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Pet Forum / Birds / Parrots / May 2005euthanasia - cockatiel - right or wrong?
Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, as the day went on she slept more and more, and finally became unable to perch. She refused to eat her normal food, and when we would get her out and hand feed her, we're not sure if she was actually eating or going through the motions. A visit to her vet gave her a tube feeding and a referral to the emergency clinic. They tested her urine and found a lot of hemolyzed blood (the vet said the test stick turned green immediately), and gave her another small tube feeding to help rehydrate her, which was brought back up within 10 minutes, even through the nose. The vet had an online consultation with Cornell and the Univ. of Penn. staff and we were given the choice of a) transporting her there (at least a 4 hour drive), taking her home and waiting it out, or ending it then and there. With much discussion, we chose to end the suffering. Her past history (over the last few months) were 2-3 trips to the vet due to noticeable weight loss, where they would find an infection and treat her with Baetril (?). She would perk up and go back to normal. But she was getting increasingly skittish, more prone to frighting and falling from her perch. She would act a little dazed, as if she wasn't sure of her surroundings, and would hold her right foot as if she could not use it. After about 15-20 minutes, she would seem normal and all was well. But our questions were 1. did we do the right thing right then and there? 2. was she in pain or otherwise suffering 3. did we have an alternate treatment or would we have just been prolonging the inevitable? (we were told of dialysis but that was a 3 hour trip each time and probably very expensive. Plus we thought it unfair to keep having to stick her. My wife is devastated about this. That bird saw her through college, her first job, her first apartment, marriage, and a whole lot of other things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she didn't do enough or the right thing. Your post made me cry. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please pass my condolences onto your wife.....I can only imagine what she is going through, and dread the day I lose my little friend, too. I don't think you or your wife should feel guilty for a single second. You absolutely did the best - and most humane - thing for your pet. I will never forget your story and hope that, if I am ever in a similar situation with my tiel, that I will be able to draw upon your experience and do the right thing - that being, EXACTLY what you did - for my birdie. Please tell your wife that I feel that, if your bird were now able to speak, she would THANK her for taking her out of her pain, and allowing her to sleep in peace. You did the right thing. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > But our questions were > 1. did we do the right thing right then and there? Absolutely. > 2. was she in pain or otherwise suffering Yes, renal failure is horrible and according to my vet makes an animal feel simply dreadful. > 3. did we have an alternate treatment or would we have just been > prolonging the inevitable? (we were told of dialysis but that was a 3 > hour trip each time and probably very expensive. Plus we thought it > unfair to keep having to stick her. You had no alternative. She would not have understood what you were putting her through to prolonge her life if indeed it was even possible. > My wife is devastated about this. That bird saw her through college, her > first job, her first apartment, marriage, and a whole lot of other > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. She did exactly the right thing. She did what the bird would have begged for it could speak. She was caring enough to offer her pet the ultimate act of love and give it a pain free, dignified, death instead of forcing it to countless painful processes and a long drawn out unpleasant death. Give her a big hug and tell her she did the right thing. I'm so sorry for your loss. It sure sounds like you did everything you could. I'm sure I would have made the same decision under the same circumstances.  SignatureMavis http://birds.bellaonline.com Cockatiel e-book http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art28600.asp > But our questions were > 1. did we do the right thing right then and there? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. Ask yourself this: If you were to live the experience over, would you logically decide to do the same thing? Would your wife? It sounds from here you are looking for support and permission from each other to feel bad about it. You are the only ones that can sort this out. You knew what you had to do. Not nice, but you showed courage and did it! Forgive yourself and tell your wife to forgive herself. Think of what you and your pet gave each other while it lasted and rejoice in that. Your pet could have been killed amd eaten by a falcon, or died another horrible death in the wild, had you not befriended your pet. Get on with your life now. You have more to give others. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. This made me cry. You did the right thing. She was suffering and she would have thanked you for it. Think of this - she is happy now and very glad you and your wife were her "Mom and Dad". I went through losing my "birdie buddy" over a year ago (he was only 7) and believe me it was VERY painful for me - I cried so many times and to this day I still think about him and want to cry at times. I may sound weird, but I buried him in a box along with some of his favorite toys outside my bedroom window (because that was his favorite spot to look out the window). Anyway, this was my way of dealing with the pain was burying him outside my bedroom window. I had also put up a bird feeder next to his grave because he also loved watching the other birds. Each day will get a little better than the one before - take care. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. <snip> I can't answer the questions you asked, and I really don't think anyone besides you and your wife will ever be able to answer them meaningfully. Only you knew the exact circumstances, only you could honestly weigh the options, only you knew what's best for you. But I will say this. Anyone putting as much thought and emotion into this tragic affair is a danged good pet owner. Do another 'tiel the very great favor of having you for an owner (or pet, depending on your viewpoint) as soon as the scars have healed and you are ready to move on. Seriously. A bird deserves a life with you and your wife. Make us proud. :) Peace, and my best wishes for a quick lessening of your grief. ./k Renal failure is ugly and painful, your tiel was most surely in alot of discomfort and pain that you cannot see by eye, be assured you did the right thing, your memories will always be in your heart to help you heal, peace to you and your wife. TRC > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. My family is blessed to have a cockatiel that will be 20 years old this year (he was born late 1985). He is still chipper and active, although he has slowed down a lot in the last three years. Having had him for such a long time, I know that I would be devastated if something like what happened to your 'tiel happened to him. But from the information you have provided, you did the right thing. They can't speak, so they can't tell us of the pain and confusion that they are in. It is up to us to make that judgment call, and I believe that you made the right call. I also had a rat, named Keiichi, which I had to put down this January after only 18 months of life. He was my favorite, but he was getting on in years (most pet rats live only between 12 and 24 months) and it was a decision between a very risky, expensive and experimental surgery to remove a brain tumor, which had no guarantee of success, or euthanasia. I didn't want him in any more pain, so I did my duty and held him as the vet gently euthanized him. It was one of the most painful things I have had to do in my adult life, but I had a duty of care to Keiichi, and when the difficult decision looked me in the eye, I did not shirk my duty. As the gas took him, he seemed to be happy, as he started to lick my hand (which he only did when he was happy), and didn't stop until he passed out. I think that this was his way of thanking me at the end. Stay strong. You did the right thing. ...Geshel Signature********************************************************************** My reply-to is an automatically monitored spam honeypot. Do not use it unless you want to be blacklisted by SpamCop. Please reply to my first name at my last name dot org. ********************************************************************** Just wanted to say how sad I feel for you both. Im sure what you did was right for your pet. My thoughts are with you both. Fiona > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. Sorry to hear of your loss. The sickness could of been caused from a number of things. Could of been "Giardia", which is difficult to diagnose. This disease can be spread through contaminated food or water, and birds are not immune to it once they've had it. Signs of a Giardia infection include loose droppings, weight loss, feather picking, loss of appetite and depression. In some birds the infection can lead to other problems, such as cockatiel paralysis syndrome, which is seen most often in Lutino birds. Signs include slow eye blink, weak jaw muscles, poor digestion, clumsiness and a weak grip, spraddle leg, weak hatchlings and an increase in the number of dead-in-shell chicks. Antiprotozoal therapy and supplemental vitamin E/selenium have successfully treated the condition. As you said the long trip to and from the vet's office was tiring for both you and your bird. In this case the meds were not successful in giving the final cure. Hard to let a beloved pet go. Never an easy solution when there are health problems with a bird. You were right not to let the bird continue to suffer. > Sunday night we had our 9 year old cockatiel euthanized because of a > diagnosis of chronic renal failure. She began the day fairly normal, but, [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > things. But she is feeling guilty, for lack of better words, that she > didn't do enough or the right thing. |
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