Bird Lovers, Vets, Cockatiel - Help

[NewHampster]

My landlord went away and left me, a part timer college kid and Feathers. Feathers is an old cockatiel of about 17.

Owners won't be home until Friday so of course the bird decided today would be a good time to have seizures.

He's in the bottom of his cage flopping around in circles on his left side and chirping in pain. Once in awhile he slows down and seems to almost get his shit together then off he goes again in circles. I feel rotten that i have absolutely no idea what to do with birds and I'm busy at work to boot.

I know the owners fully expect him to be dead every day when they get to work. They love him and give him great care but I think they're experienced with old birds. I hate to take him to a vet and saddle them with a huge bill, a neighbor did that to me once with a cat that was technically dead but the fresh out of school vet put him on life support because my kids were there. $1000 I love to have back.

Any ideas what I can do for Feathers?

:cry:

[Kadie]

1. Did they leave you a phone number where they could be reached?

Is there a way you can find out where they are and ask them what you should do. If they want the bird to go to the vet, the could even tell you who they want you to call.

Good Luck.

[NewHampster]

2. Grrrr - their employee just spoke with them

Didn't get the vet name and the owner said to just be sure Feathers gets a proper burial.

I hate crap like that from pet owners.

[Kadie]

3. Ack.

What an awful thing to leave you with. Sorry. I don't envy you right now.

[NewHampster]

4. yeah

thanks for the thought.

Your kitty always makes my day a little better anyway (I call him Paws). I downloaded him too for safe keeping. :)

[eyesroll]

5. The bird's in distress

17 is indeed an old cockatiel (some of them can live until their late 20s, though), but it sounds like he's more in pain (gout? neurological problems? injury?) than acutely ill (then, he'd be sitting fluffed up on the bottom of his cage).

If you can get in touch with the owners, please try to convince them to let you take the bird to the vet. The vet might not be able to do anything for whatever disorder the bird has, but he might be able to make Feathers comfortable. (Keep in mind that there's less a vet can do for a bird near the end of its life --there's no real "life support," just nutritional supplementation, heat and oxygen, really. A cockatiel is a small bird, and they only can take a few drops of blood at a time, so they can't perform zillions of tests.)

If you can't reach them, or they decide against vet care, try making the environment safe for Feathers -- move his food and water dishes to the bottom of the cage. Give him a treat (most birds love millet spray). Crank up the heat a little -- sometimes, the warm environment can make birds more comfortable and kick in the immune system. A heating pad, wrapped in a cloth towel and placed on the cage, can sometimes do the trick.

Sorry you're going through this. I don't have any experience with old or chronically ill birds -- mine are a 5-year-old parrotlet and a 3-year-old Meyer's parrot; our cockatiel died rather suddenly at 2 1/2 from a congenital kidney defect. We always leave, in writing, instructions for people caring for our pets (including permission to take them to the vet and leave us with the bill, if they can't reach us).

[ihaveaquestion]

6. My experience working with wildlife rehabilitators

tells me that you might not be able to do anything but keep him comfortable until he's gone. Sometimes a little TLC brings them around, though. Here's what to try....

Keep him in the dark to keep him quiet with a heating pad under the cage. Food and water on the bottom of the cage is a good idea. If it's a wire bottom cage, cover it with newspaper and towel. You can make a little nest of a towel and cradle him in it if he's able to stay in one place.

Later, if he's settled down, you can use an eyedropper or syringe (no needle!) and give him gatorade. If he's not eating on his own, you can try giving him dry cat food soaked in gatorade (we use science diet). You may have to *gently* pry open his beak and place the food in the back of his throat to give him the idea.

Feel free to email me with questions.
Good luck!

[minkyboodle]

7. NewHampster

(on edit here is a better avian vet listing
http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/)

First sorry about your situation there. With this post you've already shown more care and concern than Feather's inept owners (who I advise you kick in the ass the next time you see them if possible.... good burial pfeh!!). My advice would be to go to a local exotic vet clinic (birds, ferrets, reptiles are all treated by exotic vets). There are lists online of these here is one for ferrets http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html (most vets that treat ferrets treat birds as well but be sure to ask). Try to make an an appointment and explain the situation and the birds age to the vet. I'd make a safe bet that the vet will recommend euthanasia which I think considering the pain the bird is in is the humane thing to do. As far as costs the visit plus the euthanasia will probably cost in the neighborhood of 100-150 dollars. I would hope the owners would pay you for this but i don't know them really. From what you describe I guess I'd take that chance considering the pain and distress the bird is in. Whatever you decide don't beat yourself up about it, you are doing the best you can. Its not you who put the bird in this bad situation. Hope this helps.
Scott

[NewHampster]

10. Thanks

I will try the heating pad and darkness for a bit to see if that works.

When I was a kid our dog became paralysed in the rear and was dragging herself around to her food and water. The vet said to bring her in for the last trip but sometimes they get better.

My mom said we're not giving up. Mitzie was paralyzed for almost two weeks then stood up and lived 5 more years.

[NewHampster]

8. Thanks for all those responses

It seems that all agree on a heating pad and darkness.
I'll go move his food and water to the bottom right now.

Hopefully he pulls thru. Lately he's been singing all day. A certain sign of spring and really uplifting for us in this office.

thanks again

[minkyboodle]

9. best wishes

be sure to monitor his water and food to make sure he is eating. If not follow smjoyner's great advice (we used to use pedialyte instead of gatorade both work well).
Scott

[geniph]

11. As others have said, soft, dark, and warm is the way to go

and I'd try calling a local avian vet and asking if you can just talk to one of the vet techs about your options (explain that the owners don't want to spring for the vet bill and you can't afford it for a pet not your own). The worst they can say is no.