When to put a bird down.

KimR

New member
Oct 14, 2011
7
0
Sacramento CA
Parrots
5 B&G's, 1 Catalina, 1 Blue Crowned Conure, 6 Cockatiels
I have a double yellow head amazon. I rescued him a few years back so I don't know his age. Just recently he has started to have problems with his feet. I believe it is arthritis. He is getting worse and worse. Tonight I finally had to put gloves on so I could grab him to put him in his cage. He can't hold on to anything specially a moving arm or hand. He can barely get up to his sleeping spot anymore. Falls to the bottom of the cage 90% of the time. When I let him out during the day he spends his time flying from his cage to my B&G's cage. He loses grip and has to fly. If he can't fly ( in his cage) he struggles to climb.

I tried adding apple cider vinegar to his water (heard it helps with arthritis), but I think he is just in to bad of shape for it to help.

I feel so sorry for him. I think it would be best to put him out of his misery. I'm just having a hard time figuring out if I really want to do that. Also, I have takend dogs to the vet for putting them out of there misery, but never a bird. Can an avion vet do this? How do I go about doing this? It's such a sad thing to have to think about and I think that is why it is taking me so long to ask questions here.

Oh, I also think he is going blind. He screams every time you go near him and does this till you either walk on by or he figures out you want him to step up.

Sorry this is kind of jumbled. Just kind of upset about having to deal with putting another pet down. Why can't they just pass on their own? :21:

Kim
 

HalfInsane

New member
Dec 23, 2011
420
0
British Columbia, Canada
Parrots
Pixel: female senegal, hatched Dec 15, 2011
In general, I feel that when an animal is no longer enjoying a good quality of life, that is the time to put them down. However, although I have never encountered a bird with arthritis, I don't necessarily think it is cause for such drastic action.

First and foremost, I'd get the bird looked at by a vet. If he is older it is quite possibly arthritis, but it could be something else. An infection, perhaps, a vitamin deficiency. Get him checked out before making any decisions. Same thing with the possible blindness, get him looked at.

Secondly, if it is arthritis, it can be managed in many cases. Here's a link with some great info on caring for arthritic birds:

Untitled Document


I know having an aging animal is stressful, you constantly worry about if they're suffering too much, etc. That's why I always go to a vet first, to be sure, consider my options, see if they can be treated, or if not, if you can manage their health problems. Just take things one step at a time, get things sorted out, and see if you can't give the little guy a few more years. :)
 
Last edited:

antoinette

Supporting Member
Jul 6, 2009
13,114
Media
9
18
Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
I would take the bird to a vet and let them examine the bird. It does sound like arthritis, but then again, I am not a qualified vet.
I pray to God I never ever have to make such a drastic decision where my African Grey Mishka is concerned.
Praying the bird recovers and is pain free.
Please keep us posted......
 

oled

New member
Jul 10, 2011
1,149
0
South Sweden
Parrots
Ville a double yellow head Amazon
I also think yoy should givet it a try going to a vet and let them decide what to do
 

roxynoodle

New member
Dec 1, 2011
4,499
2
I would also consult the vet first and consider your options based on what it turns out to be. My Nanday had a foot weakness problem and it was either an infection or a selenium deficiency we think. We treated her for both and she fully recovered. It also could have been minor lead poisoning. The bag of frozen veggies I was using at that time had vegetables containing lead! I only knew because they started sparking in the microwave and I looked it up. I've been having trouble with this with many brands lately, but never before. The FDA says this is ok for us, but I don't think this is ok, and especially for our tiny birds. I'm not sure why this is a sudden problem, but I've thrown out recently Great Value from Walmart, Pictsweet and Green Giant veggies for this problem.
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
Media
3
18
NC/FLA
Parrots
Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
At the risk of derailing this thread, I'd like to hear more about lead in frozen veggies and sparking in the microwave, maybe another thread somewhere?
 
OP
K

KimR

New member
Oct 14, 2011
7
0
Sacramento CA
Parrots
5 B&G's, 1 Catalina, 1 Blue Crowned Conure, 6 Cockatiels
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thanks for the advice you guy's. I will call the vet and make an appt.
 

roxynoodle

New member
Dec 1, 2011
4,499
2
At the risk of derailing this thread, I'd like to hear more about lead in frozen veggies and sparking in the microwave, maybe another thread somewhere?

I posted about my experience and the info I read about it in the other thread.
 
OP
K

KimR

New member
Oct 14, 2011
7
0
Sacramento CA
Parrots
5 B&G's, 1 Catalina, 1 Blue Crowned Conure, 6 Cockatiels
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Here is a pic of Poppy at better times. See how he used to sleep with his head backwards, tail all nice and tight. Well, he's awake in this pic but he was asleep. LOL

IMG_8759.jpg


This is him now. He is alway's fluffed up and I haven't seen his tail tight in a long time. He always has it spread out. I know this is to help him keep his balance. Poor guy.

IMG_2621.jpg


He has to sit on our B&G's cage because it has a flat top. His cage is rounded. So when we let the birds out in the morning we have to make sure to get Oso out and put on his play gym, then we can let Poppy out. He immediately flys to Oso's cage. Then when he looses grip he flies back to his. This continues all day till we put him back in his cage.

The other dangerous thing we are dealing with now is him landing on Burts cage or on Oso's play gym. They of course try to attack him. When trying to get him back in his cage last night, before I posted the first post, he landed on Burts cage but luckily we were able to get him (sadly) knocked away before Burt actually bit him. It was a real close call, Burt actually went to bite but missed.

Sad thing is, we don't want to leave him locked in his cage because he can't move around it to well. He falls off of his purchases a lot. All of a sudden you hear this "thump", that was Poppy hitting the bottom. Poor guy. I have put flat boards in his cage near his food and water and also have some lined on the bottom so he can rest a little easier, but it is still hard on him.

I will let you all know when I get the appt. and then what happens from there.
 

roxynoodle

New member
Dec 1, 2011
4,499
2
I wish you both the best:)

Perhaps his wings could be lightly clipped as well. Enough left to help him balance, but not enough to fly and put himself in dangerous situations.
 

Remy

New member
Jul 13, 2011
1,905
1
California
Parrots
Darcy (Golden-Collared Macaw), Puck (Caique - RIP)
Poor baby!

Have you had him checked by a vet? There could be any number of causes of weakness. Mineral or vitamin deficiencies, infection, allergy, etc. There is also medicine for arthritis, if that is it.

Please keep us updated!
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Like it was mentioned by multiple posters. Get him vet checked, cause all you can do is guess what is wrong with him. You wouldn't know what's causing his issue until you get him checked by a Avian Vet. What are you feeding him exactly? It's a close call when the macaw missed his foot, but I would really suggest not allowing him to perch on the macaw's cage cause one of these days he wouldn't be so lucky. Please do take him to a vet and have blood work done to see exactly what is going on before thinking of the worst. Good Luck!!!

Side note, fresh veggies is better then those frozen bag veggies....As I don't feed those to my birds...Fresh only!
 

YUMgrinder

Member
Mar 20, 2017
920
26
Cheyenne, WY
Parrots
-Jazz, Normal Grey Cockatiel /

-Chessie, Pearl Cockatiel /

-Perry, Black capped Conure /

-JoJo, Pineapple GCC /

3 little busy Budgies
Side note, fresh veggies is better then those frozen bag veggies....As I don't feed those to my birds...Fresh only!

studies show this to be incorrect. Frozen locks in vitamins that normally dissipate in fresh veggies.
 

GaleriaGila

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
8,742
Cleveland area
Parrots
The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Heart-breaking picture, OP. Thank you for helping his bird. Any news?
 

itzjbean

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2017
2,572
Media
4
119
Iowa, USA
Parrots
2 cockatiels
Not sure if we'll get an update on this one as the OP hasn't been on the forums in over 5 years!
 

Mariar

Well-known member
May 9, 2014
1,021
169
Clearwater Florida but grew up in Wisconsin
Parrots
Doolie,Yellow nape amazon(r.i.p.03/10/15)
Sissy,severe macaw(rescued on 03-16-15) chirpy,sparrow(beak less) jack,Jill,chase,fiona,finch, and tiger,sulfer crested(rescued 04/15/20
Please take him to the vet....my yellow nape showed signs i had never seen and the result was death from stroke..he was a super recue.i took him. And you can never be to sure. Give us an update plez....good luck.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top