Abdominal tumor in zebra finch

[ONUnicorn]

I'm wondering if anyone here has had any experiences with abdominal tumors in their zebra finches. Specifically, has anyone had their vet operate to remove one, and if so, was the operation successful, how hard was it on the bird, and would you do it again?

By way of background, I have had my finches, Phineas and Ponty, for 3 years today. I got them from a rescue, so I'm not sure exactly how old they are. Late last week my husband noticed Ponty wasn't quite himself. Friday I witnessed him fall off his perch. All weekend he seemed ill, but was eating and drinking. Monday I took him to an avian vet.

The vet said he was very thin, almost emaciated, but with a hard mass in his abdomen. Because he's male, she thinks it's a tumor. She says she could do an x-ray with contrast to see where it is and what organs are affected, but as sick as he is that could kill him. She says there is no guarantee the tumor would be operable, and as tiny as he is, it would be hard for her to operate on him. She really did not seem optimistic about it at all.

She also mentioned putting him down. While I don't want him to suffer unnecessarily, I also don't want to deprive Phineas of his company any sooner than necessary. I especially don't want to take Ponty away and leave Phineas forever wondering where his friend went. In that respect it seems best to let Ponty die a natural death. Phineas has been so clearly worried about Ponty and trying to take care of him too. When the vet was examining Ponty Phineas kept calling to him. I'm inclined to say that as long as Ponty is still eating and drinking, I should let him be, for Phineas' sake if nothing else.

I just don't know. Should I take the risk and have the vet attempt x-rays and possibly surgery? Or is that needless expense, needless risk, causing him needles suffering? If not surgery, should I put him down, or let nature take its course?

[Sally]

ONUnicorn

To be honest, I've never heard of an operation on a finch. I can't imagine putting him through that. As long as he is eating and drinking, I'd let nature take its course. Finches don't live a long time anyway, and since Ponty was a rescue, he could very well be getting old. This is the down side of owning finches, but it is the down side of owning any kind of pet.

[cindy]

Do you have a picture of the tumor or area?

[ONUnicorn]

Sally, that's pretty much what I have been thinking.

Cindy, the tumor isn't really visible from the outside; the vet felt the mass when she felt his abdomen. From the outside he looks pretty normal, just all fluffed up and lethargic, and rather dirty around his vent.

[Stuart whiting]

ONUnicorn oh I'm so sorry to here about your finch, very awkward at times in wandering what to do ,

I'd also agree with Sally on this one as the operation would simply be to much for a bird of that size, that is why yer vet wasn't really hopefull about the situation, it is also another reason why DNA sexing isn't normally done on birds any smaller than say a budgie because very small birds quite often wouldn't always pull through the ordeal

I hope yer little finch doesn't suffer to much and as you say if he's quite bad perhaps just let him go when he's ready

[lem2bert]

ONUnicorn,

So sorry to hear about you little zebra finchs' health. It is always so heartbreaking when a pet is sick.

[lovezebs]

ONUnicorn

Sorry to hear about your little fella.

As was already mentioned, most finches don't live nearly long enough. I would not personally put him through the stress of x-rays, etc. In reality, it would accomplish nothing, other than probably shortening his life.

Personally I, I would offer his favorite foods, a warm lamp near his favorite perch, and the comforting company of his life long companion.

Good luck.

[Stuart whiting]

lovezebs totally agree, well said

[lovezebs]

Stuart whiting

[Zebrafincher]

Hi there,

One of my previous star finches had a mass on his preen gland, which I had treated several times, and ended up having a large tumor removed. He only lived for a month. You have to think of the stress it puts the little guys through. I'd recommend pain relief, and attentive care from you and his mate. Let him die happy. An operation is too much. And you have to think: Who are you doing it for? Will the bird have quality of life?

My little Bird, I loved so much. But in retrospect, if I had the same choice again, I would not have had the operation done. I hope you the best for your bird, regaredless the choice. It is the last, worst, and kindest thing we must do as owners.

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher

[cindy]

Just curious if the vet mentioned where in the abdomen the tumor or lump is?

If in the gizzard...do you feed crushed eggshell or grit?

[Stuart whiting]

cindy

Mmm....yea to be onest cindy that is what I was thinking,

If the bird has possibly eaten any mineralised grit then this could become stuck / trapped in the birds gizzard and technically the bird will starve because nothing can pass through

[cindy]

egg shell will eventually dissolve but maybe not fast enough to save the bird...Grit does not dissolve very fast and once a blockage is in place it is hard to unblock it without intervention.

Grind you egg shell and grind your grit.... finches do not necessarily need grit..they hull their seed.

Crushed egg shell is sharp and can cut, lodge in the GI tract.... open the bird up to infection and internal bleeding.

[Stuart whiting]

cindy absolutely agree, well said

[cindy]

I and a others have lost birds to crushed egg shell getting lodged in the GI tract. My daughter works with our avian vet she came over and took the body to have an x-ray done, you could see the shell lodged in the GI tract.... it caused internal bleeding and a painful death.

A few people we have helped have had birds die from crop impaction of both charcoal and grit... the crop was packed and the birds literally starved to death.