parakeet has tumor

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parakeet has tumor

hello, I wrote in before asking about why my keet that stays on the bottom of cage with very little chirping and so on. I did take her to a vet, and she found a tumor around the chest area. She is not sure if its malignant or it is a fatty tumor from diet. She gave me antibiodics, and anti-flammatory/pain meds to give her. She said if there is no change by the end of the week to put her down:-( The only change I see since a day and a half ago is that she seems to be eating a little, and drinking, and she did go on the perch for approx 10 hours for the first time in a few days.As of today, she is back on the bottom of the cage, and is still eating but no chirping. I dont know what to do.... I cant bear to put her to sleep, if there is a chance she can be saved/ cured, say if there is a chance it is a fatty tumor, not cancer. Maybe there is a chance with these meds she can get better? I dont want to seem selfish, but I love her to death!! I also do not want her to suffer, can she be suffering??

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parakeet has tumor

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Aug 21, 2010

Parakeet tumor
by: The Avian Vet

You should get a second opinion before euthanizing your bird. It could be operable, or it may be manageable with diet and exercise. I cannot make any recommendations or estimates of her condition without examining her. But don?t give up until you see an avian specialist.

Dr B

Aug 19, 2010

parakeet has tumor
by: Anonymous

Hi there, did you take her to an Avian Vet? If you took her to a normal animal vet, she will probably not make it.

Aug 18, 2010

parakeet has tumor
by: Linda

Hopefully, you took her to an Avian Vet because dog and cat vets are not licensed or trained to diagnose or treat birds. If you did not take her to an Avian Vet, please do so. The Avian vet will take a draw with a needle and syringe from the tumor, put it under the microscope and be able to tell if there are cancer cells or if this is a fatty tumor. Fatty tumors are common with birds eating all seed diets, so please have her tested before even considering putting her down.

The only warning bell that is going off here is that normally fatty cell tumors do not cause them much pain, and the fact that she is off her feed and feeling bad says that it could be something worse. The ONLY way to tell is to take her to an Avian Vet (if this is the one you are talking about, then find one who has sense enough to take a draw from the tumor to tell whether this is fatty cells or cancer cells). The test is quick and relatively painless, just a prick. If you took her to a regular dog and cat vet, then please find an Avian Vet as the regular vets don't want to do much with birds because they don't know what to do, and they give the wrong dosages of meds. In other words, it would be faster and easier for them to put your sweet little bird to sleep than to tell you to get a second opinion.

I'm so sorry you have been treated in this callous way, and find another Avian Vet or tell this one (if they are Avian Vets) to test this tumor to see what it is before giving your bird a death sentence. If the tumor is large enough, it can be causing discomfort if it is either pulling on the skin or is situated in a place where surgery will do more harm that good.

Once this is taken care of, feed only organic pelleted diets to your birds as seed diets cause fatty tumors, plus fatty liver disease and ruined kidneys. All seed diets are very low nutrition which keeps bird's immune systems down so they are vulnerable to any and all infections.

Here is a link on how to make the change, and Tracie carries several types of organic pelleted diets here:

Switching Birds to Pellets article

Please let us know what is going on with your precious little one when you have time, and you and your birdy are in our prayers for a fast and total recovery.

Linda

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