Pictures of Skyla Post-Surgery

[Budgiekin]

Hi everyone! I just thought I would share a couple pictures of my sweetie Skyla a few days following her wing amputation surgery. These pictures were taken just yesterday and today.

Here she is getting her medication:
http://i1.tinypic.com/oisjmq.jpg

This morning just before getting her meds:
http://i1.tinypic.com/oiskck.jpg

[Dave]

She's still a very pretty bird! :D

[Budgiekin]

Hi Dave. Thanks for your kind words. I just love her to pieces!

[Bea]

Why'd she need her wing amputated? Is she adapting well?

[Budgiekin]

Skyla had to have her wing amputated because she had a tumour on the underside of it. Because the tumour was located right over the elbow joint and fairly close to her body, the vet basically gave me two options: one option was to just wait for the tumour to grow and then euthanize Skyla when it got too large, and the other option was to amputate her wing.

I chose the amputation since she really didn't fly that much and she was very healthy otherwise. I couldn't bear to choose euthanization, especially since Skyla's quality of life could still be quite good. The cost of the procedure didn't matter to me.

So far, her recovery is going really well. The wing was amputated only four days ago and Skyla is already exhibiting many of her usual behaviours; pecking at Kiwi's and Aries' feet when they decide to bother her, throwing her pellets out of her pellet cup, chewing on her celery-shaped gourds, coming out of her cage to sit on her playgym, climbing all over the bars of her cage (both inside and out!) and the list goes on. . . . I am really impressed with how well she is doing.

She hasn't quite adjusted to having only the one wing yet. Her balance is a bit off. When I take her out of her cage and let her run on the carpet, sometimes she'll do a hop and try to take off, but she just ends up right back on the ground. She's still a quick little runner!! It's so cute!! We have added some padding to the bottom of her cage in case she takes a tumble and we have had to adjust the perches so that she can climb and jump easily from perch to perch.

I am really happy that she made it through the surgery, because apparently some budgies don't tolerate the anaesthetic and don't make it through the procedure. Skyla's avian vet is outstanding and I completely trusted her to look after my little girl. I will be taking Skyla back to the vet in a few days for a follow-up exam. I know her check-up will go just fine!

[Bea]

I'm glad she got through the surgery. :) She's a very lucky budgie to have an owner who doesn't care more about vet bills than their pets life.

[Mavis]

She's a beautiful little bird and I'm so glad that you decided to have the operation and save her life. Skyla is a lucky bird to have such a caring owner.

Mavis
http://birds.bellaonline.com

[Amy]

I think shes a beautiful budgie and I think you decided right about having the operation and she was lucky to survive.

[Sunny baby]

What a beautiful and lucky little bird to have such a great person to care for her. Sounds like she is making a wonderful recovery, congrats.

[Budgiekin]

Thanks everybody. I really appreciated reading your comments, and reinforcing that it was a good idea to go through with the procedure. It was certainly a difficult time before the surgery because my hubby did not agree that Skyla should have the surgery. He was concerned about the cost of the procedure and how the surgery would affect the quality of her life. Having considering everything, I went for it anyway because I knew she could still be a very happy budgie! As I had already said, the cost didn't matter.

In fact, I just put in a fairly big order from one of my favourite online stores for some budgie toys. One of the toys will be custom made for my little sweetie. It has a plastic heart with a bunch of stuff hanging from the heart. I can't wait to be able to give it to her! I expect to have my order in a couple of weeks!

[Dave]

Thanks everybody. I really appreciated reading your comments, and reinforcing that it was a good idea to go through with the procedure. It was certainly a difficult time before the surgery because my hubby did not agree that Skyla should have the surgery. He was concerned about the cost of the procedure and how the surgery would affect the quality of her life. Having considering everything, I went for it anyway because I knew she could still be a very happy budgie! As I had already said, the cost didn't matter.

In fact, I just put in a fairly big order from one of my favourite online stores for some budgie toys. One of the toys will be custom made for my little sweetie. It has a plastic heart with a bunch of stuff hanging from the heart. I can't wait to be able to give it to her! I expect to have my order in a couple of weeks!
That sounds like a nice gift for her great surgery. :)

[miss_missy]

well. thats men for you. you should see my hubby when it comes to my birds, (what $4.00 for a stupid to for the bird) i love to see them play with the toys..... My mom is a vet well used to be, and i was with her all the time. and i just have to say that i have never known someone to care so much for such a little animal.. my mom was the person who couldn't turn down helpless animals... there was a retarted cat, and the owner wanted it put down....(wasnt to their liking) my mom took her home....:)

She did that will alot of animals... i must say.. you did the perfect thing. im sure skyla didnt want to see you go either.

[Shiney_things]

:happy4: :clap: :happy4: You are SO dedicated to your birds! I admire you for this. If only all animals could have such a loving owner. One of my birds (who i only part own because me and a friend love him so much) was found in a bin bag in her back yard. Im so glad there are good and dedicated owners in the world. You made the right choice. I hope that all goes well for you and your precious x

[Budgiekin]

Thanks so much for your kind words. It really does mean a lot, especially since it was difficult to get my significant other to understand that I wanted to give Skyla a chance. (He actually thought it would be best to euthanize her. . . . ). However, I am so happy to still have her and she is doing just fine!! Thanks again!

[Amy]

Oooh you made the right choice! I admire you for you love for budgies to!
Skyla is soo pretty! Even with 1 wing. Skyla must be so brave to go through an operation like that!

[Mistyoriline]

You are so sweet for sticking by her through this:)

[Budgiekin]

Thanks mistyoriline. I am pleased to say she is doing extremely well now. She has adapted to having only one wing marvelously. In fact, she is doing so well that she has taken the liberty of laying a couple of eggs (they are infertile as I cage all my budgies separately and don't let them mate). This is in spite of the fact of not giving her a nest box and rearranging her cage to "distract" her from exhibiting brooding behaviour. Skyla, I wish you wouldn't lay eggs!!