RIP Spike

[LilyLynn]

My family lost one of our tiels Last night. Originally I had posted questions about pink eye.. Two of the Three had it. Well spike seemed to get better and his second check up, his pink eye was gone. Then last weekend, his health took a dip, and Monday I rushed him to the vet where they "hospitalized" him.. I called twice a day for the next few days and tried to get ahold of the vet, couldn't get passed the receptionist. Finally later in the week was told he had sever pneumonia. I was able to take him home thursday even though his health was not much better.. Should I have left him in their care? Maybe. But I figured he would be happier and more calm at home and I would be able to give him 24 hour care. I set up a mock incubator and he seemed to be doing a little better, poor little guy was only giving a 50% chance of survival. Wed get him to eat millet and drink a little water here and there. However, when it came to giving him his medicine, he'd use all his energy to fight with me and when I'd put him back in his "incubator" he'd tumble around and would get week. Every time I medicated him I would call the vet and explain what was happening- but they told me this was normal and the meds were meant to slow him down. But I kept insisting the medicine would barely touch his mouth before he'd act like this- felt like I was putting him in a coma each time. Saturday morning rolled around and he looked ok- but then throughout the day I couldn't get him to eat millet or any of his favorite foods.. Called the vet in a panic and all he said was to leave him be and Let him go Sunday without meds to see how it went. But he didn't make it that long. He passed away at 9:55. I am so upset, my whole family is. He had SUCH a personality. He didn't care for me much but I liked him anyways lol. He was originally my dads and older brothers bird. When my dad passed away 9 years ago- he came to live with my mom and the rest of us. I feel like I have let everyone down and went against my better judgement and should have not medicated him knowing how he'd react. And I should have taken him to a different vet or should have taken him to an emergency hospital Saturday even though i didn't think he'd make the car ride. I am such at a loss for words and wish I had the confidence to say and mean that I did everything I could :(

RIP SPIKE/SPIKEY/SPIDEY MAY 97 - NOVEMBER 20, 2010

[tielmom]

I am very sorry for your loss lilylynn...hope the pain eases, you did what you could, sounds like the vet was not very helpful or caring...at least you took him to the vet and tried to ease his discomfort.

[Sar]

So sorry to hear this Lilylynn.
In my opinion you did the right thing in keeping him at home and not forcing the meds on him. Poor Spike was so ill, I'm sure being in familiar surroundings, with the people he knew and loved, was much better than being at the vets.
I agree that your vet could have been more helpful though - but this probably did not change the outcome. It was Spike's time to cross the rainbow bridge, and you did everything you could for him, including taking the advice of a vet.
Take care of yourself xxxxx

[Annie]

Dear Lilylynn,

so sorry for your loss. :( I agree with the others. Don't become obsessed with what you should've and could've done. You may wish you had done/not done this and that now, but how do you know if the situation would not have become worse if you had/had not done those things? You would never know for sure unless you have supernatural powers like that Nicolas Cage movie (the one where he's able to explore all the outcomes of his actions before he does anything---don't we wish we could do the same?:)). It's obvious that you had done your best to save Spikey under the circumstances at the time so just let your mind be at peace knowing you had done your best. As the others said, it was probably Spikey's time to go and the outcome would probably still be the same even if you had taken him to 10 more vets and switched his meds 10 times. Personally I think you did the right thing by taking him home from the vet so that his last days could be spent at home instead of at the vet. :yes: That was what I would have done with my Sunny. I would never forgive myself if I ever leave Sunny to die alone and frightened in some vet's lab away from his family. I am somewhat of a spiritual person, and I believe that the souls of the deceased could only be at peace if their living loved ones are at peace and not tormented by guilt and other "should'ves and could'ves". So just let it go and be at peace, and I'm sure Spikey will be flying high in all his days to come. Take care. :flowers:

[yvel]

I am so sorry for your loss! Having lost one recently myself, i can only say don't beat yourself up! Spikey is in peace now. All the could've, should've and would've -s don't matter. The important part is that you were there for him and that he was at home where he belonged. I know it hurts so bad. My family is still going through the same thing. Be grateful for the time you had with him and remember all the fun you had.

take care.

[lperry82]

Im very sorry for your loss :(
Dont feel so bad you did the right thing

[LilyLynn]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. It really means a lot