Tumour or not to be?

[IWANTABUDGIE]

Hi all!

I just have a question, i had a look at a website and it mentioned in health issues with budgies that tumours are really common and happen all the time especially when they get older is this true?? :S

[Bea]

Budgies are extremely prone to tumours, yes. :( I recently lost a budgie to a fast growing tumour on her wing.

[IWANTABUDGIE]

oh thats sad sorry :(
So does it depend what age your budgie can get prone to tumas?
unfortunately 3 years ago my rat died of a fast growing tuma too itwas so sad :(

[issy]

Sorry about your rat :( and your bird, bea. It's so sad when we lose one close to us...

About your tumour question, here's a good link from Lisa Shea - definitely a reliable source, in my opinion (though I don't think she's an avian vet - oh well, she's qualified :))
http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/medical/tumor.html

[Bea]

oh thats sad sorry :(
So does it depend what age your budgie can get prone to tumas?
unfortunately 3 years ago my rat died of a fast growing tuma too itwas so sad :(

Some budgies, due to inbreeding, are more prone to tumours than others. The one i just lost was only young, maybe 3 years old.

[IWANTABUDGIE]

yea i asked my mum about tumours in general she said that most small animals can get tumours and usually it has something to do with blood problems

man i hate cancer so much it took my dad who had bowel cancer, our old birman who was 12 yrs when he died and my rat.
A dreadful disease i hope one day they'll find a good cure for this disease to get rid of it for good

[Budgiekin]

I too had a budgie die of a tumour at a young age...actually 2 budgies. Both Skyla and Kiwi died from tumours. It's just not fair. :(

[keetluver]

wow i didnt know that parakeets could get tumors!:eek: is there any thing that i can do as far as keeping it healthy that will help prevent a tumor specificly?

[Budgiekin]

Unfortunately, tumours are largely genetic, thus aren't always preventable. It depends on the type of tumour and its cause. Really, the only thing we can do is provide our budgies with the best diet we can and offer them plenty of opportunities for exercise. Notice that these are the very things that help us humans too! And of course, we need to make sure we minimize our budgie's stress and keep them happy as much as we can. ;)