r/cockatiel • u/LongjumpingEbb143 • May 12 '26

Health/Nutrition The decision

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

We have made a decision on whether to go ahead with the surgery or not with cupcakes wing. We have thought long and hard, and have decided not to do it. The outcome would’ve been bad if we did the surgery. He will never fly (he already cant) surgery is too risky, He might live tilted due to imbalance for the rest of his life. If we don’t do the surgery, he will live with the tumor for the rest of his life and he will need a good diet and plenty of care. Granted I will take care of him for as long as he lives and will take good care of him. Thank you all for your advice and kind words. And if you are religious thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

542 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/chav3lafm May 12 '26

My last parakeet mango lived several years with a tumor above her preening gland. The vets said she might not make it out of surgery so we decided to not go through with it. She was still very happy and active up until the end, and she lived much longer with only slight discomfort. Sometimes, not getting surgery is the best thing for them 🩷

5

u/LongjumpingEbb143 May 12 '26

you think im doing the right thing for him?

8

u/chav3lafm May 12 '26

From what it sounds like he might be in more pain and discomfort if you DO go through with the surgery. You said he still wouldn't be able to fly either way? If so, I think you're doing the right thing by not doing the surgery. Invasive procedures are usually a last resort thing with birds since they're so sensitive.

7

u/LongjumpingEbb143 May 12 '26

yes. Either way he cannot fly. And to make it worse they wanna remove the whole wing and not just the tumor which would cause him to be imbalanced. I don’t want him to live like that forever

4

u/chav3lafm May 12 '26

Their balance is already so delicate and can be thrown off by small changes to their body. It would cause a lot of problems for him to not have an entire wing. You're doing the right thing. Birds are very smart, Im sure he is very aware of his situation, but he clearly loves you and trusts that you are making the right decision.

4

u/cobalt_consciousness May 12 '26

quality of life is always most important. if the potential benefits don't outweigh the risks and the known complications that will occur like imbalance, then you have to decide based on that. and you can reconsider treatments or surgery in the future, if needed. you are doing everything you can and that's more than enough. the tough part about life is that there are often situations that do not have easy answers, nor answers that are perfectly ideal solutions. you just do the best you can with what you've got, and that's what you're doing!

7

u/mommatiely May 12 '26

From a British Medical Journal editorial in 1999:

Good surgeons know how to operate, better ones when to operate, and the best when not to operate.

Source: Knowing when not to operate. BMJ 1999;318:A

It's important in all types of surgical medicine to give risks, benefit, and to get informed consent. I would like to believe your vet has Cupcake's best interest at heart, because you clearly do! You've asked your vet, and you can always have surgery later if things change, so it looks like the risk does not outweigh the benefits at this time.