upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

I'm so sorry you lost your Kool-Aid!!! Yes birds can get cancer and other diseases.

I'm very sad for you and for your baby, who had such a short life. But think how blessed she was to be so loved each of those days. I lost a much-loved tiel to a cancerous tumor years ago.

My most sincere condolences, Paca

8 months or 8 years or 80 years it still hurts

Yes, birds can and do get cancer and tumors. And as with humans, we sometimes do not know until it is too late. Sometimes a bird is lucky and it is found "by accident" in time, or sometimes they can survive the surgery and medications to eradicate it, then you always know to look for signs of its return, and it seems it always does

My heart goes out to you. Losing a fid is hard stuff!!!! Do you plan on getting another to help take the sadness a way and give you a new focus?

I will eventually and it will definitely be a large macaw. Leaning on thought of either a GW, Military or Red Front. The breeder I originally purchased Kool-Aid from offered to give me another calico for replacement. I turned her offer down but thanked her graciously for it. I could not allow her to take a loss in her business when I received so much pleasure from knowing Kool-Aid and although I love every characterisic of hers, I think I would have a hard time getting another macaw that looked so much like her.

The vet told me that even if I had known that Kool-Aid had the cancer there was no treatment for it because it was in all of her organs not tumors. She explained that there is a chemo sometimes that works for dogs but there is not a chemotherapy treatment at this time for birds. You might be aware of something she isn't but she was avian board certified.

Thanks again for your thoughts, Kool-Aid would have liked knowing you all cared!

I can understand that! Please keep us posted!

Interesting info regarding the chemo treatments!

I have a new house guest who I am trying to become friends with. He is an older Military Macaw and seems quite playful. He only has one foot but that doesn't seem to slow him down but it sure does slow me down. I am not quite sure how to pick him up yet. He has allowed me to preen him and probably would have grabbed my hand with his beak to be picked up but I sometimes act as a bird (chicken) also. I am hoping we can have a close relationship in time. I am trying to move on after losing Kool-Aid.

Any suggestions on how to not be such a chicken with a new older macaw would be welcomed here.

That is so sweet. It will take some time for you both to get to know each other. When I am dealing with a new bird, I sit near the cage for awhile and do not attempt to handle it. Then I open the door of the cage and sit by it and see if the bird will willingly come to me out of curiousity. I have been fortunate to have their curiosity peeked enough that they venture out. It does not necessarily happen the same day or even the next day, but it puts you in a postion of not having to be pursuing them, instead you are letting them come to you. Just a thought!

I am so sorry for your loss.

I heard of a bird with a foot problem that would not perch on the hand but was comfortable on the arm. Keep trying and you will find a way.

Lee