Hello All,
I purchased an 8 week old female on Saturday from a bird expo in Wheaton, IL. At the show, she seemed a little sluggish and weak, but not knowing much about senegals, as well the breeder telling me some "Scott McDonald" checked her out a week prior and shes normal, I thought maybe the stress of the show had gotten to her or maybe the sluggishness was from her still being a baby. Either way, I bought her and brought her home.
On Sunday, I noticed her chest was a bit wet. Didn't think too much of it because I figured she was still young and maybe got herself wet in the water dish.
On Monday, I noticed it again, but this time there was a droplet on her beak and it was streaming down like mucus with the color and consistency to match. Thats when I knew something was wrong. I called the breeder, she said she didn't know what it was, kept saying she was fine. This is when I realized she was a scammer and what had happened because of how defensive and uncaring she was of the bird's health. I also mentioned how I saw one of her nails was missing after I brought her home and she tells me she never noticed it in the 8 weeks that she owned her!
I finally got an appointment today, came back from the vet, to find out she has two holes in her chest. Look like puncture wounds from a beak perhaps. Got her started on some antibiotics.
Question is, the surgery to close it up is between $700-1600. I definitely don't have anywhere near that kind of money. What should I do? The vet said it might heal on its own but there might be another hole in her crop but she won't know until she starts the surgery and makes the hole a bit bigger.
From what I've noticed, only water falls on her chest, no seed or food particles, but I'm not familiar enough with the anatomy to know if its just a puncture in the wind pipe or not.
I am so saddened and betrayed about this whole experience, any suggestions are greatly appreciated.