Peeper

Last night I got home from a friend's wedding around 11 or 12 at night. I went over to Peeper's cage and usually she either lunges at my finger, or steps right up. This time she stumbled forward, falling onto her chest. She then crawled across the botton of the cage (she had been sitting in an unusual corner of the bottom for her) - her feet weren't working right, and she was using her wings a bit. Further examination and some time (maybe a half hour) revealed the she was not properly using either foot - she wasn't able to clench them, and her right wing was drooping as well.

During this process, when it became clear that her issues were more than "I've just been woken up" grogginess (yes, birds get it too), I realized that I needed to take her to an emergency room. As I continued watching her, and scratching her (she didn't seem to be in any pain and really enjoyed being scratched), I enlisted the help of a couple people online in finding info as I called my vet, then the animal hospital they recommended in Boston (an hour's drive), googled another affiliated one in Springfield (also an hour), and finally pinpointed one located less than ten miles from here.

Into the car we went, I got lost on the way b/c I hadn't taken the time to get good directions (drove 20 minutes out of the way *grumble grumble*), but finally got her there (Tufts animal hospital in N Grafton). A student did the first examination, it was interesting b/c she had no bird experience so was learning from Peeper, then a real vet looked her over, said she was thin, recommended and I did that she stay overnight and be fed and such. $700 estimated, $350 deposit. The emergency vet wasn't an expert in birds though she'd had some experience, so all she could say was that Peeper was thin and <ETA> maybe had lead poisoning or maybe had some neurological problem. She also said Peeper was very friendly and sweet - they always do, it's nice to hear that I've been raising her right. </ETA>

This morning the exotics vet (yeah, birds are "exotics" - same as pocket pets and lizards) checked her out and started blood work and is about to take x-rays. She is significantly underweight, some 15% (they usually say that if a bird loses 10% she's got a significant chance of not making it) at 65g instead of her usual 75-85g; she has a mass in her abdomen, most likely possibility is an egg and she has egg binding; the movement issues may be caused by pain from the potential egg, or by pain from potential kidney stones; the weight loss could be due to kidney problems (renal function, an issue she's had before).

The vet told me right out he's not sure if she's going to make it. I didn't ask for a percent.

peeper

Peeper has complete kidney failure. She does not have egg binding, she does not have lead poisoning. They're waiting to get the CBC test done (tests for infection), and she's staying overnight again with lots of fluids, I suspect via IV though I didn't ask. There's a chance that the fluids will bring her around and make everything good, but it didn't sound too likely to me.

A human with kidney failure would be put on dialysis until a replacement donation kidney could be found.

I think I'm going to have to decide whether to put her to sleep or to bring her home. I think I'd rather she were with me - for now at least she did not appear to be in any pain, and enjoyed me scratching her - but when I mentioned it to the vet, he strongly recommended against it. I met a really nice animal rescue woman in the waiting room who told me to stick up for what I think is best, and what I feel is the right thing to do for Peeper. I just dont' want it to be a selfish choice, and she's still far enough from teh end that I don't think I can make a good decision yet.

The woman also said that she cremates her animals and saves their ashes. that way they can go with her when she moves, and she said I could always scatter them somewhere after. it's a good point. I also talked w/ her about how I might want a cat eventually, after I got over peeper :'( and although she's way up in NH she said that if I wanted to try one of her cats and was allergic it wouldn't be a problem. my allergies appear to be dependent upon the individual, so that's mythought.

i can't think. they'll call me if anything changes, or else they'll just call me tomorrow.

anyone care to share their pet end-of-life stories with me? I'm curious how you decided what to do for them.

peeper

this is peeper

peeper - kidney failure

looking up info about human renal (kidney) failure. seems there's two types: chronic and acute. the latter is often reversible, the former is not. seems they're hoping that it's acute and they'll get her through it to be ok (hence the flushing her system w/ fluids more tonight), but she's had the starts of kidney failure before so it's probably actually chronic.

because I have to think about it

I'm leaning towards cremation. that way i could bury her ashes when I decide which friend of mine's property is most appropriate, since i don't have any myself and neither do my parents, or wait until i do have property a few years down the line, or scatter them somewhere nice, or just save them until I know what's right. funny thing is, i'd always joked I should get her stuffed and mounted, but i never would with her recent feather plucking - it's not the way she's supposed to look, the way she always looked.

categories

I realized that there's four categories of pets: cats, dogs, farm animals, and exotics. Anyone else find that strange? Someone tell me what birds, "pocket pets," and turtles really have to do with each other.