Please help, my Grey just died

[novi]

I took my 7 year old hand raised and fed by me African Grey for a wing clip, nail and beak trim. They were so careful with her not to overstress her that they took a break in between the wing and nail and spritzed her down and waited till she was poofy and not hyper ventilating. Then after the beak trim, something was wrong and they took her out of the towel and she wasn't moving she was gone. I am at a loss.

Obviously she's had these proceedures before, and I saw them doing it right in front of me, nothing struck me as out of the ordinary....they said this can happen. Heart attack, stress, stroke, whatever, but she'd been in these situations before....

Anyone else have something like this happen to them. I am utterly destroyed by this. I miss her so much.

[DarwinTheSun]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know it feels devastating. :( I would really recommend a necropsy, if they were at fault somehow (like constraining her to the point of asphyxiation) you need to know. Was there a medical reason for the beak trimming?

[CoCoLo]

Oh god. I'm so, so sorry and can't imagine what you are going through, I don't know what to say

[novi]

her beak grows too long and needs trimming 2 times a year. Normally I take her to the vet or to the breeder, but I moved and so I tried a parrot specialist store...they had all healthy well behaved birds inside, internet references were all glowing, the store was clean, the owner knowledgeable. I was watching...they are getting a necropsy done for me. I was so devastated I was just on the floor.

What else could it be? I feel that they weren't doing anything "wrong" but I just feel also angry, and I dont want to confuse it. It is the worst thing that could have happened. No matter the cause, I can't get her back. 7 years of sharing your life and raising her and protecting her, and I feel so guilty for trying someone closer than my now hour away vet.

[catschair]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please don't blame yourself or your groomer; sometimes birds do just have heart attacks. I am sure they are distraught as well. Fly free, little one!

[babypiggy]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i know how devistated u feel
i had a lovebird
that didn't seem to be doing well.. and this was all of a sudden... he was hiding inbetween his good and water bowl on the ground the next morning so i checked him out

he couldn't perch or anyhting on my finger
so as i was dialing the emergancy vet he squacked and died in my hands...

:'(

i'm very sorry for your loss

[Tishrei]

I am so sorry for your loss. I really do know how devastated and destroyed you feel as I recently lost one of my beloved critters after having her for 14 1/2 years. I understand completely what you're feeling as I'm only a month past what you are going through. Please don't blame yourself as you did nothing wrong. I had no indication that my beloved pet was going to die -- she just went to sleep and died.

I wish I could say something to help but I have no words.

[donnakris]

I am so sorry. I know you're devastated. You're in my thoughts.

[Lisa B]

I am very sorry for your loss.
A heart attack could very well be what took her. Greys can have heart problems, and they lie undetectable. they are finding out, as with humans, it can be genetic. Also high cholesterol plays a part. I am learning that out myself with one of my greys.
It is nice of the store to be willing to pay for a necropsy. most would just say, sorry and make you leave.

The only other thought i would have it the lack of air. If she was being restrained improperly, it might have something to do with it, but usually with air restrictions, there is alot of thrashing and trying to breath.

you being upset and angry is all part of it. Its normal feelings. I have lost two greys and it cut like a knife. many years later, it still does.

Take your time to grieve. dont be ashamed to let the tears flow. She was part of your life and family for 7 years. Its human nature to grieve for something we loved so.

A friend of mine posted this on another board after loosing her precious baby.

When one can truly grieve for one so small, so tiny, so seemingly inconsequential, it is a measure of the greatness of spirit, the power of love and the capacity of the tiniest of beings to make such a great contribution to our lives, if we simply allow it to happen. It is a magical gift, a double-edged journey in which we can be elevated to great joy by the presence of our avian friends and find our hearts sharply cut by grief when they pass.

-Chris Davis

[novi]

And if it is the groomers fault? She doesnt come back. I am just going thru crazy emotions. Having been there, it didnt feel real, and I immediately cried, but I almost didn't know what was going on. Then I got home and cried all day, then I feel angry, what if they did hold her too tightly. I was supposed to defend her, I took her there. Anger and guilt. To have raised her from 4 weeks old in an incubator and 7 years later to have her die in front of me, I can't process this.