Help URGENTLY Required with sick B&G

[harrins]

As the day went on today Éalu's foot swelled really large again so I decided to bring her back to the avian vet down south. When she saw the foot today she decided to keep her. Tomorrow she will have an anaesthetic. She will have her foot xrayed, and the fluid examined. She will also have the band removed and be microchipped. Blood tests and DNA tests will be done too.

Basically the vet thinks it could be a bone infection. If the infection is fairly recent there is a good chance of recovery, but if it is an old injury she may lose the foot. The xray tomorrow will determine if it is a bone infection, and if it is salvagable.

Another possibility which a very knowledgeable lady who runs a bird rescue in Wales suggested to me is a circulation problem caused by spending so long on one perch, due to the extreme cold and weakness due to malnutrition. I shall suggest this to the vet tomorrow if she is still unsure as to what is wrong with her foot.

I miss her terribly and just want her home. I cant believe how quickly she snuck into my heart!

[guest1717171]

at least the vet can make her really comfortable...though i know that is of no consolation when you miss her :(

i hope it isnt a bone infection...

does the vet seem to think that there was a pocket of fluid or was he just able to pull fluid out of the tissue?

i had a baby rat once who's foot swole up pretty bad when he was about 3 weeks old...before i could take him to the vet the next morning something (unknown to me) happened
when i got up in the morning to check it out and get him out for the vet he had it drawn up close to his body (back foot) and when i gently pulled to extend his leg so i could get a better look...his foot came off
talk about surprised

we never figured out what it was but he had some light splotches on it that looked like gout to me...though the vet didnt think it was because of his age

[harrins]

I hope I'm not starting to bug you all, but I am sure you understand how upsetting this week has been. The vet called me today and said that Éalu will have to stay with her for a couple of days. She had her anaesthetic today, and she survived it! She also still has both feet... it isnt a bone infection. The vet thinks it is a circulation problem, possibly as a result of the cold. So the lady from Wales was spot on! She is very concerned about her and wants to hold on to her while she calls some colleagues and does some reading up on it. She has never seen a case like it. That might be because normal people dont leave Macaws outdoors in freezing weather

Anyways she does have a blood supply to all of her toes so that is a positive. And at the moment she has a huge cast on the swollen foot. Which apparently she is tolerating really well.

To answer your question, geekasaurus, the first day the fluid was almost clear, then it was pinky, and today it was blood. Honestly I couldnt say if it was a pocket or from the tissue.

[deb717]

Oh I am so sorry. I would call the person that you got her from and tell her all that this bird and you have been through. You should ask her to compensate some of your expenses too. Some people have no business ever having an animal.... I hope that Elau gets better and soon, Deb

[Addicted to Tequila]

I am still trying to figgure out how a Macaw gets frostbite to begin with!

[TikusMom]

I really feel for you! I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you and for Ealu as well. I'm really glad to hear it isn't an infection in the bone. That should bring you some peace of mind, anyway. I hope that your vet and her colleagues can figure out exactly what is going on with her and get it resolved.
Don't ever feel that you are bothering us! We're all here for you and for your Fids!!!
Keep us posted.

[harrins]

She is home! Here she is, with her bandaged foot :)

[cal]

what a beautiful girl. I know she has had it terribly rough, but even feeling as lousy as she has, I'm sure she is so happy to be with someone who cares for her so much and treats her so well! give her kisses for us!

[TikusMom]

Great to see her home!!! I know she's going to be much happier now that she's back with you. She's got such a sweet, sweet face, and you can see in her eye that she's glad to be home where she feels safe and loved. Keep us updated how she's doing!
Slainte!

[Lisa B]

she is a beautiful girl!