Please Answer ASAP

[Aljoanna]

My poor cockatiel, Sunny, is in pain. His right foot is causing it. He puts all of his weight on his left so he does not pressure his right foot. When he is in his cage, his poor right foot is up, but not inside his feathers, so he is not sleeping or close to it. It is just hanging right below his feathers, and his foot is curled up.

Sunny likes to jump off of my finger a lot, and that is the only explanation I have to what has caused the pain. I rolled him up in a towel and checked his foot out. There are no scratches or cuts.

I am afraid that he might have sprained his foot, or worse, broken it.

Please tell me what to do!

Edit: His wings are also clipped. That is why he falls. I am 5 foot 4 inches. So he falls about 4 and a half feet. He flaps his wings to slow it down and as far as I know, he has not landed on his foot the wrong way. His injured foot also looks like his toes are hard to curl. He just keeps them kind of straight. Also, he is able to walk around. It just pains him a little. I may be a paranoid freak and may love my birds a little too much... But I need this to be answered to settle my fears.

Again, he just likes to jump. Our nickname for him is AKA Suicide Jumper lol. Please answer ASAP

[catschair]

Do you live near a city with an emergency vet? If you are not sure, the local police or animal shelter should have the name of a vet who is available for after hour calls. Of course, an avian vet would be best, but if he is in pain, a generalist may be able to help. Is he eating and/or drinking? Longer term, if it is hard to convince him not to jump off of your finger, you may want to let his wings grow out a bit, so he can get a little help with the landings & play with him close to the floor until then? Hope he is better soon.

[PowerBBS]

Do you keep cement perces inside of your cage. Cement perches can cause sores or inflamation on your fids feet. The calcium (eatable) perches can carry the same problems. Those sharp edges and hard surfaces just aren't good for the little fids feet.

You could try washing your fids feet in plane water and examine it for inflamed tissue and gently rub the bottom to try and find sore spots. Just be careful, as if you suspect a broken foot - you could do more damage.

In terms of clipped wings, if you leave the last three feathers of the wings unclipped you will still remove most of your birds flight ability, but you will still allow them enough flight to account for a softer landing.

In any event... a VET visit is a good idea! Our prayers out to you.

[dodgewoman]

I third the vet visit. In all honesty I have never taken Jesse to the vet BUT if something were to happen to him I would, his is my first baby after all! Birds are so fragil but also they hid their injuries well b/c they don't want to become food! I hope he is better today but if not take him in somewhere.

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by Aljoanna

I am afraid that he might have sprained his foot, or worse, broken it.

Your assumptions are accurate. As everyone has suggested, a vet visit is in order. Is there any swelling? Discoloration? Is he using the foot at all?

[Aljoanna]

Hello again. Today, Sunny is feeling better, and is standing on two feet. He walks around, and he puts more pressure on his injured foot. I am hoping his foot was just sore because of so many landings. I think that you guys are right and I should not play with him so high up until his wings grow out a little.

May I ask, because of this improvement, is a vet visit still in order?

Oh, also, his foot curls up when he stands on a perch, so that means it does not really hurt him to move his toes. Again I may have over reacted.

Would a vet visit still be necessary? He is improving.

Oh and btw, I will put your advice to future use. Thank you very much.

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by Aljoanna

Hello again. Today, Sunny is feeling better, and is standing on two feet. He walks around, and he puts more pressure on his injured foot. I am hoping his foot was just sore because of so many landings. I think that you guys are right and I should not play with him so high up until his wings grow out a little.

May I ask, because of this improvement, is a vet visit still in order?

Oh, also, his foot curls up when he stands on a perch, so that means it does not really hurt him to move his toes. Again I may have over reacted.

Would a vet visit still be necessary? He is improving.

If Sunny continues to improve and there is no discoloration over the next day or so, you probably don't need to visit the vet. It sounds more like a sprain and not a break (since he's able to move his toes). Keep watching him like a hawk, but only you can determine if a vet visit is in order after the weekend.

To prevent further mishaps, please follow the advice given by others to play with him low to the ground.....

[Aljoanna]

Originally Posted by birdlady49

If Sunny continues to improve and there is no discoloration over the next day or so, you probably don't need to visit the vet. It sounds more like a sprain and not a break (since he's able to move his toes). Keep watching him like a hawk, but only you can determine if a vet visit is in order after the weekend.

To prevent further mishaps, please follow the advice given by others to play with him low to the ground.....

Thank you very much. My Sunny seems fine now. He is fighting with the other birds again, so he seems well enough =P. Thank you! And until he grows out his wings a little I will follow advice, and play with him low to the ground