When the bourke parakeet was around 14/16 years old, I had her undergo laser surgery to remove a tumor on her foot. A prior biopsy revealed that it wasn't cancerous, but I had another biopsy performed on it after it was removed and it came back positive for cancer. That was two years ago. I don't know why, but in the vets system they had her age down as 9 years old. Needless to say, they were a little shocked to find out she was actually 5+ years older than that!
You can see the mass pre-surgery and some photos afterwards.
I wasn't sure if she'd survive the surgery because she was not doing well the first night home. She could not stand up for long, and slept laying down. She had never slept laying down before... Unfortunately, the mass did grow back.
As bad as this sounds, it seems like she just don't die! Not that I want her to... She is now 16-17 years old and the expected lifespan of a bourke is 11-15 years. Her parents died at 11 and 13 years old (if I recall right). Two years ago she had the laser surgery. Then she was chronically getting sick and I was having to medicate her. It didn't help matters any that when she was sick she started laying eggs. She got better and she'd stop laying eggs. She'd get sick again and then there were more eggs. BIRDS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO LAY EGGS WHEN THEY ARE SICK?!?!?!??!?!
(major facepalm! I've had some fun with her in the past on trying to get her to stop laying eggs, too! vet didn't want her to have laid an egg within two weeks of the surgery... so what did she do????
she laid an egg approximately every 2 weeks...) Finally get over that and now she's got a blocked sinus. Our current issue.
She's been on supplements and gets flushes. Flushing her nostrils involves holding her upside down and flushing 3 cc's of fluid through each nostril (a total of 6 cc's). The saline goes through her sinuses and out her mouth. Whatever is blocking her sinus cavity just wont budge.
These photos are back from May, not long after the issue originally started. Right nostril slightly swollen and misshapen. Might be able to tell that there is swelling around her eye as well.
Once the flushes were started back then, her sinuses did improve and she didn't require frequent flushes, just occasional ones. Then, smoke from California fires polluted the air in Nevada for a months time (it was recommended for people to wear the face masks or stay indoors) and that's when her sinuses got worse again... and haven't improved. The most recent photo taken this past Saturday... you can see more swelling in both areas.
In short, she's already been through a lot. It's because of the first surgery and her lack of a *good* weight (IMO) that I don't feel comfortable putting her through another surgery for her sinuses. If things were different (i.e. healthier weight), I might reconsider it! I also probably wouldn't bring her home same night of the surgery... instead, I'd leave her at the vets office for 1-3 nights so that they could monitor her recovery inside a brooder. I just don't see things changing and the two vets that she has seen do not feel comfortable doing a surgery on her anyway.
I want to do more for her and feel bad that I can't. It's not like she's deathly sick or anything. The only time she probably suffers is when she gets meds, supplements and flushes. Otherwise, she still eats fine, chirps, is (semi) active. Sleeps normally. (she used to be more active when she was younger, but being less active with age isn't necessarily a bad thing)
With all that she's gone through, and having to do flushes and feeling like the flushes might kill her or something... I'm just surprised I haven't (unintentionally) killed her yet. I've seen photos of a bourke parakeet still alive at (estimated) 24 years old and heard of one that died at the age of 21 years old. If not for those two birds, she would be the oldest living bourke parakeet that I know of. Since she is pass her expected lifespan, I honestly don't know how much longer she has to live and am surprised every day that she's still kicking along!
I'm sorry to hear about the lovebird you lost after surgery... and sorry for the long story, but I thought it'd help if you knew the entire story of what's been going on with the bourke! It's been an adventure with her, and she's not tame! I'm just glad that she's naturally a sweet natured bird. She's also gotten feisty with age and tries to boss the cockatiels around (which are easily 3x her size!) when they are in her way!
Thanks MonicaMc....it is best not to do the surgery. I had a lovebird who developed a tumor and had little time to live if it wasn't removed. She was 9 years old and I wanted to prolong her sweet life. I truly regret that surgery. She passed away within a week of it done.
I had other lovebirds and Taino at that time to comfort me. I was devastated. 
