Comfort for Dying Old Cockatiel

[Jaybay]

Petey, my 22 year and 5-month old cockatiel is dying.  It started over two months ago when he go sick.  He looked like the wild birds I've seen with West Nile virus.  Just when we were certain it was the end, Petey rallied but hasn't been the same since.  He's had loose stools off and on and has lost a lot of weight.  I've used moulting and conditioning vitamins as a supplement for several years, but it's not making any difference now obviously.  He does eat his regular seed, but not as much, and has trouble with his old favorite sunflower seeds.  A spray of fresh millet gets the biggest reaction out of him these days.  

He sleeps most of the time, keeps his feathers puffed up like he's cold, and seems to need his wings for balance more often than not.  There's certainly a loss of coordination.   Petey never would use a Happy Hut, so I have a small towel on the bottom of one corner of his cage that he likes to snug with.  Better than nothing.  During the worst of his illness, he wanted nothing to do with us.  In the past few days, he wants nothing more than to sit under my chin and sleep.

I want to do right by my little companion, so any hints you can offer for comfort measures will be greatly appreciated.  Petey was the first companion "child" that my husband I had. Life will be so strange without him, but I'm grateful for all the years we've had with.  He's never had one single health problem in all this time, so it's difficult to see him like this.  All I can think of is to keep him as warm and comfortable as possible until he's gone.  :-(

[tielbob]

So sorry about losing Zuni.  You were so kind to hold and comfort her all night. I'm sure you greatly calmed her fears as you did that.
My experience was similar in that way.  In July, my cockatiel Baby Boy looked like he wouldn't get through the night - then at about 1 am I saw him on his back on the cage floor. I cradled him on my chest keeping him warm and spoke softly to him and stroked his crest. I wanted him to feel safe and loved and to know nothing would come hurt him in his weak state (his heart was failing, I believe.)  Hours later he looked over at me and across the room at my elderly Dad and then died. It was 5:30 am by then, the worst night of my life so far and I'm old enough to have been through plenty. I still can't go in the room that was 'his' with his cage and all. It's too painful.
Losing these birds is devastating after loving them so much for so long. Many people will think that's silly but not the ones who have posted in this thread.
Sorry again about Zuni :(

[crtmtnviews]

My vet treated my lovebird Zuni with Baytril for a crop infection a few weeks back. She got better and then started eating constantly and I took her back to the vet. The vet said at 12 yrs old it was time to spoil her (i.e. the time is near) and I could stop the Baytril.He suggested birdie bread. Birdie bread turned out to be the spoiling my lovebird needed to maintain her weight. Zuni gobbled up in the week before she made a turn for the worst Last night she began losing balance and having seizures and it was horrifying to know that I had to wait until the animal hospital opened at 8 am in order to put her at final ease. We layed her to rest this afternoon after a horrifying night of increased frequencies in seizures. I wrapped her in a towel so she wouldnt bite as she fought for her life and held her all night. Thankfully there are places that are open on the weekend - and even on a Sunday morning - that could help ease her suffering and we could take her home.
Thanks everyone for sharing. These posts helped me realize no matter how small our pets, birds are loved as much as dogs and cats. Sorry for the losses everyone here has suffered.

[tielbob]

Sorry your ringneck dove isn't doing well.  It's heartbreaking to go through the sickness of a little loved one.  Your bird bread sounds like a good idea;  I'll keep note of it in one of my bird care books.

[ninammam]

My vet recomended Ensure vanilla flavor and Harrisons bird bread that you bake or can make mini muffins that can be frozen up to 4 months and refrigerated for a week. I just take them out 30 mins before feeding at room temp and they are fine.  My baby  a white ringneck dove won't eat or drink at all right now sleeping all day, vet tommorow if still the same to euthanize to make it easier for both of us, he is 26 and is now lame in both legs, he usually sprung back with handfeeding vitamins you name it I have done it for the past 2 years, he's just not springing back sadly I think he is ready for his final journey in the dying process, I love him so very much.

[ninammam]

Crying... I am so sorry for your loss. Everything you described I am now going through with my 26 yr. old ring neck dove, one of his legs went lame and today I notice the other one is lame as well he has been sleeping all day and his eyes seem glazed, I tried giving him a drop of insure which he loved and he wants nothing but to be sleeping. Will he go peacefully, that is my worst nightmare that he doesn't,  he seems very peacefull since this am and now.

[cyman333]

I understand your loss. I just lost my bird yesterday. I had a male cockatiel for 16 years and his name was Eddie. Eddie had been ill the past month. I taken him to the vet last month and  he said Eddie was in the beginning stages of a liver disease. He prescribed some meds and I took him home. He started getting weaker this past week as he was fluffing and sleeping more often. I made an appointment with the vet for Friday but Eddie died the morning before the appointment. It was funny because the day before he died, I just came home from work and called his name and he answered me immediately as if he was greeting me for the last time as he always does. I then reward him his favorite treat which he ate. I then gave him his meds but after giving to him, he escaped from me and flew on a shelf but he was very weak. I grab him gently and his wings just dropped. I thought he was going to die in my hand. I then put him on the top of the cage and he just collapsed. I then gently put him on the  top perch but he slowly went down to the bottom of the cage and slept. I notice he was not going to make it so I place a towel he could sleep in and make it warm for him. I also changed his food which he went to get eat twice and then went back to the bottom of the cage. This was not a good sign, as I was going to take him to the vet in the morning to have him examined and probally put to sleep. I woke up the next morning at 5.30 thinking he had already died but he was still hanging in there as I called his name and he responded lightly. He was more closer the floor of the cage and I knew he had very little time left. I then woke up at 7.30 am and he had passed away. I felt really bad as I should had held him in my hand in his final hour but he didn't wanted to be handled.
Im going to miss the little guy and its really hard to cope right now. I had him for 16 years and he never gotten sick except for a broken wing when he was 8 years which he recovered. Now Im going the pictures, videos and its just heartbreaking for me to see this. Im glad he was with me all these years and I enjoyed the times we had together althought there were times he can be annoying.. Its amazing how time passes when you are working and busy in our  daily lives as our pets get older and we take that for granted not realizing they are getting older. Also it seems my Eddie said his last goodbyes to me as if pets know when the time is near and would say their final farewell to their owners. Nevertheless I believe pets are here for a reason as I will not replace Eddie right now. These intelligent animals are a gift and should be treated as one.