# Ok, so now my parakeet died too... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492 "2003-06-17T16:18:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/21 "2003-06-17T19:48:24Z")
black mold? I dunno. What does black mold look like? I’m in new construction (my place is about 5 years old) and a condo. I don’t have a roof or eaves that would be growing mold - are there other places it could show up? As to feeling sick - not really. I have a cold right now, but that’s about it. My roommate is fine. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/22 "2003-06-17T19:48:59Z")
Oh, **alice** , many condolences. For what it’s worth, I’m sure they are thinking fondly of you from wherever they are. Losing pets sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/23 "2003-06-17T19:53:27Z")
**alice** , if you feel the need to unload, here is a [place](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=191510) to do it. If you don’t feel so inclined, please do not worry. I suspect there’ll be a few folks willing to take your place. Again, please accept my sincere condolences. ---
**Author:** ![cabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@cabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/24 "2003-06-17T19:54:50Z")
I’m very sorry about your pets **Alice** , my condolences and sympathetic thoughts are with you. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/25 "2003-06-17T20:31:56Z")
Humm - well, I talked to the vet. Benny’s creatine level is high, and his blood iron is normal, but low normal. So - she’s suggesting a urinalysis and to recheck his creatine level in a while. I’m supposed to keep my eye on him to make sure he’s eating and drinking and that his mucous membranes are staying nice and pink. I’m going to talk to the city about the possiblity of lead piping in my neighbourhood. :eek: Meanwhile, I guess I just keep my eyes on Benny and hope for the best. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/26 "2003-06-17T20:38:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*black mold? > > - are there other places it could show up? > > \*\* Yes. Lots of places. The faux stucco siding that was popular back in the 90s had moisture/mold problems. It could happen with other types of siding, too. Don’t forget under sinks and floors under bath tubs or showers. A slight leak under a sink can turn into a fungus paradise. An improper seal on drain pipes can cause mold to grow under floors. [Here](http://www.1877moldfree.com/overture.html) is a test. I’m sure you could find others, maybe even at a local Home Depot type store. Check it out now! ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/27 "2003-06-17T20:43:36Z")
Also around door frames, if your seal isn’t tight, and window mouldings, too. Alice, did you get a new friend for Benny yet? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/28 "2003-06-17T20:56:31Z")
My mom has wisely advised me to figure out whats killing my current pets before getting new ones, so Benny is on his own for the time being. This is really depressing. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/29 "2003-06-17T21:17:23Z")
OH **alice** -I’m so so sorry! _Hugs_ ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/30 "2003-06-17T21:23:39Z")
My deepest sympathies for the loss of your beloved pets. I’ve heard that another cause of pet birds dying is when one uses a self-cleaning oven. Any chance that happened? Or even aerosol sprays or cleaning products with heavy fumes, or those plug-in air fresheners. We can handle such things with proper ventilation, but those poor darling birdies that weigh so little cannot. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/31 "2003-06-17T21:46:24Z")
Sorry to hear about this. Do you think the cold you had could have killed them? I’m not trying to make you feel bad but a lot of animals people keep as pets are highly susceptible to cold and influenza viruses, and while I’m not sure about rabbits I’ve heard that budgies are in the “highly susceptible” category as far as colds go. I lost one to a cold virus several years ago, and like yours it seemed happy as a clam–until it dropped dead. (Yes, I did take it to the vet and try to treat it when it first appeared sniffly but there wasn’t much the vet could do.) Again, I’m sorry, and I think it’s a good idea that you’re trying to find out what’s killing your pets before you get another one. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/32 "2003-06-17T21:59:51Z")
Oh, great, I thought of this ten minutes after I posted, but get the bird tested for psittacosis. If you’re sick and the bird died that is a possibility. I had a nasty situation with it 20 years ago and it’s definately something you don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/33 "2003-06-17T22:39:12Z")
On the random things that can kill birds list, add scented candles chewing on things containing zinc (galvanized cage wire, pennies, etc) Guacalmole 🙂 I’ve also heard that parakeets are prone to heart and liver trouble from rich food. They fatten up fast. So sorry about your little birdie! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/34 "2003-06-17T23:54:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > As to you, you maggot riddled scum ball. Kindly cram such insensitive rectal behavior with **hot sand** _and_ **walnuts**. Dammit, **Zenster** , leave it the fuck alone already! The guy was warned, you already opened your pit thread, why the hell do you feel the need to shit in this forum some more? Don’t do this again. Anyone’s posting priviledges can be terminated, you know. Even if they have a couple of thousand posts to their name. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/35 "2003-06-17T23:59:46Z")
Any chance your pets came into contact with some outsider animals? I can’t help but thinking about monkey pox, which I know has gotten into rabbits and some rodents. Are you in the midwest? ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/36 "2003-06-18T02:18:47Z")
**alice** , I’m really sorry for your loss. ☹ When Brat died earlier this year, I found out that certain lines of kakarikis can be prone to sudden death. It apparently relates to a liver problem, at keast for kakarikis and has a tendency to show up in some breeding lines rather than others. Brat’s liver functions were definitely elevated, and it’s possible that his death was genetically-related. It doesn’t make Brat’s death much easier, but I will be considering breeding lines more carefully now that I know. And sometimes we just have a terrible run of experiences. Several years ago, my two dogs died within a month of each other. Separate reasons, but it was still a one-two punch that was hard to recover from (but I did). ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/37 "2003-06-18T04:33:27Z")
Ok - the cold showed up after Bart died so no correlation there. I have no scented candles, no self-cleaning oven, no sprays of any kind around the bird. He was not snuffly - he sang along to Canadian Idol with me and then droped dead - I don’t know about a correlation there. My house is so quiet and my heart is completely broken. I’m terrified that I’m going to come home and Benny is going to be dead too. ☹ I try really hard to be a good pet owner and to get them check ups and feed them a balanced diet and give them medicine when they’re sick. I don’t deserve this. I really don’t - particularly in light of the numbers of people that are horrible to their pets. This has been a really bad week. And now I’m crying again. Shit. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/38 "2003-06-18T04:40:27Z")
Please don’t cry. I am sorry to hear about your pet parakeet. I have lost a bird before and it was horrible. I still get upset about it to this day. I can’t imagine what it is going to be like when I lose my dogs. ☹ Now the toxic black mold could be a problem that I would get checked. As a matter of fact I want to thank **NoClueBoy** for posting the link to the test kits. I will be purchasing 5 of those myself. There are too many lawsuits going on about this. Too many people are getting sick from it and can be very serious. As a matter of fact [Ed Mcmahon](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/entertainment/DailyNews/mcmahon020411.html) had a pet dog that was killed by the toxic mold their house. It’s an avenue worth checking. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/39 "2003-06-18T04:54:22Z")
Actually I think I’ve ruled out the mold. I live in Calgary - its practically a desert. I have a new home - built 5 years ago. It’s really clean. Really. There are no leaks of any sort around any of my windows. My windows are storm windows and are the PVC lined type. I’ve checked under the sink in my bathroom and kitchen. Clean. Dry. Mold free. My balconey is also free of mold. I just can’t think of anywhere else it could be, and certainly not in a 2 foot square patch. It’s something else. I’m trying to find out if my condo association sprayed any sort of pesticide. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492/40 "2003-06-18T05:19:49Z")
I hesitate to suggest foul play, but… Your roomie hasn’t had reason to torment you lately? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-now-my-parakeet-died-too/182492.md?page=3)