Peanut needs surgery

Hi everyone. I haven't been on in quite a while. I keep popping in here to give updates and something comes up and I never have time. (I blame my husband...lol...he retired April 30th and we are always busy ever since). Anyway, a couple months ago I took Peanut to the vet because she has a vent prolapse. The vet I was originally taking her to we really like but she's not an avian vet so we found an avian vet in Erie, PA and she got her in and has been working with us. She has had gram stain, culture, blood test, xrays...all came back okay. End result is the vet feels (as do I) that it is just in her genetics being a cockatoo. She did try a couple meds but nothing worked. We have to limit our handling of her, which is heartbreaking, but if it's for her own good. No "cuddling", at least for the time being, and we are only petting her on her head/neck. I clean her every day and replace the prolapse, which amazingly, she allows me to do. I hate having to towel her but she hasn't held it against me...she is still so very sweet!

So, tomorrow morning she goes for a ventoplasty. It is not as invasive a surgery as a cloacapexy, which she may ultimately need, and the vet said there is less risk of complications, but it may not work. Of course there is a chance that a cloacapexy may not work either.

If anyone has any information or suggestions on prolapses, I would greatly appreciate it.

I will give updates on her and I will also give updates on Sassy and Cisco, and Skyla (the parakeet I got my granddaughter, who she takes EVERYWHERE with her..lol)

So, wish us luck tomorrow, and I hope everyone here is well!

I haven't had experience with prolapses, but am sorry Peanut is having difficulty. Wishing her the very best for a great outcome with with ventoplasty. Seeking an avian specialist is always best when surgery or any invasive work is contemplated.

Interestingly, my female Goffin is also named Peanut! Looking forward to a positive update!!

Good luck with Peanut's surgery. Hopefully the ventoplasty works long term, and she won't need a cloacapexy!

Was this caused by egg laying? Or are cockatoos prone to this condition? I've never heard of it is all (if not from egg laying).

I had a turtle with an anal prolapse one time. I know it's not the same, but the recovery was quick and easy. She was back to herself the day after surgery. Good luck!

RavensGryf said:

Good luck with Peanut's surgery. Hopefully the ventoplasty works long term, and she won't need a cloacapexy!

Was this caused by egg laying? Or are cockatoos prone to this condition? I've never heard of it is all (if not from egg laying).

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Thank you! It "can" be caused by egg laying or binding, however, that's not the case with Peanut. It can be caused by infection/bacteria or some illnesses. In Peanut's case everything looks very good, except her vent of course. It can be worse when hormonal, and especially if bonded to her human. It is not a common problem but the large toos are more prone and sometimes there is no medical reason.

Scott said:

I haven't had experience with prolapses, but am sorry Peanut is having difficulty. Wishing her the very best for a great outcome with with ventoplasty. Seeking an avian specialist is always best when surgery or any invasive work is contemplated.

Interestingly, my female Goffin is also named Peanut! Looking forward to a positive update!!

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Thank you! Yes, we were happy with her original vet as far as handling and care but knowing she couldn't go further with tests and possible surgery, we switched to the current vet, who we are also very happy with!

I did notice you have a "Peanut"...lol. I love goffins!

Ann333 said:

I had a turtle with an anal prolapse one time. I know it's not the same, but the recovery was quick and easy. She was back to herself the day after surgery. Good luck!

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Thank you! Actually, I believe it is similar. I think it is more of a problem of it reoccuring in cockatoos because of their activity.

Awwww Poor Peanut. I'm glad you'll be getting the surgery she needs! That must be so uncomfortable for the poor girl, and I just googled it, and OMG it must have scared the crap out of you when you first noticed it!

Alfie the goffin has had his vent turn inside out (that's the best I can describe it, very similar to the photos I just looked at of a prolapse) on a few occasions but it goes back all on it's own. His happens when guests came over and he decides to scream for several hours straight (he is really not a very well behaved boy when 'strangers' come over). I wonder if Peanut was a chronic screamer before you got her and it eventually did some lasting damage?

I hope everything goes well with the surgery. Please keep us posted.

Kiwibird said:

Awwww Poor Peanut. I'm glad you'll be getting the surgery she needs! That must be so uncomfortable for the poor girl, and I just googled it, and OMG it must have scared the crap out of you when you first noticed it!

Alfie the goffin has had his vent turn inside out (that's the best I can describe it, very similar to the photos I just looked at of a prolapse) on a few occasions but it goes back all on it's own. His happens when guests came over and he decides to scream for several hours straight (he is really not a very well behaved boy when 'strangers' come over). I wonder if Peanut was a chronic screamer before you got her and it eventually did some lasting damage?

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Well, she has always had the "red bubble" come out when she pooped but it never stayed out and, dummy me, never having a cockatoo, thought it was normal. Then it came out and stayed out. As far as screaming before, whenever she made noise at her previous home (if you can call it a "home") she would have things thrown at her cage, so I don't know how much screaming she did. I just hope this works!

Leanna, I'm so sorry to hear about poor peanut. I hope her surgery goes well and works for her long term. Please let us know how she does. I'm glad you like Peanut's new Avian Vet, it makes so much difference when you feel comfortable with a vet's decisions. I know it will be a scary experience for you and Peanut. Wishing peanut the best possible outcome.

Looking forward to happy updates on the rest of your Fids.

Good luck, hopefully it's an easy fix.

Ok, we just got home with Peanut and got her settled in. She did really well with the surgery and the doctor said it went just as she had hoped with no complications. She did take an additional blood sample and wants to sex her to be 100% sure that she is actually female. If she would happen to be male then we can rule out her hormones bringing on the prolapse. I asked the previous owner (through her sister) if she was sure of her sex and was told yes. However when I asked about a DNA test she just said she was sure she was female (sound familiar Allee?). The doctor also took a culture directly from the cloaca while she was in there to do tests on it to see if she has some rare/crazy bacteria that needs treated.

All in all I guess so far it has all gone as good as it could, and Peanut has been a real trooper through all of this! I hope this minor surgery works. We will be heartbroken if she has to go back for more!

Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes! I will let you know the results when we get them.

Thank you for the update. I'm glad that things went smoothly today. I hope you and Peanut get some rest tonight.

Thank you, Leanna. I'm so happy Peanut's procedure went smoothly, sounds like your girl has been a little trooper through all this. Hugs to both of you. I hope you have a chance to rest and relax now.

Yes, it does sound familiar. Those DNA tests are worth the price IMO. When issues like this come up, it's good to know your bird's true gender.

I'm thrilled the surgery went well and hope this will be the definitive fix!

Great to hear the surgery was a success. Hoping this was all Peanut needs for a permanent fix!

Well so much for that....Peanut prolapsed again already. We are very upset to say the least. We knew there was a slim chance of it working long term but we were hoping for more that a week and a half. Our vet is upset too...she is referring us to another vet in Akron who is supposed to be very good. She (our vet) has never done a cloacapexy and said she would do it if we wanted her to but thinks the results would be better with a doctor who has done the surgery before. Again, I am cleaning and replacing the prolapse daily, which I will do as long as it takes! I will be calling the other vet tomorrow so will update as I know more.

Oh, and she is definitely a girl.

Leanna, I'm so sorry about the disappointing news . So you're going to go ahead with the cloacapexy? Is there a pretty good success rate for that?

I'm so sorry to hear Peanut will need another procedure so soon. Leanna, I'm really glad she has you to take care of her. I hope this surgery will be a complete success. Please let us know how it goes with the new vet.