Lost my loved one ...GCC :(

[KoaBird]

Hello All,

Wish I had known about this forum sooner, I hope someone here can give me some information as I am still trying to recover from my sudden loss of my beloved Green Cheek Conure. Koa was a happy playful bird and was completely bonded to me and only me. Yesterday morning I woke up and let him out of his cage only to immediately notice that he was not himself, very lethargic, he somewhat wobbled on his perches and showed interest in food and water as the day progressed he grew weaker by mid day I was on my way to the Vet which could not pin point the problem. He had slight issue with diarrhea and seemed to be sleeping alot. He got a few shots and some meds but vet told me to keep a close eye on him as they can decline rapidly. As the evening came he became much weaker, I tried feeding him and tried to have him drink water from my faucet which he welcomed but was to weak to stand, by 9pm it seemed as if he had breathing problems by 10 pm I could not recognize my bird, he could not even latch on to my finger like he always does ....he began what seemed to be mouth breathing had a snot bubble pop twice out of his nostril which was something I had never seen prior to his death....he took a few more breaths and with that I sobbed and said goodbye to one of my best friends. I am at a loss as to what it was that happened to him, I do not use teflon cookware and had no changes to his food and or water, can anyone recognize these symptoms? He was barely a year old.

Thank you all!

 

[Lesa1211]

OMG. Im not a vet and Ive never heard of somthing like this happening so I cant help you there, but Im so sorry for your loss.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

I am so, so , so sorry for your loss. I had a very difficult time reading your story. I wish I could help you by understanding what happened but I cannot. I hope your pain eases soon but I hope you never forget your Koa!

 

[KatherineI]

I am so so sorry I'm not a vet or particularly an Avian Vet, so I can't even begin to guess as to the probable cause. Does anyone know if they do necropsies on birds, particular small birds like GCC's? Perhaps having one of those done could give you answers and hopefully closure, but it will not be able to take away the pain.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.

 

[daddylongnails]

I would have a necropsy done on your bird to find out what caused his death.
I once lost a parrot suddenly with similar symptoms and it tore my heart out. The necropsy showed that she died of Teflon gas poisoning.

 

[evesta]

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[MikeyTN]

Im very sorry for your loss....it's a horrible thing to witness....

 

[KoaBird]

Thank you very much all, I appreciate the sincerity. The vets wanted hundreds of dollars to do a necropsy but I could not bring myself to have him butchered. I laid him to rest at midnight last night under my newly planted japanese maple tree with a sheppards hook and lantern and a small stone :'(
I can only take some solace in knowing he took his last breath of life in my hands, I was the last thing he saw. I just thank god I was home for his passing if it would have happened while I was at work I don't think I could have ever forgiven myself.

I will never know what caused his death and hope through research of the forums and avian websites that I may deduce the culprits.

RIP

 

[aliray]

my deepest sympathies on the loss of your baby . Alison and sweetie pie

 

[AgapeLoveAi]

So sorry for your loss. Something similar happened to my Quaker. My avian vet was out of town at the time and would not be returning in time to do a necropsy. He does them for free or low cost as research for the students he always has at his practice from the local college of veterinary medicine. I still do not know what happened to her. I can't help you with this specific issue, but hope you find the answer in your research.

 

[Customcasket]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I haven't lost any of by birds yet, but I lost my German Shepherd 3 1/2 years ago. The last look she gave me before the vet put her under still lingers in my mind. She, too, is buried with a special tree over her and has a headstone marking her grave. It's one of those goofy stone Halloween ones, but Halloween was always a special time for us so I felt like it was fitting.

I feel your pain with being there watching your best furry/feathered friend take their last breath of life. At least he had somebody he knew and trusted there with him as his life left him. The worst would be to die alone without anybody who loved you near.

Please, let us know if you find anything in your research and know that when the time comes for you to open your heart up to another feathered friend we're all here for you.

 

[KoaBird]

thank you..CustomCasket. I have 2 toy chihuahuas and a newly born puppy in my house. Losing my feathered friend is the hardest thing I have had to deal with, I have lost family members but this is different this was something that utterly lived to please me. It's so very hard to march upstairs as I cut out the lights and not see him peering up at me right before we got to sleep I know I will happily welcome another GCC soon into my family, the quietness is utterly heartbreaking. I am sure everyone on the forum knows what I am talking about. I hope I find some answers.

 

[BillsBirds]

So sorry for your loss. I have lost many birds, and it NEVER gets easier. Only another bird lover can understand the impact these angels make on our lives. I, too, have never had a necropsy done, and buried my babies in my gardens. Most of my special angels have died in my hands, and I always felt priviledged to share that moment with them.

 

[Customcasket]

This post made me so sad. I have a small "shrine" in my room for my Jasmine (the dog I lost) and while I was getting my birds ready for bed (and holding them closer to me realizing how much i take their health for granted. Anything could change in a heartbeat.) all I could was think about her and how much joy she brought into my life. I still feel like a part of me is missing without this giant, goofy, white dog doing what she could to please me. I spent 15 years growing up with her. I've lost very close family members and didn't feel this sad over them. I guess sharing their last living moments makes them that much more special.

I go to sleep tonight with tears in my eyes for my dearest jasmine, for Koa, and for all the other pets no longer with us, but made life that much more beautiful and worthwhile.

I know I'm cheesy. I'm that person who won't shed a tear when a human dies in a movie...bust out the tissues if something happens to an animal.

 

[Spiritbird]

How devastating to you. Sending emotional healing to you. I like the place you put him to rest. Now you have a memorial.

Could have been a cardiac issue, a stroke or a metabolic problem such as low blood sugar, low calcium or heavy metal poison.

 

[artemis]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I remember how devastated I felt when I lost my maroon bellied conure (under very similar circumstances). Try to remember that, while short, your bird's life was a happy one. In the end, it's not when and how we die that's important, but how we live. And your GCC lived well!

 

[KoaBird]

Thank you to all, your understanding and sympathy has helped me realize as a bird lover I am not alone. That these little creatures do touch us in ways nothing else can. Above is a picture of the final resting place for my little loved one.

I know its hard to read but the inscription reads "Love Knows No Boundries" .....I only found it to be fitting.