When I went to feed Andante and Frisky this morning I noticed that Frisky is holding her foot up and away from the perch as if it has been injured. There is no blood anywhere, but of course I'm still worried...

 

Could she have hurt it during a night fright? How can you tell if it is broken or if it will heal? Should I bandage it or will it heal naturally?

 

Help!!!

There are many possible causes of her bad foot. She could have banged it or something during a night fright (Did she have one recently?). She could have wrenched it in a toy. Parakeets are known to get kidney tumors, and that can affect how the hind limb works. My Cupid was holding his wing and foot funny a few weeks ago, and the vet couldn't figure out what was going on - something neurological most likely. Rest and meds helped him. As you can see, there is a wide variety of possible causes.

 

As for bandaging, unless you can see that something is certainly wrong, I would leave her foot alone. And if you can see that a toe is crooked or whatever, take her to an avian vet to be sure its bandaged correctly. But I'd just leave it. Bandaging a bird can cause them stress, which can make them more susceptible to illness, and they can pick at the bandage and possibly make things worse. Not to mention I've heard of birds chewing their foot off because a bandage was put on to tightly.

 

I would try to keep her quiet so she can rest her foot, maybe give her a soft padded perch (a little towel around a ladder laid horizontally for instance) and just see what happens. If she changes her behavior in any way, I'd definitely take her to an avian vet. If it doesn't get better in a day or two, or gets worse, I'd take her in too.

 

i hope she's feeling better soon and good luck!

Sorry Frisky has been injured. Please DO NOT bandage it as you don't know if it is sprained, fractured, arthritis or joint infection. You could do more harm than good. The only way that you will know what is going on with Frisky is to take her to an avian vet. Hopefully x-rays won't be required but your vet would be the best person to judge. Hope Frisky gets better really soon.

I agree with all the good advise and do take her to an avian vet because any infection can get worse, into the blood stream and kill your precious budgie.

Thank-you for all your replies. :-)

 

I don't think it could be a kidney problem etc as Frisky is only a young budgie - was born in June last year. She always has access to clean water, seed, cuttle fish, and fresh fruit/vegetables. I've seen her eat them too, so I know it's not just Andante getting to them. I thought kidney disease etc was only in older budgies or budgies without proper nutrition?

 

I think she may have had a night fright. The past few nights I've *heard* wing batting around the cage at around 4am. I've always got up to check and they've always been fine, and even this morning when I checked she seemed fine, until I went to feed her at 7am...

 

She may have just knocked it. When I get back from work I'll put some towel down like you suggested. I think I'll leave it today and if she's still holding it tonight or tomorrow it will be a trip to the vet! I'm lucky that my vet has a bird specialist there.

 

I hope she's feeling better when I get home...

Edited March 26, 200718 yr by Elyse

Hopefully it won't be a kidney issue! I'm not sure if its reserved for older budgies though because it was also a possibility when I brought Cupid in. He's not very old either. Lets keep our fingers crossed that its something simple and very fixable!

I have had the exact same problem with Pippin over the last couple of weeks (he isn't even 2 until May). I took him to my avian vet who put him on antibiotics with the view that it maybe a kidney infection or at the worst a testicular tumour (which meds can't do anything for). Well the good news is that after being on the meds Pippin is now back to normal and is using his foot again with no problems. He is back at the vets on Friday for a check up, but all the signs are good.

 

I would strongly recommend a visit to the vets just to check out the problem. My vet told me that as the kidney enlarges it presses on the nerves in the legs causing lameness. It could be a similar problem.

 

Let us know how he is.

Kidney disease is not reserved for the older budgie. My Rainbow died of kidney tumors (both kidneys) shortly before he turned 4. He ate pellets, seed, sprouts, veggies and fruit daily, and was out of the cage several hours at minimum daily for fly time. His feather quality was outstanding - he appeared to shimmer. His problem was probably genetic, although he was on numerous antibiotics when he was young as he was sick when I brought him home around the age of 4 months or so. I was told he probably should not have lived as long as he did, but a nutritious diet and good care kept him going. He lived for 6 months after diagnosis (he was already becoming lame on one side which was the clue at first. You couldn't feel the tumors at that stage yet.) which is unheard of as they are very fast growing tumors. You just never know with things like that. I hope that is not the issue with your bird.

 

How are things going today?

Edited March 27, 200718 yr by Rainbow

Thank-you everyone for your input.

 

This morning I checked Frisky out when I was refreshing the seed/water and putting some carrot around the cage. She is still holding that leg up and not putting any weight on it at all.

 

I called the bird specialist at the vet this morning and she doesn't think that it's kidney disease as she had a night fright hours before I noticed her leg. She thinks that it is probably fractured and will require a splint and antibiotics, but she wants to see her nontheless.

 

I work nine to five, one and half hours from home so I can't get her to the vet until the weekend. This will not do! So my brother has taken her in this morning and I will pick her up by 7 tonight.

 

The vet was most concerned if she was bleeding or if there was blood around the cage, which there wasn't. So it's probably not as serious as if she was bleeding, which is good to hear.

 

I can't wait to see her tonight on the road to recovery! I just want her to be more comfortable as I can imagine that she's not very happy at the moment...

Just got off the phone to the vet. They did an x-ray and she has quite an awful fracture in her tibula. They are going to line it up as best they can, but as budgie bones are thin and frail it can be quite difficult to do. She has nerve damage as they aren't getting a very good response from her foot.

 

They are going to splint her up and put her on anti inflamatories to keep her comfortable. She will probably never have 100% function of her foot again.

 

I'm really upset. Andante is the only trouble-free budgie I've had, and the girls either fly away when some bugger comes off the street and opens their cage; mysteriously do a Heudini and escape from a cage to then mysteriously exit three closed doors and get outside; or permenantly damage themselves.

 

And it's costing me $150 which is a lot on my low wage. I don't mind spending it because she's my pet and I love her, and that's what you do, but it still adds to it.

 

Bloody night frights...

 

Sorry to hear that there is a fracture but now Frisky if getting the required treatment and will be fine, what a relief it must be to you (and us). :fear As for the money, you just do it and cut out on other stuff like dinners out, partying, it will work out.

Sorry to hear that there is a fracture but now Frisky if getting the required treatment and will be fine, what a relief it must be to you (and us). As for the money, you just do it and cut out on other stuff like dinners out, partying, it will work out. :ausb:

 

Yes, I know the money will work out. I wouldn't feel so bad except that just last week I spent $450 on a braces payment and $200 on the dentist!

 

And she's not out of the woods yet. If the nerve damage is too bad then her foot could simply fall off. :ausb: Yes, gross I know. Poor thing. I hope her nerves will grow back and even if she doesn't have 100% use then she has at least enough to get around...

 

Frisky is the budgie on the left of my avatar by the way. That was taken when she was just a baby!

I am glad to hear you took her to the avian vet. It will work out some how we do for our pets. I remember having Maxx our cat in for 4 days and 600.00 later it is crazy but they give us so much back the little we give them is certainly worth it when you look how long they do live :ausb:

I'm sorry she has a broken bone. It is serious but thankfully not as serious as kidney issues or tumors. I think she must have caught her foot in something, like a toy, cage bars, something like that and during the night frights they are absolutely terrified anyway so probably was thrashing to get loose and snapped it. If they seem prone to them there are things to try and lessen their occurrance, and I think I would check the cage and see if you can guess what she was stuck on.

 

I know you are concerned about the nerve damage to her foot, but rest assured she will find a way to navigate if there is any. Rainbow learned how to walk on the leg itself once his foot permanently curled up from the tumor pressing on the nerve. Once the leg fully seized up he got around on one leg and still loved to fly (and figured out the best way to land with only one leg).

 

I don't see how the foot would fall off unless their is no blood supply. I think if the vet is able to set it so that the ends of the bone are together and not pushed against a nerve she will regain most use. It is so heart-wrenching I know. But should you need to make any cage modifications for her in the future, I can help with ideas or we will all brainstorm for you. I hope you can tell she feels better when you go to pick her up. I know she will be very glad to see a familiar face!

Edited March 27, 200718 yr by Rainbow

Well I brought Frisky home last night. She's not tame but I could tell she was glad to see me! Her leg is actually through a drinking straw with gauze wrapped around that, and then blue sticky gauze around that. She's picking at the blue gauze every so often as it's obviously annoying her. I have moved the cage to my room so if I hear anything during the night I can wake up straight away and check that she's okay. Suprisingly she's moving around the cage really well, and is having no problems flying if she feels like getting somewhere quicker! She's eating normally (loved the choy sum I gave them this morning!) and seems totally normal, just a little awkward with her peg leg. She's a real trooper!

 

I have to giver her an anti-inflamatory once a day to keep her comfortable, and the splint must stay on for two weeks. Then there's another visit to the vet and hopefully the splint can come off.

 

I asked the vet about any changes I need to make to the cage short term while she has the splint, and long term if there is permanant damage. The vet said she is moving around the cage quite well and I have a good set up, so short term it can stay as it is. Also putting her in a smaller hospital cage would probably stress her out as she is very dependent on Andante for company as she isn't tame. We won't know what changes need to be made to the cage long term (if any) until the splint comes off and we can assess her movement etc.

 

Thanks Rainbow for offering to brainstorm ideas to modify the cage. If she has problems getting from the bottom of the cage to the top I've thought about getting a rope perch and attaching it to the base of the cage, with the other end on the side near an existing branch perch. Does that sound like a good idea? Any other possible suggestions?

 

I will take some pictures when I get home from work so you can see what she's hauling around!

Oh wow... I'm sorry to hear that her leg is broken! But, like it was said earlier, its MUCH more treatable than other issues that could have been causing the lameness. I'm really so glad you were able to figure out a way to get her to the vet in spite of your schedule! She's lucky to have such a caring mom. So many people would have waited till the weekend, and that's just not good. You're doing a great job of taking care of her. Keep it up and she'll be good in no time! Best of healing wishes...

awe I am so glad she is home with you and on the mend, keep us update.

Glad to hear her leg is splinted and even if it doesn't heal anatomically correct, she will be able to use it to get around. (don't think it will be falling off or the limb dying). At the Wildlife Shelter we have had many birds come and go with an injury to one leg, they can usually adapt to having just one. The exception to this would be a woodpecker type bird that needs both legs to survive. Let us know how Frisky is doing. :hap:

Edited March 28, 200718 yr by Phoebe

Well, giving Frisky her medicine last night was interesting... She's not all that keen on anyone trying to catch her and she doesn't understand that we're trying to make her better.

 

On the upside there's no change in her - she is still the same old Frisky, just a little slower and bumblier than normal! I'm watching for any signs of stress but she seems okay and she's not biting at her splint anymore that I can tell.

 

Below are some pictures taken last night. You can see the angle at which her leg is straightened.

 

Andante and Frisky together. Andante has been looking after her. The choy sum they made a meal of!

 

Turning to say hi to me.

 

Her body position from the front.

 

From the side...

 

Moving from the perch behind her to the swing. You can see that she is using her chest for support.

 

The cage set up in my room. While it is near the window it's a covered balcony so it never gets direct sunlight.

 

Oh, and I'm posting some pictures in the Genetics forum too. :-)

bless her sweet heart she looks so adorable with that splint and doing excellent perching get better Frisky!

Awww, she's adorable!!! While the splint looks pretty awkward, you can tell she's being a trooper about it and getting along just fine in spite of it. And Andante is quite the looker himself!

It's kind of amazing just how long a budgie leg is when it's straightened out like that. She's on the road to recovery now, all you have to do is spoil her...

I just thought I'd update you with how Frisky is going.

 

Two days before her two-week check up she managed to shake the splint off! When I told the vet she didn't seem that concerned as at least it was a good sign that the swelling had gone down. She felt around the area and it still wasn't stable, so on went another splint.

 

On Friday she had a 10 day check up from the time the second splint was attached. Another x-ray was taken and I could see where the bone has started to fuse together again. It's not perfectly aligned, but it's straight so she will be able to use her leg to some extent. She's also using her leg for balance, and although not using it normally (not gripping properly, not putting her full weight on it) she's using it. Nerves take a long time to heal, and the vet it happy that she's using it at all. The limb is stable so, the splint has come off!

 

There's a bit of blood on the leg where the splint has rubbed, which is rather distressing to look at, but Frisky doesn't seem too fussed.

 

I spoke to the vet about how I can alter my cage to make life more comfortable - I've noticed that she is having trouble going downwards - towards the seed etc. I'm going to buy some new perches and place them sideways along the cage rather than longways. The vet seems to think this will make a difference.

 

Pictures coming soon.

 

Hi Elyse, I have no idea how I missed this thread before, but reading through it, Frisky is such a sweety and looked so cute with her leg sticking straight out in front with that splint on. At least it was colour coordinated. I'd love to see the pics of how she is doing now. She will be very happy to not have the splint on and will adjust to her new leg quickly.

 

 

Feathers.

glad to hear she is on the repair and look forward to the pics :fear