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Freddie
Oct 7, 2022 20:27:26 GMT -5
Post by freddie05 on Oct 7, 2022 20:27:26 GMT -5
My dear sweet quaker parrot, Freddie passed away two days ago. I went to a total of 4 vets in the last month, the first three who didn't diagnose him properly. Then by the time we got to the fourth vet, it was too late. I was first told he had a respiratory infection which was incorrect. It appears as though he had developed liver disease or had some sort of liver tumor and that was causing a lot of fluid build up in his abdomen which was causing respiratory distress. He crashed at the animal hospital and they tried to do CPR but couldn't save him. I totally blame myself because I wasn't taking him to the vet regularly for years because he seemed to be doing fine. He was 17 and a half years old. Just seemed too young to go. This is absolutely heart wrenching. I totally miss the little guy!  |
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Freddie
Oct 7, 2022 21:50:36 GMT -5
Post by Caseysmom on Oct 7, 2022 21:50:36 GMT -5
Awww. I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like it happened fairly fast. Casey is almost 16 and I do not take him yearly to the vet either. We get so used to having them around it’s such a shock when we loose pets. It is very hard to find a good avian vet and I guess very hard to diagnose a tiny parrot. You tried your hardest and yes it is very heart wrenching. Casey and I send our deepest condolences
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Post by freddie05 on Oct 7, 2022 22:38:57 GMT -5
Thank you Casey's mom. Yes it happened rather fast. Yes, I was very used to having Freddie around. He was doing so well for so long too so I didn't think it necessary to take him to the vet. Finding a good avian vet is one of the hardest things. I think it's something one would need to shop around for in order to get the proper care. Thanks again for your condolences. Casey is super cute!  |
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Post by biteybird on Oct 8, 2022 5:18:56 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear about little Freddie.
Please do not blame yourself for not regularly going to the vet. Our Bonnie has been to the vet literally three times in her nearly 9 years and the visits weren't actually useful anyway. In Australia there are not very many Avian specialist vets and the ones we tried in Melbourne didn't know enough about parrots - or even birds in general - to properly treat her.
We moved to Darwin (in the Northern Territory, Australia) nearly 6 years ago and there are no Avian specialists here either, although one of the pet rescue/vet centres has a guy who does know something from having his own parrots.
We tend to not take Bonnie to the vet at all, as you have to weigh up the stress on the bird of taking them (particularly if the vets aren't knowledgeable about birds).
I nearly lost Bonnie once (because she managed to escape out the back door) and ended up climbing over two fences (one of them with barbed wire on the top!) and 6 metres up a tree to rescue her - in a different post on this forum! - but I remember how sick and awful I felt at the thought of not having her around. I could do something about that by not giving up, however, your situation is different and I feel sad that you've lost a beloved family member.
It may sound somewhat weird but, to me, losing an animal can sometimes be worse than losing a human family member.
I hope you are doing all right and please post more if you need support/ to chat/whatever.
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Freddie
Oct 8, 2022 10:34:32 GMT -5
Post by freddie05 on Oct 8, 2022 10:34:32 GMT -5
Thank you biteybird for your condolences and encouragement. It really helps to hear other people stories on their birds. I'm so glad you were able to rescue Bonnie. Yes, finding the right avian vet is the hardest battle even where I am in Chicago as there are not many avian vets. And there are some who advertise themselves as avian vets but really do not have much experience treating birds, just so they can get the business. I totally agree that losing an animal can be worse that losing a family member. Animals show us so much love and we don't always get that from people. I'm really very sad and I feel like I do need support and to chat. This is such a bad time. Just can't stop crying. Not sure how I will ever heal from this.  God bless you, Grace |
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Post by cnyguy on Oct 8, 2022 19:21:11 GMT -5
So sorry about Freddie's passing. Some of us here on the Forum understand how heartbreaking it is to lose a companion parrot. No doubt you loved Freddie very much and you enjoyed his companionship for many years. I'm sure you have lots of good memories of your years with Freddie and in time those memories will be a great comfort to you. Freddie will always be with you, in your heart and in your thoughts.
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Freddie
Oct 9, 2022 6:34:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by biteybird on Oct 9, 2022 6:34:04 GMT -5
Thank you biteybird for your condolences and encouragement. It really helps to hear other people stories on their birds. I'm so glad you were able to rescue Bonnie. Yes, finding the right avian vet is the hardest battle even where I am in Chicago as there are not many avian vets. And there are some who advertise themselves as avian vets but really do not have much experience treating birds, just so they can get the business. I totally agree that losing an animal can be worse that losing a family member. Animals show us so much love and we don't always get that from people. I'm really very sad and I feel like I do need support and to chat. This is such a bad time. Just can't stop crying. Not sure how I will ever heal from this. God bless you, Grace |
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Freddie
Oct 9, 2022 6:39:22 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by biteybird on Oct 9, 2022 6:39:22 GMT -5
Hi again, Grace.
I don’t think we ever really get over losing a “pet” (family member)…but it may become less raw with time & you may be able to laugh more readily about the funny memories and moments you shared- at least that’s been my experience.
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Post by freddie05 on Oct 9, 2022 9:37:59 GMT -5
Thank you cnyguy for those comforting words. Yes, I know many people who have lost pets and it was incredibly difficult for them. I'm so thankful for all of the great memories that Freddie and I had together. Yes he will always be in my heart for forever.
And thank you biteybird also. I agree I think the pain will become less raw with time and we will be able to laugh at the memories and funny moments we had with our pets. Freddie and I had some awesome times together over 17 and a half years and so many funny moments! I had a budgie that I lost almost 20 years ago and I healed from that and look on those memories with love. I know the same will be true for Freddie.
Thank you again,
Grace
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Post by heatherg on Oct 20, 2022 17:49:20 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear about Freddie’s passing. Quakers are such amazing personable little birds. I miss my Lucy often and I think of her so often, too. People used to think I was talking about my child when I spoke of her.
I wish for both of you that Freddie could have been diagnosed and treated. Seems like you could have enjoyed several more years together. I hope that in the last two weeks your grief has calmed at least a bit. Birds are so important in our world!
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Freddie
Oct 23, 2022 15:43:38 GMT -5
Post by freddie05 on Oct 23, 2022 15:43:38 GMT -5
Thank you Heatherg for your kind sympathies. I'm so sorry you lost Lucy. It is so hard to lose a parrot. I feel like my heart has been ripped right out of me. And it really felt like he was like my child. I don't have any human children and I live by myself so this has been so hard. I talked to the avian vet and we got the necropsy report back and Freddie passed away of a large tumor that was taking up a lot of a lot of space in his abdominal cavity and making it difficult for him to breathe as it was pressing on his lungs. It appears as though the tumor may have likely been there for a few months but Freddie didn't show any signs of illness until it was too late. He hid his illness very well. He was a happy bird his whole life and was never sick up until recently. So I don't know if anything could have been done to save him, other than early detection and surgery and not sure if the surgery would have been successful as this was an internal tumor coming from one of the organs. It would be nice to think that we could have had a few more years together but because of this tumor, I'm not sure if that would have been a possibility. The grieving process is never easy and I agree that birds are very important in our world. They just give us so much love and companionship. Have you gotten another bird since Lucy?
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Freddie
Oct 23, 2022 20:20:55 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by heatherg on Oct 23, 2022 20:20:55 GMT -5
How sad for you and Freddie.
Yes, I have a blue boy Quaker named Willow. He was seven when he came to live with me and has been here for just over two years. He has a very different personality from Lucy but he is a sweet bird who likes to be pet and licks my nose.
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Post by freddie05 on Oct 24, 2022 14:41:52 GMT -5
Thank you. Yes it has been very sad. That's nice that you have Willow. He sounds real sweet. Freddie loved to be stroked, kissed and he absolutely loved to cuddle. He was the most cuddly bird I ever had. I've been raising birds for almost 40 years now and it takes a long time to train a parrot and get them to where they are tame. It also takes a long time for them to learn to trust us humans. But they are so worth the effort.
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