What happened to Taca?

JonJon

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Hey everyone. We lost our little Maritaca yesterday. At least that was the name of his species here in Brazil. I think he was possibly a Pionus. We tried our best to give him an amazing, affection and attention filled life and are devastated that he has gone. The thing is, and my reason for posting, is that we have no idea why. The day before he was his normal excited little self. He was eating normally. His poop was totally normal. There were no signs of any behavioural change at all. Then, in the night I heard him awake and went to check on him, and even took him for a little while to comfort him and he seemed like he just needed sleep. The next day, I left him to sleep longer than usual to catch-up. It's cooler here now, so we cover him at night and he likes a little cave. Sometimes we take him in the bedroom for half hour's play as a little treat and he loves going down and under the bed covers. I took him at about 11am in the end, and he was so weak. He had trouble coming down from his bottom perch to the floor. I assumed he was tired still, and so I took him into a calm and distraction free room to comfort him again and turned off the light so he could maybe sleep some more. He also ate and drank, but just a little. He did sleep, but after a while I noticed he was losing his balance very easily and I could also hear a clicking as he breathed. When that turned into a wheezing noise (although he wasn't gasping for air or anything like that) we called the vet. His poop, although regular during the day, also turned more watery but with a black tar-like substance instead of his normal deep green and white. We only have one vet here and he couldn't come until after 4. I stayed with Taca all day and tried to encourage him to eat. He didn't want to. He just wanted to sleep, which he did on and around me until he passed away just as the vet arrived. I feel in some way like I let him down. Yet, I tried everything to make his life as good as the one he would have had outside his little house (we didn't call it a cage). What do you think happened that could have come on so suddenly and taken him so quickly?
 
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plumsmum2005

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I am so very sorry for the loss of Taca. It is difficult to say what he died of and the only sure way of knowing is to have an Avian Vet perform a necropsy. This post mortem will likely highlight the cause. The black tar like poop is perhaps an indication of internal bleeding for whatever reason. Is it possible that Taca ingested some fibres from his cave?

It is important to get a bird to see a certified avian veterinarian as soon as anything odd/different presents itself. Birds are masters in trying to disguise their illness, in the wild they would be seen as weak and preyed upon.

Again I am so sorry for your loss.
 
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JonJon

JonJon

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Thank you Flboy and Plumsmum2005.

plumsmum2005 - that's possible. I only covered the top half of his little house, but that's where he slept. One was a towel and the other like the sort of cloth you'd use to cover a table. Could the washing powder/liquid used to wash them affect him too? It just all seems so sudden. Is it also possible he fell and hurt himself? Sorry for all the questions. He meant so much to me and I tried so hard to do the best for him and I feel like I let him down in some way. I wouldn't take him anywhere to know for sure how he died. He can rest in peace now. Do they sometimes just die no matter what you do for them?
 

plumsmum2005

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As I mentioned before with parrots it is a case of being alert to changes, signs that something is not right and then seeking professional help asap. The odds are usually better but even then CAV's are not miracle workers.
 

SailBoat

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The clicking sound is a solid indication of an infection in the Air Sacks. That in combination with the change in the stool color (black) combine to define a very sick Parrot.

At the stage that you noted these signs, it was likely too far along for much to have been done to save your sweet Parrot.

Because of their abilities to hide their illness, it is very important on us to be very observant of their day to day activities.

Very sorry for your loss. Warm feathered hugs for you and your family!
 
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JonJon

JonJon

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That's the thing, I monitored him so well, I thought. We called the vet for advice whenever we noticed something amiss but there really was no warning this time. Either that, or I was looking for the wrong signals to tell me he was well. In my eyes, he went from being totally normal (eating normally, sleeping normally, pooping normally colours, playing normally, climbing normally) to such a drastic decline over a period of 24 hours. Is there some kind of illness that can cause that or is it likely he had a night fright and hurt himself badly internally?
 

SailBoat

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I am so very sorry for the loss of Taca. It is difficult to say what he died of and the only sure way of knowing is to have an Avian Vet perform a necropsy. This post mortem will likely highlight the cause. The black tar like poop is perhaps an indication of internal bleeding for whatever reason. Is it possible that Taca ingested some fibres from his cave?

It is important to get a bird to see a certified avian veterinarian as soon as anything odd/different presents itself. Birds are masters in trying to disguise their illness, in the wild they would be seen as weak and preyed upon.

Again I am so sorry for your loss.

That's the thing, I monitored him so well, I thought. We called the vet for advice whenever we noticed something amiss but there really was no warning this time. Either that, or I was looking for the wrong signals to tell me he was well. In my eyes, he went from being totally normal (eating normally, sleeping normally, pooping normally colours, playing normally, climbing normally) to such a drastic decline over a period of 24 hours. Is there some kind of illness that can cause that or is it likely he had a night fright and hurt himself badly internally?

Without a necropsy, there is just no way to know for sure what caused the passing.

The only real indication you seemed to have had was the Parrot's want to sleep more than usual. And, sometimes that may be the only indication you will see. "My Parrot is just not himself today!" It is why, sick or possibility sick Parrots get into seeing a Vet quicker than near any other Pet.

I would lean more toward an infection than trauma as the cause. Likely an infection of the Air Sacks that once in place quickly spread to the other internal organs.

I am sorry, I just do not have a more definitive answer for you.
 
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JonJon

JonJon

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Thanks Sailboat and everybody else for your time. I guess, like most people who lose a cherished little friend whom they have a responsibility to care for, it's just upsetting me so much to think that I could have done something to stop this happening to him. Thanks again x
 

plumsmum2005

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Hey everyone. We lost our little Maritaca yesterday. At least that was the name of his species here in Brazil. I think he was possibly a Pionus. We tried our best to give him an amazing, affection and attention filled life and are devastated that he has gone. The thing is, and my reason for posting, is that we have no idea why. The day before he was his normal excited little self. He was eating normally. His poop was totally normal. There were no signs of any behavioural change at all. Then, in the night I heard him awake and went to check on him, and even took him for a little while to comfort him and he seemed like he just needed sleep. The next day, I left him to sleep longer than usual to catch-up. It's cooler here now, so we cover him at night and he likes a little cave. Sometimes we take him in the bedroom for half hour's play as a little treat and he loves going down and under the bed covers. I took him at about 11am in the end, and he was so weak. He had trouble coming down from his bottom perch to the floor. I assumed he was tired still, and so I took him into a calm and distraction free room to comfort him again and turned off the light so he could maybe sleep some more. He also ate and drank, but just a little. He did sleep, but after a while I noticed he was losing his balance very easily and I could also hear a clicking as he breathed. When that turned into a wheezing noise (although he wasn't gasping for air or anything like that) we called the vet. His poop, although regular during the day, also turned more watery but with a black tar-like substance instead of his normal deep green and white. We only have one vet here and he couldn't come until after 4. I stayed with Taca all day and tried to encourage him to eat. He didn't want to. He just wanted to sleep, which he did on and around me until he passed away just as the vet arrived. I feel in some way like I let him down. Yet, I tried everything to make his life as good as the one he would have had outside his little house (we didn't call it a cage). What do you think happened that could have come on so suddenly and taken him so quickly?

Please do not distress yourself. I have highlighted the early red flags as I see them for your information, the points at which I would be running to the vets. This is purely as an information exercise and in no way blaming OK? Even with seeing a vet there are no guarantees. He passed with you holding him and knowing he was loved.

You clearly loved Taca very much and it is heart breaking that you have lost him. We are all guilty of shoulda, woulda, coulda at times for sure. Take something from this and use it for the benefit of your next feathered baby. Remember all the good times with Taca and happy memories until you meet again. Take care.
 
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Inger

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I'm so sorry for your loss. How wonderful for him that you were able to hold him, care for him, and be with him as he passed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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JonJon

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Thanks for your kind words plumsmum2005. If they were the early signs, and they 100% were in my opinion, then I could do no more. We live in a small town in Brazil and I called 2 hours after that. Even if I had those 2 hours back, he still could have gotten to us no sooner. Also, a vet here is a bit different to a vet in the US or UK (where I'm from) and so there was no chance to speed things up or go elsewhere. I read earlier, btw, that Pionus parrots are prone to respiratory infections and that sometimes, no matter how good the care, they do catch them and they do show no signs until the end. I'm taking a bit of comfort from that as well as your kind words. Not sure if I'd like another one just yet. He was my first proper pet and I guess I haven't learnt that I can get another bird and think of him or her as a new experience and not just as a replacement for someone irreplaceable.
 

plumsmum2005

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Maybe in time then and until that moment there is plenty you can do in prep. We all would be pleased to have you stay and participate on here. You have valuable experience to pass on and whilst here can peruse some of the information put up to increase knowledge of parrot keeping. Maybe there is a vet nearer that is specialised in exotics, it is worth checking University schools and any wildlife parks for the future.
Keep those precious memories close!
 
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JonJon

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Thanks Inger.

And I would love to stay around plumbsmum2005
 

Scott

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My deepest condolences for your loss of Taca. Sometimes we are unable to determine the cause, and the lack of closure deepens the pain and prolongs the grieving period.

Taca had a wonderful home and most certainly knew he was beloved.
 
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JonJon

JonJon

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Thanks Scott. You're so right about the closure. I searched a lot yesterday for an answer. I found that the black tar-poop could mean an air sac problem but I also found that it could mean that he just hadn't eaten for a day. He definitely only had one bite of banana in all the time I was with him and felt very light. But the day before he most definitely ate until 6pm, when he went to sleep. That means possibly just that one bite of banana in 24 hours though which would explain the black tar-poop. I also think respiratory problems as he was clicking then wheezing but at no point was he breezing through his mouth. I read elsewhere of a Pionus who showed no symptoms at all until the last day. Though, unfortunately, I'm leaning to the fact that I may have made him unwell as I am ill at the moment. Last time I was ill I didn't touch him, but this time I did. Either way, his last day, apart from the occasional startle (possibly brought on by a burst of discomfort) was spent mostly with his eyes closed and trying to rest, even if I could hear his breathing. He wasn't struggling to do so as far as gasping, although his tail was bobbing and he was puffed up to maintain body heat, but only when he wasn't close to me (I'd taken him into the warmest room anyway).

I feel a bit better today, though. I take heart from the fact that he spent his last day with me and I spent it trying to keep him calm and comfortable and show him he was loved. I'm trying to convince myself that although I believe he went far too early, he didn't know that and so, to him, his daddy was there for him when he didn't feel well just like his daddy was always there for him.

We watched, and laughed long and hard, at some videos of him yesterday and I've started making a list of all the things I want to remember about him so I can read them occasionally and the memories can stay strong. I also have a bag of the longer feathers he preened over the last few years and in it is his favourite bit of string he liked to chew - it smells of him :)
 

Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
It is helpful to review the past few days for clues even as there may be no clear answers. Transmission of illness between humans and animals is possible and known as zoonotic transfer. It is *not* very common for a parrot to catch the typical "cold" or upper respiratory illness from a human. However, the passing of illness from bird to human is better documented: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/birds.html

Keeping treasured remembrances will help honor Taca. I have feathers and some trinkets from mine who have passed.
 
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JonJon

JonJon

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Thanks Scott. I really do need that closure. I loved that little bird so much and I know in some way I let him down.

I definitely cared for him enough and gave him so much attention since I work from home. I just think that maybe I didn't know enough about him and because of that I effectively killed him. Maybe I didn't clean his little house often enough, or thoroughly enough. He liked to take a bath and maybe the water that went underneath reacted with something and because I waited a couple of days until it dried before cleaning, that was too long. But I lifted the floor higher so he could never reach anything underneath. Fruit was only ever in his house for a day and then removed/replaced. Maybe I even gave him too much fruit. His food and water was in plastic containers and changed every day. I bought his toys from what I checked was a reputable dealer (Northern Parrots in UK). I checked every new food before I gave it to him, but reading now maybe he didn't get enough vitamin A. It's colder here now, but no colder than last year and only really in the evening. I removed his bath weeks ago. He's also covered this time of year from about 5pm until morning. I took him every morning and if anything he seemed warmer than me. Maybe he was too warm. He sat normally and played normally in his house though and never just sat there with feathers puffed or anything like that. Besides, here is his natural habitat. He's not a parrot out of his natural environment. His exact kind have lived where I live in Brazil since before people came.

The thing is, if I did anything wrong, I did it wrong for 2 and a half years and in exactly the same way. Other people in my town have their Maritacas in old cages, leave them outside, smoke around them and give them Coca Cola and all sorts. They're all still here. I guess they're quite hardy. In fact, the only time Taca was ever anywhere near ill before is when he pulled a blood feather last year. He was fine once he was treated. Maybe something new stressed him and we didn't notice and that lowered his immune system?
 

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