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.  :-(

[Tedie]

I am so sorry for your loss.  I know exactly how you feel. My cockatiel named Buster died unexpectantly on 1/10/11, after having him for 23 years and 1 month. Buster had been around for so long that his death was a complete shock to me. I never really gave much thought about him dying because he has weathered a lot. My home feels so different without him, and I can't seem to stop crying. It really bothers me that I noticed that he was acting a little different like sneezing a little more than usual, and I didn't think too much about it, except for making sure that he was warm. I also saw him with his head down, and tucked to the side, but he has done this before, but this time it seemed that his head was more to the side than usual. It is really bothering me, that maybe I could have done something to prevent him from dying, like taking him to the vet. His death has affected me as if it was a person that died. I really miss him, and I truly understand how you feel.

[mauramuhl]

Hi, I just list my tile and I am suffering from so much pain and guilt, in the same way you mentioned.  Why didn’t I notice and when I did, why didn’t I recognize  how sick he was?  Looking back it was so obvious.  My tiel, Stephen, looked up at me and I kissed him all over his little head, and was holding him in both hands.  Then I placed him on a soft fleece blanket in his cage as we were leaving to take him to the vet...just minutes before he died.  I feel It was all my fault and that he would still be here with me if I had just taken him to the vet the day before when I saw he was not himself.  I made the wrong choices - I didn’t realize he was so fragile at this point because he always seemed so strong and healthy.  When he passed I went into complete shock.  I didn’t think he was any where near dying.  I am in utter grief.  And I miss him SO much.  

[RusticNightmare]

awww im so sorry for your loss. i currently have a cockatiel who is about 26 now how she is still alive i do not no. Sarky has a problem with her back as if its been broken in the past (ive only had her for 5-6 years) and about 2 times a day falls of her pearch as if she forgets to stand straight to the bottom with a thud we i have put towels underneath her for when this happens to take the weight of the landing. she plucks her feathers under her wings and has warn away some through roosing. Her beak over grows a lot so every 6 weeks or so we have to trim it for her. she still has a lot of character bullys my other 2 younger tiels and eats for a past time. she is thin although all she does is eat,sleep and squawk and doesnt even attempt to fly any more. and as yours was she is usually seen in the corner puffed up as if she was cold. i think if i take her to the vets the journey itself will be stressful. i worry every time i uncover them in the morning any one know what i can do to help her? shes not in any pain and still bright eyed and responsive

[ireneo]

As birds get older, they experience some of the same changes we do: they're not as strong, they have balance problems, they tend to lose muscle mass. You've made some adjustments for her like padding the bottom of the cage in case she falls. You may want to move her perch a little lower. It's probably getting more difficult for her to reach the perch.

She may get chilled more easily than before so keep her area warm. Watch her diet, provide food she enjoys and will eat.

We have an old Red Tailed Hawk at work (she's 20) and when she was younger, she lived outside in a large cage. But because of her age and arthritis, she now lives inside the building. She has a large platform to walk around on and low perches. All winter we keep a heat lamp on in her area so she can stay warm (it's in one corner so she can also move away from it if she wants). But she still has sass and spunk.

We do what we can for our feathered friends.

[RusticNightmare]

yeh she eats like a horse which is good and will eat anything we give her, their favourite little treat is a nibble of cheese they go crazy for it haha not to often though so much salt in to. we have tried moving her perch down but she always climbs to the top anyway as she likes to be high up, she has no problems with climbing untill her beak gets to big then she gets stuck. still bullys the other 2 bless her, yeh we do what we can for them.

[stine716]

It's comforting to read these comments tonight. I'm 21 & my 21 year old Cockatiel Charlie is dying :( my dad noticed that Charlie was huddled in the corner of his cage all fluffed up. When I went outside to look at him you could tell right away that my little old guy is very sick and weak. He hardly reacts like he used to, but he was trying to sing as he stayed sat in that same corner. Occasionally he walks around the bottom of the cage and he still struggles his way onto his perch to eat some food. I don't want him to be in pain anymore but it is going to be really sad not hearing him and seeing him every day anymore like I have been used to my whole life.

[ireneo]

I'm so sorry to hear little Charlie is slowing down and nearing the end. He's given you many wonderful times and memories. Spend time with him if you can. He knows you well and will feel safe with you. That's all the comfort he needs right now.