A Sad Goodbye to Valentino

[Lin Hansen]

Cathy,

He was so gorgeous.....so sorry you lost him so soon.

Linda

[TerriB]

My condolences on the death of your handsome Valentino. You provided a wonderful home for this special bird. I am so sorry for your loss.

[Birdmom4ever]

Thank you Garye, Linda and Terri. Still missing him every time I walk past the empty cage. But I do take some comfort in knowing I gave him a very happy life while he was here. He had everything a canary could want.

[CHRISTIN RN]

Very heartbreaking news.
Thoughts and Prayers go out to you along with blessings for giving Valentino a wonderful life of love, fun and comfort. I'm glad you spotted him and took him into your heart and home. It was meant to be!
It's really something how these guys can steal our hearts so quickly!
Though his little life was short, I'm sure it was prolonged with your love and caring and now into Eternity flying with millions of friends until we all meet up again!
May your heart and mind be comforted and healed.

[Birdmom4ever]

Thank you, Christin.

[mr squeaks]

Hi Cathy,

I am so sorry for your loss!

Valentino, was indeed, a most unusual colored canary! I tend to think, like you, that perhaps there might have been something genetic.

He was so lucky to have you in his life and you in his, even for such a short time.

Believe in premonitions? Oh, yes, indeed!

Sending LOVING HUGS...

Shi

[Birdmom4ever]

Thank you, Shi. I'm so sad over this. I cleaned out his cage but left it up, partly because it was a brand new cage and very nice and I don't want to try to cram it into our messy garage. But perhaps it was a mistake to leave it up, because when I saw it sitting in the sun this morning I started crying again. Just seems wrong that my beautiful bird is lying in a cold little grave in the garden instead of being in his sunny cage where he belongs. Sigh.

[Pete Jasinski]

I feel your pain, you're heart is torn to pieces and you eyes feel like they can't shed another tear if they wanted to. I just lost my belove little one too so I know exactly what you're going through. Only time will heal your wounds but it will never remove your fond memories of Valentino.

[Pidgey]

Let me first say how sorry I am that you lost little Valentino. We finished raising a little sparrow a few years ago and he was quite a delight, too. Sure was a lot of personality in such a small package. We actually released him and he integrated real well to the local flock.

I can't help but wonder if Valentino had a problem with Macrorhabdus ornithogaster. It's a type of fungal infection that seems to get finches a lot but I don't know about canaries. It used to be called "Megabacteriosis" when they weren't sure it was a fungi (yeast, whatever). You might ask your vet if he saw any of those on the fecal smear.

Pidgey

[Margarret]

I'm so sorry you lost Valentino. What an extraordinarily beautiful bird he was.I know you gave him a wonderful bird life, even for a short while.

Margaret

[Birdmom4ever]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

Let me first say how sorry I am that you lost little Valentino. We finished raising a little sparrow a few years ago and he was quite a delight, too. Sure was a lot of personality in such a small package. We actually released him and he integrated real well to the local flock.

I can't help but wonder if Valentino had a problem with Macrorhabdus ornithogaster. It's a type of fungal infection that seems to get finches a lot but I don't know about canaries. It used to be called "Megabacteriosis" when they weren't sure it was a fungi (yeast, whatever). You might ask your vet if he saw any of those on the fecal smear.

Pidgey

That's interesting, Pidgey. I'll have to ask my vet about it the next time I see him. I looked back at my recods and he was treated with Nizoral suspension. That wouldn't be effective against it? I was very faithful about diluting the medication properly and giving him fresh medicated water every day for the prescribed 14 day period. And he did seem to make a full recovery.

What was strange to me was that he seemed fine one day and not the next. I realize people say that all the time because birds are experts at hiding illness, but I've had birds my entire life and I'm pretty good at picking up even subtle indications of illness. Valentino seemed fine the day before he died. No fluffing, no loss of appetite. He bathed, he sang, he ate well. Even the day he died he did not seem ill, but stunned. He didn't fluff up his feathers but just sat there still as a statue, not eating, not chirping or moving. At the end he sat on the floor of the hospital cage but even then he acted more like an injured bird than a sick one. That's why we wondered if perhaps he had a stroke. I guess we'll never know.

[Birdmom4ever]

Thank you Pete and Margaret. Pete, let me say again how sorry I am you lost your beautiful Hali. I'm always amazed at what a big hole a little bird can tear in your heart!

[Pete Jasinski]

Thank you again, we're going to be feeling this pain for some time but our friends here will help ease our pain and comfort us in out loss.

[Rockie]

I'm so sorry about your little Valentino. He was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for giving him such a wonderful home with more love than some ever get in a lifetime.

[phyll]

Cathy,
I am so sorry you lost your beautiful Valentino. Although your time together was short, the memory of your sweet little bird will be with you forever.
Thank God you took him home with you in September.

Phyll