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Post by Sheila on Dec 22, 2006 11:04:10 GMT -5
ill... I've made an appt for today, at 330pm. I've noticed she's having problems flying, and appears to be losing weight. Will keep you posted.
Kerry, do you have access to when I first joined the old forum? I'm trying to figure out how old Joee is. I joined Dec. 24th, can't remember year, when my Jimmie became deathly ill.
I'm thinking I had joined 12'04. Bill brought Joee home, the summer before Jimmie had taken ill. She has to be at least 2.5 yrs, possibly older. Still very young.
Well, here it goes again! Bill is irritated, that I'm taking Joee to the vet. He said, if she's dying, then there's nothing I can do for her. Again, is it because she's a budgie, and not human, that I'm suppose to ignore the signs of illness?!?!? I know we might lose her, but I can't continue with not helping her out.
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Post by Michael B on Dec 22, 2006 17:22:46 GMT -5
Birds aren't people, so well meaning people can see the matter entirely differently. I hope she gets better soon.
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Post by Sivin on Dec 22, 2006 18:07:49 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about Joee. Let us know what happens. We just went through an ordeal with one of ours. All is well.
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Post by Sheila on Dec 22, 2006 20:29:49 GMT -5
She has a bacterial infection, weighs 40gms, full crop and not digesting her food. She had a big fatty mass below the sternum, and loose bowels. We started her on baytril and carafate; 2X's daily. Everything else checked out ok.
I'm getting to where I dread December, not for the holidays; due to major medical illnesses!
Jimmie turned deathly ill, 12/24/04. Bill had 5 by-pass coronary/heart surgery 12/08/05 - defied death Bill diagnosed w/diabetes 12/15/06 - defied death again. Joee becoming ill 12/22/06 - hopefully will recover fully.
I'm starting to get a phobia about December!
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Post by henryswife on Dec 22, 2006 23:26:29 GMT -5
Sheila, soo sorry to hear about 'Joee' your're doing all you can. I hope the meds work and all is well. and hugs to 'You' and 'Joee' and 'Bill'. I know Henry joined this site 1-9-04, than I took over. I saved copies of replys. Keep us posted on how she's doing. Alice
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Post by Sheila on Dec 23, 2006 23:53:46 GMT -5
I don't know how long it takes, for the meds to help, but Joee doesn't look good... I feel real sad and so guilty, for her. It's my responsibility to see that she's cared for, and I felled her. I think I'm going to call it quit on birds, when all that I have are gone. I'm beginning to feel as if I don't really know how to take care of them. I won't be getting anymore, even though I do like them alot.
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Post by Sivin on Dec 24, 2006 2:41:12 GMT -5
Hi Sheila,
It might take a day or two for the meds to kick in -- or so it seems to me. Are you able to administer them okay? Did the vet suggest putting her in a hospital cage?
You haven't failed your birds. You do the best that you can. There is so much we just don't know and even the best of care is not going to save a bird from questionable breeding or genetic weaknesses. Budgies are known as tumor factories and I've read that many who pass on before age three are victims of cancer.
If you decide to continue with birds you have to realize these weaknesses they have and accept them. You need to balance whether the pleasure of becoming a part of their world is worth the pain we all have when illness befalls them.
I'll be contacting you privately following. Hang in there.
Sivin
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Post by Sheila on Dec 25, 2006 19:55:32 GMT -5
Thank Sivin, for your encouraging words. I guess I'm having a pity/guilt time right now. Joee is still hanging on, and she goes back to the vet Saturday. If she's not better, I'm going to see if they'll keep her. I'm giving her the meds, but not sure how much I'm getting down her; she's very feisty! Will keep you posted, of her progress.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!"
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Post by Sivin on Dec 25, 2006 20:01:59 GMT -5
Sheila,
Please know that we are all thinking of you!
Sivin
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Post by kerryandgoofy on Dec 26, 2006 13:31:23 GMT -5
Shelia
I have the same "powers" as the rest of the group right now. I clicked on your name and it says you joined 5/5/05.
I hope you don't get out of birds once the last are gone. Things just happen some times and all we can do is try, which is what you are doing. "The Nasties" when around to different aviaries last year. Many breeders I know lost a LOT of birds, even sending off bodies for necroses to different labs they didn't get answers.
I hope your little one gets better soon and your husband gets to feeling better soon as well.
I hope you had a quite, peaceful Christmas.
Kerry
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Post by Michael B on Dec 26, 2006 17:22:21 GMT -5
Sivin and I also seemed to have joined within a day of 5/5/05, when I click on our names. Nice date, eh? I assume this must actually be when we registered with the new web site.
Now Kerry, we all know you have "powers" and you must not be trying hard, so no more lame excuses. Now concentrate hard and reach into the mysterious void beyond, walk three times around your lucky ringneck, read the signs in your budgie guano or do whatever it takes...
Sheila, I still, in that decisive way I have, am deciding whether to keep Cockatiel. One thing I've told myself sometimes is "Would she be in better shape with or without me?". This rationale is kind of a cheap shot since she was found on the street, but I was just in the pet store today and saw a family buying 3 budgies with a cage barely big enough for only one. It's likely they're going to feed them only seed, and highly unlikely that these $15 budgies are ever going to visit the $100 (or whatever) vet. The care and love you give your birds must be in the top one percentile of pet budgerigars or cockatiels. The fact that you are worrying shows your birds are very lucky ones. However, if it's stressfull for you don't necessarily need to continue the with bird stewardship as your hobby. My aphelandra has dropped most of it's leaves since I got her a year ago, and I feel no angst. (I got a few mail order plants a year ago.) It would be more sad if Heliconia died, but I can't really say she gives me as much affection as Cockatiel. Of course, when Cockatiel is affectionate, it's probably because she's plotting to lay more eggs...
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Post by Sheila on Dec 26, 2006 19:12:57 GMT -5
Thanks Kerry C and Michael B... I so much understand what you and others have said.... I just feel I'm the blame for Joee's illness, but again possibly not. I can't point the finger at anyone else, but myself, for I'm their carekeeper. Joee is hanging on, and very feisty; amazing where their strenghth comes from, when they're ill. I have placed her pet carrier next to our electric radiator heater, and she seems to be staying warmer, next to it. I believe the heater and meds, are helping her get better. Michael, it's funny that you would mention plants, for I have started back into my house plants. Reason, I don't get attached, if one loses a leaf, limb, or turns brown, from under/over watering... Don't worry about my plants and birds, for my birds are in their own private bedroom; without plants. I hope everyone had a safe holiday. Now I'm preparing for our yearly New Year's Eve Party!!!
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Post by Sivin on Dec 26, 2006 20:41:45 GMT -5
Just don't get a ficus benjamina! Depression all around. Or how about a spider plant? I can't tell you how many of those I've pushed to meet their maker.
Sivin
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Post by kerryandgoofy on Dec 27, 2006 12:40:51 GMT -5
Some how I ended up with a pregnant onion once. That was the MOST frustrating plant! Of course I HAD to plant each of those babies That thing just about drove me crazy, birds were much simpler and they QUIT having babies for a given time! LOL
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Post by Michael B on Dec 27, 2006 17:13:47 GMT -5
Hmmm, I just put a spider plant on the porch a few weeks ago. It was in a bad spot without light in the house. It looks nicer dead on the porch next to a pumpkin -it has that seasonal dried corn husk look.
My mom had this onion-like plant show up in her flower garden for years now. It would have onion-like clusters about 2 feet in the air on stalks. We finally identified it as shallots this year. She takes the easy way out, and eats them (or is yours some weird ornamental?)
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