Story with v sad outcome

Ok, I found this on another forum. The story had a very sad update today and it raises one or two questions with me and judging by some of the posts, others too. I didn't want to cause the owner any further distress by posting my thoughts on the thread so please read through and then I will put my questions to you:
billies swolem face and black eye

1. If the bird was in such pain as the vet suggested, why wasn't the owner aware of it?
2. Why wasn't the bird moaning/crying/in obvious distress.
3. Couldn't the vet give the owner pain killers for the bird?
4. Do pain killers for birds exist?
I may be clutching at straws here but I got the feeling that others also felt the action taken was more drastic than maybe was necessary. I know it's too late now but you never know, one day one of us could be faced with a decision like this, I pray not.

Oh wow thats horrible! I don't understand why no vets would see him, even if he had behavioral issues. I have fostered many birds who wouldn't even think of being handled, but the vet would still see them no matter what!! And yes, if he was in so much pain, why wouldn't the owners see that!? And why didn't he have regular check-ups where they tested him for chlamidya and such? In one of the posts the owner said his/her mom didn't know much a out birds. Why do people with such little knowledge adopt birds with such high standards to take care of them? Not to sound mean- but I find that kind of irresponsible.

It's horrible how something like that could happen. Sympathies for the bird and family.

It is indeed a sad story!

I have no access to an Avian vet. I mean, no access, as in I would have to fly myself, and the sick bird out of the province. If anything should happen to Fred, or any of my birds, I would have to rely on the internet. I actually called the regular vets here, in regard to clipping, and no one would do it...so I did it myself.

Sometimes, circumstances dictate what care we give our birds. Some of us have no Avian vet, some of us cannot afford vet care. I am very careful with diet, cleanliness etc. as I know we're in big trouble if anything goes wrong. I knew I could not access a vet, when I got all my birds, but I gave Fred a home, anyway. I don't know if it's irresponsible...maybe...but I'm not sorry.

SharonC said:

It is indeed a sad story!

I have no acess to an Avian vet. I mean, no acess, as in I would have to fly myself, and the sick bird out of the province. If anything should happen to Fred, or any of my birds, I would have to rely on the internet. I actually called the regular vets here, in regard to clipping, and no one would do it...so I did it myself.

Sometimes, circumstances dictate what care we give our birds. Some of us have no Avian vet, some of us cannot afford vet care. I am very careful with diet, cleanliness etc. as I know we're in big trouble if anything goes wrong. I knew I could not acess a vet, when I got all my birds, but I gave Fred a home, anyway. I don't know if it's irresponsible...maybe...but I'm not sorry.

Click to expand...

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
it's about learning how to dance in the rain."​

I love the above quote so so true SharonC

If the story is true it is in fact sad, just so many things about it make me wonder though, the original post and a follow up saying he was going to take the bird to a vet was on 8/8 , then nothing for 10 days till they posted pics on 8/18 and says he talked to a regular vet(on the phone? in person? who knows it didnt say) cause he couldn't find an avian vet to take the bird to , a few posts say you should get the bird to a vet, that eye looks bad, just wondering why the first vet didn't suggest that, or even referring him to an avian vet, so for 11 days he can't find an avian vet and on 8/19 he somehow finds on, takes him the same day, says the AV tells him it could be pssitacosis or maybe chlamidia or something else, well pssitacosis and chlamidia are the same disease, and is treatable, without even testing he just says the bird is better off being euthanized, I don't have all the facts, but dang, with antibiotics, anti-inflamitories and pain management drugs you would think they could have at least given the bird a fighting chance, another thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was, if the AV thought there was the slightest chance that the bird had pssitacosis, not only SHOULD he have tested for it, he MUST test for it, not sure of the way things are done in the UK, where I believe this took place, but here in the US when a case of pssitacosis is suspected it must be tested for and if found to be positive it must be reported to not only to the local health department but also to the CDC (Center For Disease Control) in Atlanta Ga., pssitacosis, also known as parrot feaver is highly contagious to both other birds, including poultry, as well as humans, I didn't see anywhere in that thread that the AV tested or even told that person the dangers he, his other bird or anyone in the household might be facing......I've been through the whole pssitacosis thing twice myself and I can tell you its very scary........that whole thread just seemed weird to me :31:

I agree! I think this bird could have been treated with antibiotics! I have seen much worse. It is a very sad outcome.

Bobby, I understand your sceptism and I share some of it. The part I'm most sceptical about is the visit to the avian vet, did this actually happen? The OP was being pressurised by other posters to get the bird to an AV, also the OP had a very poor command of the English language although apparently living in England. The photographs though seem to prove that there was indeed a problem with the grey.

If I'm going to be sceptical it would be "did that grey ever make it to an avian vet?" Very sad.

In my opinion the disease was googled and posted. The person kept on repeating that the bird could not be handled - there are no such thing as COULD NOT - lets rather say they were to afraid and REFUSED to. For this reason the bird never (my opinion) went to a vet.

ALL vets, whether it is an avian vet or normal vet have to see the animal whether it is tame or not - they will never refuse, it is part of their call.

Never in my life will I accept news that my bird must be put down - I will get a second, third, fourth etc. opinion. Nor have I ever heard of a vet suggesting to put down an animal without doing ALL necessary test and go through ALL treatments possible!

You are correct! Of course birds who are difficult to handle are seen by vets! Think of all the breeder birds treated by vets. Some are extremely wild. I truly believe that this OP could not afford vet care and choose euthanasia as an end to the situation. Very sad!

Agree with Greycloud. Story is either fake or half truths.