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| ABOUT CHER'S BIRDS |
Camelot is a male Poicephalus senagalus mesotyptus which
means he is a Sennie with a bright orange red chest. I got
him from a local breeder about 15 years ago. I recall traveling
to see him as a little baby in the dead of winter until finally
he was ready to be taken home mid January. I recommend that
whenever possible one let the bird choose you not the other
way around but at that time, I got to choose him and he was
the most brightly colored of all. In fact the other two birders
wanted to switch birds with me but since that little angel was
all mine, it was out of the question.
When Camelot got home I noticed that his band was too tight
so made an appointment to have it removed. We took him to
the largest animal hospital in Boston in order that the avian
and exotics veterinarian perform this procedure. I noticed that
the vet was having a very difficult time of it and then asked
me to leave the exam room for a moment...a big mistake on
my part however I complied. A moment or two later I heard
this yelling at me to sign the paper a woman had in hand and
her screaming how urgent this was in order to anesthetize him
and the rest was a blur...they whisked off paper in tow and I
didn't her back until much later....when I was informed of what
had transpired. The inept vet had severed my Camelot's leg
almost in half in attempt at removing the little leg band from
his tiny fragile, baby foot. Oh my God, I was in shock. I
wanted to die at the thought of my baby being harmed so
badly he had to be anesthetized like that.
We had to take him to another avian vet over an hour away but
this vet was willing to help him as the other one could do
nothing for him. In fact he was fired right afterwards although
they did charge us fully for everything...a wonderful board
certified avian and exotics vet took over that unit and to this
day she practices there; I have a great relationship with she
and her staff of professionals.
The vet that saved Camelot's let via a slight amputation and
moving forward of his rear toe while he was anesthetized,
allowed Camelot to eventually be able to walk and perch on
that leg! It was a miracle that this doctor performed. To top it
off they didn't charge us for anything but food there as they
were completely sympathetic and empathetic for all Camel
and we had been through. I had to take him there every week
then every two weeks and so on for many months until he
healed sufficiently to be allowed to do rehab at home.
Camelot was wonderful, taking his medication and wearing the
e. collar and cast until it was time for him to be rehabilitated
at home. I massaged his leg several times a day to get the
nerves feeling again and it worked. Today he is just like any
bird as his physical capabilities. No one can tell Camel tis
handicapped until they look very closely at his foot. Poor
Camelot was very lucky that we happened upon this
veterinarian, and that he was of such young age, thus fairly
compliant with the stringent routine we had to put him under.
It all paid off as you can see, and now he is almost as able as
any healthy bird.
Camelot's story doesn't end there, nor do his ordeals I am
afraid. Sometimes this is the case with birds, however.
Things happen without warning in every aspect of life and this
goes for birds too. As I mentioned above, he decided to bond
closely with my Mom at the age of two regardless of what I
did to try and dissuade that. It was of no use, ultimately I had
to succumb to Camelot's wishes and I became second in line.
He has come to love me dearly over the years and more
importantly trusts me, so we have a fairly good relationship
most of the time.
There was a period of years however during which Camelot
would bite fiercely enough to sen d his victims too the doctor
or er. I knew this wasn't normal but after a period of several
weeks of his literally flying onto me and attacking me, I
finally convinced the vet that he had a medical problem...and
he did...he was diagnosed with a hormone problem. What that
means basically is that he displays severe aggression
towards us put of frustration of not being able to mate; this
happened strikingly more so during mating season. Once he
was diagnosed accurately we were able to formulate a
treatment plan for him. They wanted him to start a regiment of
lupron every two weeks for several months at a time
according to formulary however I would only agree to one shot
in order to test its effectiveness on the premise that if he
appeared to need more had it helped him I would return. It
helped and we didn't need to return for another shot for a
whole year! Since then Camelot receives one to two shots per
year at the very beginning of his mating season. It can be
difficult to know when exactly that is but if he starts to get
aggressive then we can readily identify that he's in need of
the hormones; once he gets his shot he is like a very happy
angel! It is miraculous. I went through a period of crying and
depression prior to his getting these lupron shots because I
thought I would have to re-home him. It was unbearable to
even think this.
Lupron shots used to be very expensive however the price of
it is much less now that it's more widely used. Lupron is a
male and female hormone that is primarily used for hens who
chronically lay eggs; it works miracles in most of these
females but a small number do not seem to be affected by its
use. A secondary use of lupron is in males with severe
aggression during the mating season as with Camelot. It
works almost a hundred percent in these males. To those of
you who are totally against using medications on birds, just
think about what went on between the lines of this story and
of what a happy ending it has! Lupron definately is not a
panacea for all ailments nor a cure for many illnesses, but is
very effective when used for its primary and lesser known
secondary usages.
Camelot now instead of attacking my camera actually poses
for photographs willingly! That my friends is another miracle
that happened out of these unfortunate situations. When we go
to the vets Camelot, who loves car rides, sits on the roof of
his cage and sings his heart out; a boon is that he loves this
vet so much he sits still for her while she examines him. I
think he actually as a crush on her. It's fantastic that he is
not fearful of those in the veterinary profession after the
ordeals he's been through, but he remains a loving, friendly
bird thanks to the technology that lets him be his true self.
means he is a Sennie with a bright orange red chest. I got
him from a local breeder about 15 years ago. I recall traveling
to see him as a little baby in the dead of winter until finally
he was ready to be taken home mid January. I recommend that
whenever possible one let the bird choose you not the other
way around but at that time, I got to choose him and he was
the most brightly colored of all. In fact the other two birders
wanted to switch birds with me but since that little angel was
all mine, it was out of the question.
When Camelot got home I noticed that his band was too tight
so made an appointment to have it removed. We took him to
the largest animal hospital in Boston in order that the avian
and exotics veterinarian perform this procedure. I noticed that
the vet was having a very difficult time of it and then asked
me to leave the exam room for a moment...a big mistake on
my part however I complied. A moment or two later I heard
this yelling at me to sign the paper a woman had in hand and
her screaming how urgent this was in order to anesthetize him
and the rest was a blur...they whisked off paper in tow and I
didn't her back until much later....when I was informed of what
had transpired. The inept vet had severed my Camelot's leg
almost in half in attempt at removing the little leg band from
his tiny fragile, baby foot. Oh my God, I was in shock. I
wanted to die at the thought of my baby being harmed so
badly he had to be anesthetized like that.
We had to take him to another avian vet over an hour away but
this vet was willing to help him as the other one could do
nothing for him. In fact he was fired right afterwards although
they did charge us fully for everything...a wonderful board
certified avian and exotics vet took over that unit and to this
day she practices there; I have a great relationship with she
and her staff of professionals.
The vet that saved Camelot's let via a slight amputation and
moving forward of his rear toe while he was anesthetized,
allowed Camelot to eventually be able to walk and perch on
that leg! It was a miracle that this doctor performed. To top it
off they didn't charge us for anything but food there as they
were completely sympathetic and empathetic for all Camel
and we had been through. I had to take him there every week
then every two weeks and so on for many months until he
healed sufficiently to be allowed to do rehab at home.
Camelot was wonderful, taking his medication and wearing the
e. collar and cast until it was time for him to be rehabilitated
at home. I massaged his leg several times a day to get the
nerves feeling again and it worked. Today he is just like any
bird as his physical capabilities. No one can tell Camel tis
handicapped until they look very closely at his foot. Poor
Camelot was very lucky that we happened upon this
veterinarian, and that he was of such young age, thus fairly
compliant with the stringent routine we had to put him under.
It all paid off as you can see, and now he is almost as able as
any healthy bird.
Camelot's story doesn't end there, nor do his ordeals I am
afraid. Sometimes this is the case with birds, however.
Things happen without warning in every aspect of life and this
goes for birds too. As I mentioned above, he decided to bond
closely with my Mom at the age of two regardless of what I
did to try and dissuade that. It was of no use, ultimately I had
to succumb to Camelot's wishes and I became second in line.
He has come to love me dearly over the years and more
importantly trusts me, so we have a fairly good relationship
most of the time.
There was a period of years however during which Camelot
would bite fiercely enough to sen d his victims too the doctor
or er. I knew this wasn't normal but after a period of several
weeks of his literally flying onto me and attacking me, I
finally convinced the vet that he had a medical problem...and
he did...he was diagnosed with a hormone problem. What that
means basically is that he displays severe aggression
towards us put of frustration of not being able to mate; this
happened strikingly more so during mating season. Once he
was diagnosed accurately we were able to formulate a
treatment plan for him. They wanted him to start a regiment of
lupron every two weeks for several months at a time
according to formulary however I would only agree to one shot
in order to test its effectiveness on the premise that if he
appeared to need more had it helped him I would return. It
helped and we didn't need to return for another shot for a
whole year! Since then Camelot receives one to two shots per
year at the very beginning of his mating season. It can be
difficult to know when exactly that is but if he starts to get
aggressive then we can readily identify that he's in need of
the hormones; once he gets his shot he is like a very happy
angel! It is miraculous. I went through a period of crying and
depression prior to his getting these lupron shots because I
thought I would have to re-home him. It was unbearable to
even think this.
Lupron shots used to be very expensive however the price of
it is much less now that it's more widely used. Lupron is a
male and female hormone that is primarily used for hens who
chronically lay eggs; it works miracles in most of these
females but a small number do not seem to be affected by its
use. A secondary use of lupron is in males with severe
aggression during the mating season as with Camelot. It
works almost a hundred percent in these males. To those of
you who are totally against using medications on birds, just
think about what went on between the lines of this story and
of what a happy ending it has! Lupron definately is not a
panacea for all ailments nor a cure for many illnesses, but is
very effective when used for its primary and lesser known
secondary usages.
Camelot now instead of attacking my camera actually poses
for photographs willingly! That my friends is another miracle
that happened out of these unfortunate situations. When we go
to the vets Camelot, who loves car rides, sits on the roof of
his cage and sings his heart out; a boon is that he loves this
vet so much he sits still for her while she examines him. I
think he actually as a crush on her. It's fantastic that he is
not fearful of those in the veterinary profession after the
ordeals he's been through, but he remains a loving, friendly
bird thanks to the technology that lets him be his true self.