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Hello all. I just found this site and registered. This is to introduce myself and my cockatiel, Baby. I will appreciate any advice you may have based on your own experiences with a geriatric bird.
Baby is just over 21 1/2 years old. He is great company and so much fun. He has been pretty healthy his whole life, but is showing his age. He still likes to cuddle and have his head scratched. He plays and sings. He is slow to start in the mornings (as am I) and sleeps a lot. He has pain from arthritis in his feet from age and has developed some foot deformity from a broken toe that happened many years ago. He started to have difficulty balancing on a perch. I have transitioned him to a lower, flatter cage and flat perches. He still climbs a little to reach his perches.
We just visited the vet and had blood work done. (scary process) The full results of the blood tests are still pending. His preliminary diagnosis included Arthritis, Polycythemia (red blood cell count too high), and Hypertension (his heart working too hard). The explanation sounded to me similar to a human with congestive heart failure and arteriosclosis. In addition to the vet's injection for pain and treatment he's now on oral meds for pain and to increase his vascular flexibility.
I'm concerned for Baby's health and more so for his quality of life. He means the world to me. He's still a happy guy, but the vet visit took a lot out of him. Except for him slowing down and some physical limitations, he has seemed okay. I don't want the cure to be worse than the disease. I'm wondering if any of these symptoms sound familiar to other bird owners. If so, I welcome any comments regarding your experience and care for an aging cockatiel.
I apologize for the length of this post. I appreciate your patience and any information or advice you can share.
Thank you,
Ray
Baby is just over 21 1/2 years old. He is great company and so much fun. He has been pretty healthy his whole life, but is showing his age. He still likes to cuddle and have his head scratched. He plays and sings. He is slow to start in the mornings (as am I) and sleeps a lot. He has pain from arthritis in his feet from age and has developed some foot deformity from a broken toe that happened many years ago. He started to have difficulty balancing on a perch. I have transitioned him to a lower, flatter cage and flat perches. He still climbs a little to reach his perches.
We just visited the vet and had blood work done. (scary process) The full results of the blood tests are still pending. His preliminary diagnosis included Arthritis, Polycythemia (red blood cell count too high), and Hypertension (his heart working too hard). The explanation sounded to me similar to a human with congestive heart failure and arteriosclosis. In addition to the vet's injection for pain and treatment he's now on oral meds for pain and to increase his vascular flexibility.
I'm concerned for Baby's health and more so for his quality of life. He means the world to me. He's still a happy guy, but the vet visit took a lot out of him. Except for him slowing down and some physical limitations, he has seemed okay. I don't want the cure to be worse than the disease. I'm wondering if any of these symptoms sound familiar to other bird owners. If so, I welcome any comments regarding your experience and care for an aging cockatiel.
I apologize for the length of this post. I appreciate your patience and any information or advice you can share.
Thank you,
Ray