OT(?): Permission to Euthanize

[that redhead]

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Not sure if this is too far off-topic but I need a bit of advice.

Nearly a year ago, I acquired an English budgie from my sister's boyfriend/his family. The past couple of days the bird has been pretty puffed up and upon closer inspection, I believe the bird has some sort of fluid build up/tumor/potentially even an egg developing in its lower abdomen. He's pattering around on the bottom of the cage at the moment, which has always been where family parakeets have gone in their last hours. I plan to take it to the vet this coming week.

If the solution to the problem is more than just an abdomen tap and some meds, I will definitely consider euthanizing the bird. If I do end up facing the decision to euthanize, what is the proper etiquette for informing my sister's boyfriend/his family? I doubt they even care, to be quite honest, but I want to get some opinions. I can't imagine them wanting to take him back, and I don't mind paying to euth. him, just so long as he doesn't just wither away and die in his cage. Thanks guys 🙂

 

[Tco87]

Not knowing the people you're talking about and how they'll react to you telling them about the possibility of euth, this is just my general advice for anyone in this situation:
Tell them now that he's not doing well, you're taking him to the vet, and he could have a serious illness. Then after your vet appointment, let them know if euthanasia is recommended or if he's being treated with the hope of making a recovery.

Hope that helps!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

If they gave you the bird, it's your decision to make. If it was like "well here just hang on to him for whatever reason until xyz" then proper etiquette would be to ask them first if they would give permission, even if they probably wouldn't care.

Just in case. Because I have come across extremely neglectful owners that all of the sudden get very accusatory and possessive when someone else "kills"🙄 "their" 🙄🙄 animal without getting the go ahead.

 

[DVMDream]

At the clinics I have worked at if we know that the person bringing the pet in is not the owner and we do not have permission directly from the owner to treat we will not actually see the pet. I guess there are too many liabilities involved with treating a pet that we have not been given permission to treat. We will stabilize emergencies but other than that we need to have direct permission from the owners before we do anything else....it really does become a big pain in the a** sometimes, but better than getting sued for something.

I would just make sure you get permission that you are allowed to make decisions for the bird so that way there will not be any problems once you get to the vet.