Sunny- Blue and Gold Macaw

Sunny hatched in April 1994 and spent the first five years of her life in a home where she was exposed to smoking. In 1999, she was rehomed with her dads, where she lived for the next 21 years. During that time, she only saw a vet twice because she was perceived as “healthy.” Her diet, however, was far from ideal—she ate pork, crackers, cheddar cheese, pasta, pizza crusts, seed mix, sunflower seeds, and pellets.

When Sunny arrived at PRH, she was in poor body condition and was clearly not feeling well. She had cataracts and was noticeably sad. We immediately worked to get her diet under control, focusing on the right kinds of fats and supplements to improve her health. Once she was more comfortable, we had her vetted and radiographed. The results were heartbreaking.

Sunny has an enlarged heart with vessels that are tortuous and prominent. Her heart’s contractility is decreased, and we suspect that she is experiencing secondary heart wall changes due to severe atherosclerosis. Additionally, she has an old wing fracture that was never properly repaired, making it impossible for her to extend her wing.

Sunny’s prognosis is not good, and we know that her time with us may be short. But while she’s here, we are committed to keeping her comfortable with medication, pain relief, a managed diet, plenty of affection, toys, and most importantly, a stress-free environment. We are honored to provide Sunny with the care she needs and to enjoy her company for as long as she has quality of life.