Question about behavior prior to death.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:09 pm

Hello. You people have been such a wealth of information to me in the past. One of my zebras died last night and I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen this type of behavior prior to death.

I suddenly heard a flapping noise in the cage and noticed one bird flapping about at the bottom of the cage. She would stay in the corners and seemed to not be able to walk. She would make it back to the top of the cage and was continually looking up as if seeing something. Then she was back down at the bottom and still looking up. I removed her and placed her in a travel cage so she wouldn't injure herself.
I was stroking her head and noticed a tiny mark, almost like a little dent. I have no idea if this was new or if it was always there.

About an hour later I heard her making a tiny noise as if she was in distress. I held her for a half hour and her heartbeat was getting fainter and fainter and then she quietly died.

The way she kept looking up is baffling me. Could it have been some sort of neurological disorder? Any thoughts are fondly appreciated.

-Arlene

p.s. I forgot to mention that her name was Mouse.
Fly free little Mouse.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:15 pm

Hi Arlene - I'm so sorry to hear you lost a Zebra finch last night. It's never easy but I'm so glad you were there to comfort her at the end.

To me it sounds like she was having a seizure or multiples. If she had a dent in her skull perhaps she flew hard (too hard) into the side or top of the cage...?

Again I'm sorry for your loss.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:17 pm

I to am so sorry for your loss, it is never easy when something unforseen like this happens.

My thoughts are with you.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:26 pm

L in Ontario wrote:Hi Arlene - I'm so sorry to hear you lost a Zebra finch last night. It's never easy but I'm so glad you were there to comfort her at the end.

To me it sounds like she was having a seizure or multiples. If she had a dent in her skull perhaps she flew hard (too hard) into the side or top of the cage...?

Again I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you for your condolences.
I thought the little mark on her head may have happened as a result of her flying too hard.

This has just made me realize that in the past during the night I would hear a commotion in the cage and find one of them flapping about the cage. I can only assume now that it was her. If it was a seizure could she have had them before but not as severe?

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:27 pm

I had a gouldian seem to leave the perch and thrash on the floor. I happen to observe this. He survied but was in a stupor it seemed. He too would look up at me. I think this is natural as when they are down they are helpless prey of other animals. They can't really get away so they just look at the approaching predator (us)
I believed mine had a stoke/heart attack. He was old.
But since yours had a dent in the head I think I would agree with Liz in that it had a head trauma and was seizuring.
So sorry for your loss.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:37 pm

cindy wrote:I to am so sorry for your loss, it is never easy when something unforseen like this happens.

My thoughts are with you.

Thank you Cindy for your kind thoughts.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:39 pm

CandoAviary wrote:I had a gouldian seem to leave the perch and thrash on the floor. I happen to observe this. He survied but was in a stupor it seemed. He too would look up at me. I think this is natural as when they are down they are helpless prey of other animals. They can't really get away so they just look at the approaching predator (us)
I believed mine had a stoke/heart attack. He was old.
But since yours had a dent in the head I think I would agree with Liz in that it had a head trauma and was seizuring.
So sorry for your loss.

Thank you. She was one and a half years old. Mine also was in sort of a stupor. Thank you for your input. It is most appreciated.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:49 pm

So sorry for your loss. I think the hardest thing for me is to see one suffer. I am glad you were with it.

BTW..... I love you name. That was my mom's name who has gone to be with the Lord.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:02 pm

dfcauley wrote:So sorry for your loss. I think the hardest thing for me is to see one suffer. I am glad you were with it.

BTW..... I love you name. That was my mom's name who has gone to be with the Lord.

Thank you for the kind words. I'm thankful that I was able to be with her at the end.
-Arlene

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:12 pm

Sorry for your loss

Do you have a night light on your cage if they have a fright at night they can fly into the cage bars and injure themself it don't have to be bright just so they can get back to the perch

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:13 pm

B CAMP wrote:Sorry for your loss
Do you have a night light on your cage if they have a fright at night they can fly into the cage bars and injure themself it don't have to be bright just so they can get back to the perch

Thank you for your condolences.
Oh yes I have always had a night light on the cage. Those night frights can be awful for sure.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:27 pm

So sorry for your loss.

Fly free little mouse.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:57 pm

lovemyfinch wrote:So sorry for your loss.

Fly free little mouse.

Thank you. It's never easy.

Animal Quackers · Post by **Animal Quackers** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:10 pm

It sounds neurological to me, too. I am so sorry for your loss.

Rest in peace little Mouse!

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:23 pm

Animal Quackers wrote:It sounds neurological to me, too. I am so sorry for your loss.

Rest in peace little Mouse!

Yes that seems to be the consensus.
Thank you for your thoughts.

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