Posted by Cathy and the girls on 11/10/2009, 10:19 am, in reply to "((((((fly free Lulu fly free))"

bottom of my heart--this has been especially wretched for me, a lot of crying. Lulu was a chronic egg layer. I wish to heck I had left immediately and not waited for the appointment on Friday morning. We might have been able to stabilize her. But I think her time would have been limited. I almost lost her in July. I didn't want a necropsy but I'm sure they would have found a uterine tumor or something going on. She started having problems around the end of last year getting the eggs down. She would strain and when I would bring her in to get checked there would be no egg in the lower belly, no eggbinding so that left the uterus or possibly oviduct. She developed a pattern where the first egg in a clutch was soft and then the 2 or 3 that followed would be perfect. Then she moved on to being able to only lay one egg with a great deal of trouble and it would be soft. She was in trouble in July and I brought her in July 3 and Dr. Reitz gave her fluids, a calcium shot, and repro enema. Lulu passed the egg Saturday July 4. It was a good egg, just a little chalky. But that's the last egg she has laid since then. She's been fine. She did have an seizurelike episode/weak left side in September and when I brought her in Dr. Reitz said it looked like blunt trauma so it was possible she panic flew and I didn't notice and Lulu hit something. Dr. Reitz did a full blood panel and it was fine except for the bile acid. It was high. Dr. R. had me bring Lulu back in 3 weeks for a recheck and that test was normal. She was fine Friday morning, stretching, got in a scritch session with me, ate, etc. etc. The next thing she flew to my shoulder and started to topple. Her wing was droopy and she started labored breathing. I immediately called Dr. Reitz but she and the owner, Dr. Morris were both out of town. No bird vet there. I finally got an appointment at a midlevel vet, the one that took Lulu's leg band off for me when no other vet except one (and he was going to put her under!) would do it when I first adopted her from the SPCA. I left Lulu in her carrier, in the cardboard box I use to transport both girls instead of taking her out so she could see what was going on. I didn't want to stress her and I wanted to keep her warm. I wish now that I had taken her out and held her. She started thrashing in the carrier and when I grabbed it to check her, she had passed. I just pray that she didn't suffer much. Anyway, that's the sad story. I'm picking up her ashes today and bringing her home. Cathy and the "girl"

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Posted by Jan in MD, perch host on 11/11/2009, 8:03 am, in reply to "Oh Cathy"

I am so sorry. Sadly, egg laying takes a toll on their little bodies but it is a part of their life cycle. Be assured that you did your best for her and she loved you.

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Posted by Cathy and the girls on 11/11/2009, 12:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Lulu's over the rainbow bridge ..."

Your words have given me such comfort. I picked up Lulu's ashes yesterday and she's home now with me and Shiloh. I like to think that Lulu has found a beautiful tree on the other side with a huge hollow so she can lay all the eggs she wants, with a mate, and eggies that will finally hatch. Somewhere inside I can't help but feel that all Lulu wanted was to lay and if she couldn't she didn't want to stay. But I'm grateful she was fine until the end and not lingering in misery, that we had more time with each other once she stopped laying and incubating the eggs. And I know she knew how much I loved her. She was special and unique and had a very strong personality and spirit. Shiloh is adjusting. She still looks around for Lulu. I had asked them to let me say goodbye to Lulu that morning and I showed her to Shiloh so that she would know. I want Shiloh to have a companion but I don't know what direction to go yet. As it is, aieee, Shiloh is a year and a half and I'm praying that I NEVER see an egg out of her. Or if she has to, just the normal twice a year clutch. Someone over on another forum had posted that their vet said that dried raspberry leaves seemed to inhibit hormones and egg-laying. I printed out the post but it's at home so I forget what else the person said. I think she said she was going to investigate it more with her vet. I'd be interested to find out more. Has anyone heard anything about this? Cathy and Shiloh

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Posted by Cathy and the girls on 11/13/2009, 12:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Lulu's over the rainbow bridge ..."

big hugs. It's getting a little better. Cathy and Shiloh

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