strange behavior

I just thought I'd update this for the record. I have a family member who works for an exotic vet, a different vet than the one I originally took Sapphire to. She mentioned Sapphire to her employer and they took an interest and offered to see him at no charge, so my family member took him to work. They determined within the space of an hour (by simple observation) that he has a mass in his throat, which is blocking drainage of fluids from his eye and sinus, and that is what is causing the swelling. The mass is about the size of a grape and is protruding into the space behind his eye. The vet said that I am probably right in thinking that it is Lymphoma, as it does involve the lymph nodes, but they wanted to know for sure so they took blood and cell samples. This is not believed to be a viral type of avian cancer, but possibly from an environmental source. (again, I'm thinking Roundup or something similar, since his favorite place to go has always been our bean/ cornfield, which we lease to a farmer, and not all of our birds go out there) However, the vet said that birds can get masses in their throat or sinuses, and it is not uncommon and not always cancerous; also, that his weight loss and frantic eating might be a result of his adrenal gland going into overdrive as a result of all his stress from all his health problems. Interestingly enough, they drained 3.5 cc's of fluid from around his eye, and he could see again! Unfortunately, this did not last, as by the next day the space was filled with fluid and he was blind again on that side, and we attempted to drain it at home again but were only partially successful. I don't want to keep trying to drain it, as I'm sure it hurts, and is stressful. If it is not cancerous, we may explore having the mass removed, although I've pretty much concluded that my sweet bird has suffered enough, the vet says he still has a lot of life left in him and wants to try, so we'll see. I am furious at the other vet for all the hell she put him through which was totally unnecessary. Both vets and everybody else has commented on what an incredibly sweet nature Sapphire has, compared to most peacocks. I am so sad at seeing him suffer. We're supposed to get the results back today, but probably not until late. In the meantime, I have to help him find his food dish now, whenever he eats. I'm hoping this information might benefit someone else, it is interesting, if nothing else.
 
That is what happened to this gal except it was drainage from the ear canal. We removed the hard knot of infection but the root cause of the infection was a cancerous growth. Against our best attempts to help her, she still died a couple of months later.
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That is what happened to this gal except it was drainage from the ear canal. We removed the hard knot of infection but the root cause of the infection was a cancerous growth. Against our best attempts to help her, she still died a couple of months later.
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I'm not sure at this point that he can stand any more...especially not surgery. I heard nothing today re results. He is suffering and having a hard time eating; I'm making him a mash with water or applesauce, but he still has a problem eating. thanks for sharing... and sorry you lost your hen. It's so frustrating when we can't help them, despite best efforts...and I suffer along with them. :(
 
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