Muffin passed to the rainbow bridge

Maria_Metropolis

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Nov 12, 2013
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White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
I haven't posted in a long while, so I'm sorry. For some time now, Muffin has been having a host of medical conditions. He had some neurological issues and was on several medications, nothing we did helped. The doctor wasn't sure why he had these problems, he was in a brand new huge cage, ate the best quality food, there was no lead anywhere (we live in a new home), he had lots of human time, love, affection, and he was steadily going down hill for at least six months. He had two vet stays to try to help him, but then he started getting seizures, so we took him on this last and final stay at the vet, and he died in the hospital.

I am really at a loss to know what/if I did wrong, as we tried our best to make his life as healthy and happy as it could be. He was only 8 months old. The vet said that "whiteface" tiels aren't as healthy/hardy as normal greys. It seemed as soon as we got him, he had medical issues from the start including broken tail feathers. He was clipped when we got him, and a rather clumsy fall because of it. We spent so much money at the vet, it was ridiculous, but when you love an animal, you do what you can.

If anyone has any idea of what it could be, why he might have died, please let me know. I fed him a variety of goldenfeast pellets and mixes, and he refused to eat fruit and veggies, although I tried and tried. I did give him thyme leaves, as I heard they were okay (are they???) and my friend has a tiel that loves them and he's doing great. They did a panel on him the other day and they noted he had "liver values" that were abnormally high. I'm not sure what that means, but that's all I can provide at the moment. I'm not sure if we should do an autopsy. We went on vacation a few months ago, and had him completely tested for a variety of diseases before leaving him at the border, so he was infectious disease free too.

We had him a very short time, but he'll always be in our hearts.
 
Last edited:

ruffledfeathers

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Hi,
i'm so sorry to hear about little Muffin. Did your vet mention doing a necropsy? That is the only true way to know what happened. Your bird may have had issues from the time he was a baby, things that you could not have prevented.
FLY free, no more illness for little Muffin.
 
OP
Maria_Metropolis

Maria_Metropolis

New member
Nov 12, 2013
501
2
Parrots
White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
RF,
Thank you. I might just do the necropsy. I need to know so if I did do something wrong, I won't do it again to another bird. He just never seemed to flourish with me. He would go into the vet, they would make him all better, then he would come home and deteriorate even though I was following all the vet instructions, giving him meds, and doing everything I could. I'm at a loss here. Feeling so sad, poor baby. I even tried to alleviate all stress from him, didn't let the kids tease him, they were very respectful and loving to him, and learned a great deal about birds in the time we had him.

The kids are taking it bad too.

Poor poor baby Muffin. He had such a short life, but he was so loved in that little time, so I take a little comfort in that.
 

Terry57

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I am so sorry for your loss, and it sounds like you did everything possible for Muffin.
It may actually help you to do the necropsy, to finally know exactly what happened.
Please do not blame yourself, Muffin had a wonderful life with your loving family. My heart breaks for you & your children:(
 

RavensGryf

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I am so sorry to hear this. It's always so hard, and worse not knowing what it was from. I would do the necropsy for peace of mind. Take care.
 

Betrisher

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Even though Muffin's lifespan was a short one, he got to spend it with you. He was loved and treated as well as you could possibly treat a little bird. When his time came, you were trying your hardest to help him and he KNEW that. Not every little birdie is as well loved and cared for as Muffin was. Just be happy that you got to share his little life, short as it was. Sending warmest hugs to you and your kids! I hope that very soon you'll find another little fellow to share your love with. Muffin taught you how to be a good parront and you don't want that learning to be wasted. XX
 

witchbaby

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pied cockatiel - picasso,
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I'm so sorry for your loss. It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong. Try not to blame yourself. *hugs*
 

goalerjones

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I agree, necropsy is the only way to get your answers.
 

Allee

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I'm so very sorry for your loss. Muffin's life was far too short, but I can tell he was so loved by you and your children. Please don't second guess yourself about every decision you ever made concerning little Muffin. Sometimes even when you do everything right, something unforeseen goes wrong. It does sound as though Muffin started out with health issues that were beyond your control. A necropsy might give you peace of mind. Muffin was a beautiful little fellow. My thoughts are with you and your kids.
 
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Maria_Metropolis

Maria_Metropolis

New member
Nov 12, 2013
501
2
Parrots
White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Thank you all for the kind words and information.

Well, I spoke with the vet this morning, and she thought it was neurological problems, and his liver/muscle values were abnormal because he wasn't eating as much, due to these neurological issues. She didn't think it was anything bad in the air (fumes), and we don't smoke, because there were no respiratory issues,

She also said his calcium/phosphorous levels were normal, which indicated he was getting proper nutrients, and she said it wasn't an infectious disease either. Everything points to a neurological problem. He did fly into a window once, and he was a very clumsy bird. He never really learned how to land properly until very recently. So, I think it could have been that. She said the neurological issue could have resulted from the head trauma, and/or as a baby via genetics. He may not have been "born right." I always noticed his very nervous scared demeanor, never very sure of himself, and I'm not sure if this is true of all cockatiels. He would get very worried if we walked away even if in eye shot (I never left him unattended without seeing him in eye shot, even if it was in the next room, and never for more than 1 minute). He had a very major wing clip as a baby, from the breeder, and I don't blame the breeder for that, but he just never learned to glide or land properly.

The vet recommended in future, a less invasive wing clip so they can at least learn to fly and land properly, as babies. The border I left him at three months ago, also clipped his wings a lot, even though we told them not too. My husband was really upset about that and told them off. That may have exasperated his issues, I don't know. He kept falling after that wing clip. It was really hard because he wanted to fly in the worst way, and would just "take off" without realizing he couldn't fly
 

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