What to do when your loved one passes...

Trigger Warning: Pet Loss

I have some sad news to share, along with information I think every bird owner should know — even though it’s a hard topic to talk about.

My sweet special-needs Jardine’s parrot, Lilly, passed away recently.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected given her ongoing health challenges, which had become more pronounced in recent weeks. Still, the exact cause isn’t known yet and we were waiting on test results to move forward with treatments. One possibility is Avian Borna virus or related illness, diseases we still don’t fully understand.

Because I have a multi-bird flock, and for my own peace of mind, I’ve chosen to have a necropsy done. This will help confirm the cause of death, rule out contagious illnesses, and maybe even help other birds through the knowledge gained.

While every bird's passing is hard to think about, being prepared for this and the decisions you have to make before grief sets in can make difficult choices easier.

How to prepare a bird for necropsy:

If your bird passes away, gently wrap them in a paper towel, place them in a sealed plastic bag, and keep them in the refrigerator (not the freezer) until you can take them to your vet. This helps preserve tissue for testing.

Why a necropsy can be valuable:

 Peace of mind – It can answer “what happened?” and reduce the painful “what if” questions.

 Rule out contagious disease – Especially important for multi-bird homes, to protect the rest of the flock.

 Guidance for future care – Subtle issues (like organ problems or deficiencies) can inform better care going forward.

 Closure – Sometimes knowing the truth makes grief easier to bear.

 Helping avian medicine – Your vet can use the findings to help other birds in the future.

For anyone interested in information about avian ganglioneuritis and Borna virus, here’s an article from Lafeber and our vet, Dr. Bob Dahlhausen and a colleague of his, Dr. Susan Orosz:

https://lafeber.com/.../Avian-Bornaviral-Ganglioneuritis...

Fly high, Lilly. You were so loved, and you always will be.