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Hello all,

Some people were asking about Sawyer, since I posted so much about him, needing help. I put Sawyer down in the middle of October. He had been on and off of a variety of medications for over a year,that would help him for a brief time and then lose their effectiveness. Sawyer started with a respiratory infection (something small and not complicated) and it just morphed into different diseases as it grew resistant to different antibiotics. Eventually, it grew into MRSA. I was giving him twice daily injections again with little improvement. I hated to see him suffer, so after his last test which basically showed a resistance to all antibiotcs, I took him off everything and let nature take its course. I never had a necropsy done, because the vets didn't think it was necessary wth all of the tests he had had. Plus it was expensive and I had already put so much money into trying to save little Sawyer. It was a very sad day for me and everyone in the vet's office. I think of him all the time. However, I did fall into this crazy situation with a breeder who needed to sell a baby Caique because he was fighting with his brother. So, I came upon a great opportunity. I named him Phineas (Finny) and he has been a delight. He's a LOT more work. I realized I really purchased a 2 year old child ! He's the definition of the "ADD" bird but he's been a ton of fun and already knows some simple tricks and words. Thank you to all who helped me with Sawyer! I now will be posting in the Caique chat quite often I'm sure!

Christine and Finny (and Sawyer ).

Thanks for explaining and, again, my condolences There is no insignificant respiratory disorder for birds. Their extraordinarily efficient respiratory system is dependent on full function. Far more of the bird's head is sinuses than the human skull, making it difficult for medication to reach into all the spaces. I applaud your efforts to save Sawyer, but have some doubt the diagnosis was ever fully correct. It's not only costly to know exactly what's happening inside a sick bird ... it's too often impossible, except via histopathic examination after death. Some vets will do free necropsy of a bird they've tried and failed to save, but the histopathic exam of tissues gets expensive fast. I would never forgo the histopath with other birds to safeguard, but -- as you've explained -- you didn't foresee getting another bird. I wish you and Finny a long, healthy life together

Sorry, I was rambling a bit. I didn't really mean insignifcant, but his levels weren't in full force. I KNOW what gave him the respiratory infection. My condo association came in to my condo and removed part of the ceiling, exposing all the duct work and of course, made it extremely dusty and gross, and full of infectious bacteria (which is why they were fixing the duct work). However, they never informed me about coming into my place or I would have had Sawyer long out of there beforehand, but I couldn't remove him until the next day. It was awful. They only really comped my rent for a month too. Poor little guy just couldn't fight it. I've since demanded an inspection of my apartment with bacteria levels and such, and that was granted, so I knew it was safe to bring another bird in. I also had a hard time saying that they could tear my bird apart even after he died because I went through so much with him that I just wanted to bury him. Thanks so much again! I'll post some pictures of Finny on the Caique chat.

Christine