Poor Smokey hasn't got long I don't think :(

[tinker]

Just an update on how Smokey the budgie is doing.  I had to put his perches down as low as they would do because he keeps falling off and now has very bad balance.  I also put a soft towel on the bottom of his cage as I think he might die tonight and I want him to feel like he has something to snuggle into if he wants.  I keep getting him off the bottom of the cage by putting my hand in front of him which he steps onto, but then he doesn't want to get off it onto the perch so I sit him on my hand while I work at the laptop.  He has really bad balance and will fall off my hand though (he can't fly) so I have to have my hand down low on the desk.  Before while I was skyping my sister he started twisting his head upside down and at a weird angle while on the floor of his cage so I physically lifted him onto my hand and he did this for awhile while on my hand in front of the laptop, then went back to normal and just sat there on my hand.  Although he did insist on turning round and round in circles which is new.  He can't have an inner ear problem too can he?  I have put one perch between his seed container and his water container and he just sits there in front of his seed and his appetite seems to have faded a lot in the last couple of days - definitely not getting enough food now.  He doesn't put his head under his wing any longer, just sits there and his head sinks down down down till it's just below his feet, then he sits up and it starts all over again.  When he is on the floor of the cage he rests his head against the floor.    Whenever I get him on my hand his feet are really cold

[birdguhl]

Poor little Smokey - it does sound as if he is struggling severely. But you are doing everything you can and I am sure he feels your tender loving care. Human and budgies hugs for him from here.

[Nicola]

So sorry- this has happened to 2 of my budgies from old age and they both died during the night. I hope that Smokey can pull through!

[sweetpea]

So sorry to hear this. Your hand is probably nice, warm & comfortable for him. Good vibes being sent your way...

[BudgiesBuddy]

I am so sorry to know this

[mizloco]

So sad...poor little Smokey.

[lemonade]

Thinking of you and poor Smokey. Sorry to hear the little man is struggling so much

[tinker]

He is still alive this morning. I think he spent most of the night on the floor - for the first time in his life. He was there when I woke up and he was unable to get up to his perch. He got onto my hand and twisted his head weirdly - it's like he's confused - definitely not voluntary. He turned round and round in circles on my hand. Then after his feet were warm I popped him back on his perch. He's been fighting the diabetes for so long now - ages before he was even diagnosed. The vet told me a few weeks ago that it is causing him to starve to death because his body is unable to process the food he eats. So even when he does eat it's a bit useless I'm going out for the day today - I'm sorry to say I'm beginning to hope he will pass away peacefully so he doesn't have to suffer near the end.

[skysmum]

Dec 7, 2013 18:40:45 GMT tinker said:

He is still alive this morning. I think he spent most of the night on the floor - for the first time in his life. He was there when I woke up and he was unable to get up to his perch. He got onto my hand and twisted his head weirdly - it's like he's confused - definitely not voluntary. He turned round and round in circles on my hand. Then after his feet were warm I popped him back on his perch. He's been fighting the diabetes for so long now - ages before he was even diagnosed. The vet told me a few weeks ago that it is causing him to starve to death because his body is unable to process the food he eats. So even when he does eat it's a bit useless I'm going out for the day today - I'm sorry to say I'm beginning to hope he will pass away peacefully so he doesn't have to suffer near the end.

This is sooo sad tinker, im so sorry. I hate to say this but are you able to take him to the vet to end his suffering, its hard for you too seeing him like this .

[Hezz]

I have to agree with Skysmum - the little guy doesn't need to suffer any more. The kindest thing would be to have him pts.

[tinker]

I'm considering it! It will have to be tomorrow (monday) though as they are shut today. I'm not sure I want to go down that road though I would feel soooo guilty. He is mainly sleeping and does look relaxed all the time. There have just been a couple of episodes with the weird head twisting that is over quite fast - not sure what that is about. I just arrived home and put him back on the perch after warming his feet and he had something to eat and drink then came over to the perch nearest me to sit on and watch me.

[nettles]

Having a pet put to sleep is such a hard decision to make but please please don't ever feel guilty about it. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can for them is to end their suffering. You will know in your heart when its the right time. Thinking of you xo

[tinker]

I just fitted a wee rope perch that goes down from the bottom rung of his cage to the floor of his cage. Somehow he fell off again.. but the clever boy went straight to the perch and walked up it to the main perch in front of the water and drank some before resuming his position near me on my laptop. He seems to be happy at the moment watching me while I surf the web. His perch he is sitting on is one perch that stretches from the water container to the seed, so even though his eyesight and balance isn't too good, he can always find what he wants. I'm sure he can still see a bit though, and he is loving the pats I give him on the head and cheeks.

[stace]

So sorry you're in this situation, tinker. It's not easy being a budgie sometimes.

[Nicola]

I agree that if he is suffering that the best thing would be to put him down- especially if this isn't something he will recover from. But that fact that he made it through the night is encouraging and the fact that he can still manage to eat and drink himself. But you will know what the right thing to do is- poor Smokey is probably glad of his life with you. I hope by a miracle that he shows some improvement but if not Im so sorry xxx