of his cage and tricky  seemed very confused.  He was put back on his perch.  He seemed to have a foot/leg issue and very poor balance.  He started sleeping all the time.  Never was a daytime sleeper. He quit talking but still stretched and tried to preen.  The last two days his stools are like tiny cow pies and started sticking to his feathers.  I have been taking him out to wash the vent and feathers.  He uses a hanging toy & and the bottom of his swing as an alert system in case he falls asleep and starts to fall forward.  He seems to have real trouble with one of his feet/leg.  He keeps his feet close together and just sleeps...no panting.  Thought he had one foot up for warmth, but saw that it behind him....not tucked up.  He also appears to go into small comas and does not talk or chirp anymore.   Now to my research.  Called several vets to find a bird one and only their receptionist would relay a message....wouldn't talk to me and I should bring him in.  Finally found a vet who said that even if it was liver disease that there were things that could be done.  Didn't feel being 13 was a problem.   Looking for help from those who have watched their older parakeet ail.  Any suggestions?   I hate the idea of bringing him in if he can't balance and it is truly old age.  It isn't a money issue ..it is the idea of him being frightened and subjected to tests that may cause him pain.  He has been the best friend and quite the talking character the llast 12 years.  Is it just his time to go???

[JennyB]

I can't help only having had my little guys for four months but wanted to say I already know the worry they cause due to how much we love them. I hope you find a solution xx

[ffiscool]

I feel for you. Others on here will have advice and what a great age he is. Maybe he has hurt his foot? Is he eating and drinking?

Whereabouts are you?

[milliej]

I do feel for you, 13 is a good age for a little budgie I've never had one live that long, I personally would think that taking him to a vet for tests and 'being fiddled about with' to use a technical term...may be too much for him? I do hope that you get the right advice and help though.

[Hezz]

My personal opinion is that his time is drawing near. The leg issue could be either a tumour or enlarged organ pressing on the nerves that run down to his leg. He could also be suffering from arthritis in one or more of the joints. At his age, I wouldn't be trying to do anything about either, except for making what is left of his life as happy and pain-free as possible.

[kath]

thank you all for your kind words. 

kath 

[OP]

Sept 18, 2014 0:42:17 GMT Hezz said:

My personal opinion is that his time is drawing near. The leg issue could be either a tumour or enlarged organ pressing on the nerves that run down to his leg. He could also be suffering from arthritis in one or more of the joints. At his age, I wouldn't be trying to do anything about either, except for making what is left of his life as happy and pain-free as possible.

I'm with Hezz all the way on this one. Sad when anyone of the family reach this stage in their life. Just make the time left as comfortable as you possibly can, as I'm sure you are. Well done to you for having Tricky live this long..

[samwiseg]

I too agree with Hezz - perhaps it is time to prepare yourself - but I must stress what a grand age that he has gotten to you must have looked after him so well xx

[chiprockskip]

So sorry, yes try and look after him and i know you will from your words

[budgiefriend]

Only my very best thoughts and prayers for you and Tricky. Tricky's 13 years is a tribute to your love and good care. He has had the life he deserves. May the rest of his life be as comfortable as the previous years. Hugs to you, Kath.

[kath]

I sit here watching an old arthritic sleeping puffy budgie that has brought me so much joy. You all know the personality they have. My favorite was his greeting me with "here kitty, kitty, kitty". No cat in the house but my nickname. My husband will miss his sparring partner who would come over to him, lick his nose twice and then try to bite every night and flutter like crazy after he was covered. We would then lift the cover a bit and tell him goodnight. I could write volumes about how he has enhanced our life. Now on to what I want to say. People talk about budgies living 15 to 20 years, but what is their quality of life? I just read about a man whose guy is 13 and has been nursing him along for the last year. He even mentions how he changed vets because the first one ran all these tests the seemed to actually cause him pain and everything they suggested couldn't really help him. I also want to know if the 15-20 applies to budgies and not parakeets in general. There are several varieties and sizes of bird that are still considered a parakeet. Thank you again for all your support and kindness at this time.
Kathy.

[samwiseg]

We so totally understand where you are coming from and appreciate that your bud has many qualities and personality that cannot be understood by anyone except those in the know who have owned birds

We were discussing on another thread about budgies and ages: Old Age

Making your budgie as comfortable as possible at this time (which I have no doubt you are already doing) and I do hope this is something that does go as quickly as it came. Keep him warm too if you can as this may help him feel better xx

[kath]

Tricky passed today and my heart is broken.  I feel so blessed to have had him all these years.  I could say I found this website

by accident. but I don't believe in accidents.  I was meant to find you and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for all your supportive and kind words.  I know that any of my friends who have not a budgie cannot understand what a sad time this is for my family & I. 

kath

[sweetpea]

Oh no.... I'm so sorry. He lived to a great age & was clearly loved. Fly high Tricky & have fun over by rainbow bridge.

[Hezz]

Sorry to be reading that Tricky has gone. A sad time for you but not totally unexpected.
Rest in Peace dear Tricky; you will have plenty of beautiful company up there in Budgie-Heaven.

As for your other comment regarding parakeets, we on the forum don't regard budgies as parakeets; technically they are, yes, but here they are budgies - we are a budgie forum, after all. It is much more a US terminology to refer to budgies as parakeets.