FINCHforum

Hello
A little traumatic today....
One of my female z-finches was sitting at the bottom of the cage all puffed up since yesterday. This afternoon I noticed that outside of her vent was a what looked like a large, round, blood clot (a little smaller than the size of an egg) and some fresh blood on her leg.

It actually appeared as though her "insides" were pushed out of her and now on the outside and she was clearly suffering badly. I instantly jumped to action recalling somewhere where I read about a method involving helium to end her suffering. I made a quick trip to the store, purchased a helium filled balloon and of course we know the rest of the story...

I never thought I'd have to do it, and as unpleasant as it was, I must say I am thankful she's not suffering anymore. I could barely keep myself together while administering it, but the alternative was unthinkable.

Anita, I know how tramatic that can be. I have been through it several times. But I applaud you for having the courage to do this and not making the bird continue to suffer.

If you know there is no way of a bird getting better I think this is a humane way of putting it down.

So sorry for your loss.

Sounds like she had a prolapsed cloaca. I'm very sorry for your loss.

L in Ontario wrote:Sounds like she had a prolapsed cloaca. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Liz, do you know what causes this?

Could be various reasons and I surely cannot pick one. Some of the possibilities are: usually egg binding and lack of calcium, disease, or some other cause.

I've heard it can be replaced which could require a veterinary to suture it back in place.

Here's a bit more reading on it: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:UNW ... en&ct=clnk

I'm sure there's lot of websites with information about this. It could also have been other kinds of prolapse.

Very sorry for your loss,but you know that you did exactly what had to be done at this time.We all have to be prepared to do this when our birds are suffering with no hope

Sorry to hear about your little bird. The same thing happens with reptiles and it's caused by all the same things as with birds. Usually if you can't protect the exposed tissue with KY, etc., in time, the tissue becomes necrotic and needs to be amputated. I don't think the outcome is usually a good one regardless. I lost a male gecko this way once. It was a horrible scene when I came home and saw him. It was caused by poor diet, dehydration, and stress, all due to harassment by another male.

Not to dwell on too much on the painful aspect of your loss but how is helium used to euthanize a bird?

mike
Here is a link about it http://www.finchniche.com/f-culling.mgi

B CAMP wrote:mike
Here is a link about it http://www.finchniche.com/f-culling.mgi

That is very interesting. I would have thought CO2 would be the preferred gas.

But I would think the helium is much easier to come by.

I haven't had to use it yet but the dollar stores around here sell the helium ballons if its needed

On the logistical side of the matter....

I didn't have access to a helium tank the way that the article showed, so I improvised. I took a clear plastic container, cut a small hole in the top big enough for a straw, put the straw in, sealed around the opening with tape. I cut a few small vent holes in the bottom to allow oxygen to escape. I cut the knot off the helium balloon, placed the balloon over top of the straw and allowed the balloon to deflate through the straw and into the container with the finch.

True to what the article said, it was very quick (about 15-30 seconds)

Sorry for your loss and having to be the one to end the life of your pet. It is hard to do even though you know it is the right thing to do. I applaud your courage.

So sorry for your loss, but sometimes it is better to stop the suffering of our pets. I have a helium tank, since I have quite a few birds, but the balloon sounds like a way to do this.

Sally wrote:So sorry for your loss, but sometimes it is better to stop the suffering of our pets. I have a helium tank, since I have quite a few birds, but the balloon sounds like a way to do this.

I also have a tank I keep just in case. I got it at Wal-Mart in the party center.