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 that you lost your little friend.  You are in the company of many people who share your sorrow.

[nanaaprilap]

thank u to let me know that there are lot of u there. i loss my cockatiel last sunday night. all too suddent that he stop heart bite.  its hard for others to understand - just a bird?!   ppl feel wried to me. but u all know what i felt.

. lot of cried and regret.  12 yrs he is intelligence - never fly away from my windows. singing alot. start to spriek each day when i leave for work. fly to the high place to avoid from caging.  too many memories. they are far more intelligence than i expect.

[Katsquest66]

Me too mine is now 34 and not doing so well, he's not going to make it much longer

[Byebyebaby]

I'm so, so sorry that you lost your precious Prince.  I KNOW what it's like to lose a cockatiel who was such a huge part of your life and your family.  If my sympathy could help you feel better, your grief would be over.  Yet I know you'll miss him for a long, long time.  A part of your heart flew away when he left.

[prince26]

My 26 year old cockatiel, Prince, died last night at 8:30.  It seemed a if he was waiting for me to get home to say goodbye.  He was a delightful pet and brought many years of joy to my family.  We are very saddened and the house feels so lonesome.  I noticed in the past few months changes in his behavior, crouching in the corner with his face against the cage, difficulty walking and falling off of his perch and puffiness as if he was extremely cold.  He also stopped saying "I love you". You never think that a pet touches your life in such a dramatic fashion until they are gone.  We miss you Prince!

[Byebyebaby]

I, too, am so sorry for your loss.  As I previously posted, I lost my 34 year old cockatiel on Feb. 20th.  The grief is horrible.  I live in a condo and had no yard to bury him in.  It was tearing me up what to do with his precious little body.  I didn't want him cremated or stuffed, either.  I got an idea from a vet, in New York City who says people (there) who live in apartments have this same predicament, too.  So, at his suggestion, this is what I did.  I bought a large potting urn from Home Depot along with 40 pounds of potting soil.  I wrapped my bird in his favorite towel, along with his favorite toy and a photo of us.  I placed everything in an air-tight bag and buried him in the planter.  I decorated the top of the soil with more toys and his picture.  So now I'll have him with me always.  If I should ever move, he'll go with me.  I hope some don't think this too morbid...but rather a solution for those at a loss what to do.

[tielbob]

So sorry for your loss of Mellow. Don't punish yourself over this.  26 or 27 is a very old age for a cockatiel.  It's very likely that he was just at the end of his natural life. The vet visit alone could have stressed him to death, had you tried it.  You must have taken excellent care of him for him to live so long - you were a great caretaker for your little boy. My heart goes out to you for Mellow  :(.