Budgie worries, please help.

[darkandstormy]

Some of you may remember that I have been looking after my elderly neighbours budgie for a few weeks while she was in hospital,feeding him twice a day in her house.I have 2 cats so could not bring him to mine.Well, neighbour has been out of hospital for 10 days but is not great,I have been popping in daily for a chat to check on her and budgie as well as I am worried about them both.My neighbour is a heavy smoker, and last two days budgie has not eaten, and has been sitting at bottom of his cage.I have brought him to my house[locked catsout]but am really worried for him.He has been eating his millet stick and drinkinwater okay, but not touching his usual food.He has been sitting there with his feathers fluffed up, and I thought at one point he as shivering.I have never been a budgie owner, is this behaviour something to be worried about, do you think I need to take him to the vet?

Yes, this is not good - please call the vet.

Took neighbours little budgie to the vet,he thinks at a guess he could have lead poisoninghe will need an xray and tests etc the treatment will thus cost around £200.My neighbour got taken int hospital again this morning.I don't know what is going to happen

Hmm, that is a lot of money for a sick budgie and an interesting possible diagnosis too. Has the budgie had access to anything with lead in? - old lead paint to chew on for example. If the bird has been kept in a modern cage and not had that sort of freedom to chew on such things then it is really a very unlikely diagnosis. Is this vet a bird specialist - for that sort of money I would certainly hope so! If not then how comfortable did you feel about what was said. I am not saying that this vet is ripping you off but I would urge you to question this carefully - this is coming from a vet here who is normally fed up with the threads on here that have a go at fees charged by vets! You could always call around other local vets and explain the situation and see what they have to say about things and if they would see the bird for you for a second opinion perhaps?

BEAUTIFULGIRLS Thanks for your reply.The budgie has been allowed to free fly around my neighbours downstairs.He has been very taken with some of her pre war style ornaments,and a 1950s mirror caught him quite a few times on this.S possibly exposed to lead paints etc.I have now got him in my house am trying to keep him stress free and comfortable in a quiet draught free room.He has eaten a little millet and a bit of his trill but is sitting half asleep at bottom of cage.I really do not know what to do.He was so stressed when I took him to the vet poor thing.I am so sad about the whole thing.Vet gave me some calcium drops to give him,but to be honest I don,t want to because he gets so stressed.I am hoping neighbour will come home today, tbh vet made out budgie not i great shape.I wonder if it would not be kinder to put him to sleep. what makes it so sad is he is only young 6 months, and 2 weeks ago was full of beans.We were blaming neighbours heavy smoking for this, but vet said he did not think this to be the case.

sadly little budgie died today,I am really quite upset as I have been looking after him for 2 months on and off,I feel really sorry for my elderly neighbour as she loved him very much,so very sad when these things happen.

aww that is sad - sorry for you and for your neighbour too. You did what you could to try and help out though so please don't feel bad about this.

ThanksBEAUTIFULGIRLS It has been a sad afternoon,I got really attached to the poor little fella,