Two days ago our budgie, Piper (~7 months old female), had a flying accident and ran into the wall. At first she went into shock but we kept her warm and luckily she pulled through. A couple hours later she had calmed down quite a bit but still wasn't using her legs so we took her to the vet (just a regular vet because we couldn't find an avian vet in our area) to check if any bones were broken etc. The vet couldn't find anything broken and said it might be nerve damage. She put Piper onto anti-inflammatory meds (Meloxicam 0.01 ml/dose twice a day for five days). That was two days ago. That same night she got control of her legs back but still cannot move her feet/toes. She has no perching reflex. The vet said that if it was nerve damage we should see improvement within 48 hours but we haven't seen any major improvement since that first night.

 

She sits on the bottom of her cage which we've padded with a cloth. She gets around fairly well by using her wings to push and her beak to pull herself along. She seems to eat and drink normally, and her personality seems to be quite normal except maybe for some (understandable!) periods of frustration. She seems to have full control of her rump and legs... everything except her toes.

 

Has anyone else had similar experiences? Is there anything else we can do? She doesn't seem to be in any pain but this certainly isn't the kind of life she would want or deserve. We really don't want to put her down but at what point do we need to start considering that option? :-(

 

 

(by the way, the vet weighed her as 53 grams.)

Edited February 25, 200817 yr by Elly
BTW is not an approved shortcut, approved shortcut list you will find them under board guidelines, thank you for understanding, edited BTW to by the way...:D)

Not all nerve damage heals and then not all nerve damage heals in 2 days, some takes longer. I still have nerve damage in my finger from where a rat bit me 6 years ago. Nerves are slow.

You can rig up a series of platforms at different heights all over her cage and then she could just fly to each one. See how she copes with that.

 

It may not even be nerve damage, it could be tendon or muscle. Just see how she copes with the platforms

I've had several birds have accidents with Major problems caused from them... all mine heal, but not in 2 days... The fact she's shown improvement is wonderful! give her time to see if she comes good... feeding and drinking is wonderful news for a bird in this siuation... euthinasia is not always the way... if she's able to feed and fly and not in pain, perhaps find an aviary thats disability friendly nearby for her to go to, to live the rest of her life

Good luck!

Welcome to our forum. Poor piper I would agree that if she's already showing signs of improvement, thats great. She may get even better, or she may not. If she's eating/drinking and seems happy she may not be in pain. It may be a case of just adjusting her cage to suit her. I hate to burst your bubble... but sometimes they don't make it also. Although it has been two days... sometimes they can look like they'll be okay, and then you find them one morning, no longer with you. Very sad but true. If this does happen, it's not your fault and she prob wont even seem like she's going down hill. Good luck and I hope everything turns out okay. Please keep us updated.

Thanks for the quick replies. We will get to work on the platform thing and making her cage more "disability friendly." Also, thanks for the encouragement. We were really starting to get worried. It's amazing how these little creatures work their way into your heart. :hap: Will keep you guys updated.

Welcome to the forums, you have received excellent advice. Please keep us updated.

Hi, welcome to the forums

hi and welcome, i hope Piper improves for you.

Well today was the last day of her medicine and there hasn't been any noticable change. She still can't use her toes, although her legs seem to be back to full strength. We've put in a low platform for the time being until we work out a better system. She does climb up on it and she's flown a little bit, but not much. She usually just climbs up to roll back down again (a bit like a budgie luge ). As pet owners we're getting used to the idea of having a disabled budgie.

 

There is only one minor problem at the moment. Seeing has she's often laying down and her poos have nowhere to drop it gets quite messy down there (dried poos getting matted in her feathers). We've been cleaning it as much as possible once a day or so, occasionally having to snip it away (very carefully) with scissors when it gets really messy. Is there any better system?

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Pluck some of the feathers from her vent area or cut them away, this will help with the cleaning.

Well it's now been 7 weeks since the accident, and there has not been much further improvement in the use of Piper's toes. She can clench them occasionally (about once a day from our observations), but this seems involuntary. She has no perch reflex. Her cage is now completely disabled friendly with various platforms. She has developed quite a system to move around, using her beak to pull herself along.

 

But she seems a happy little budgie, and seems to be full of more character then ever. In fact, sometimes I wonder if she's faking this just to get all the extra attention. She absolutely loves having her head scratched when she's out (we figure because she can no longer do so with her feet) and if she's in your lap and you're not scratching, she will nudge you until you do so.

 

We've been monitoring her weight and diet to make sure the decrease in activity doesn't mean an increase in weight. We are now putting in a controlled amount of seed each day, rather then an "endless" supply just sitting there. And we have upped her vegetable intake. She has also taken to herbs (which we never would have thought of, had we not read it on here) - she's particularly fond of basil, doesn't mind a bit of parsley, and thyme is yet to grow on her.

 

This forum helped us yet again 3 weeks ago when she had a broken blood feather. We read up what to do and were able to remove it with minimal fuss (although it was definitely a 2-person job). A new feather is growing back in it's place. So thank you for being such a great resource. A link to this website should come with every budgie sold.

I am so pleased Piper is doing well :hap:

She is a very lucky girl to have you as her owner.

The only thing i would add is she will probably need regular worming (if she's not already).

 

I have a budgie named Scooter who was given to me disabled - he has rickets and had lost all strength in his legs and toes. He slept in his seed dish and could only perch of flat perches. I have been massaging his legs and moving his toes (bit like physiotherapy) and he is now perching on round perches like all the other birds after only 4 weeks :hap:

 

I know rickets and nerve damage are very different, but its amazing how tough these little guys are, and how quicky they bury them selfs in our hearts

Glad to hear you and Piper have adjusted to a different way of doing things.

 

the people on here are wonderful and give great advie.

That is great news about Piper. You are a gem for looking after her and catering for her 'new' needs. Bless you! She sounds like she is doing very well and you are looking out for her and what she needs. A big forum CLAP for you and a gold star for your wall!!!

Glad to hear she is coping well. Hopefully she'll continue to improve over time

Glad Piper is doing somewhat better and enjoys her scratches! Can you maybe set up low ramps for her so maybe she can strengthen her legs and get around more? Bless you for taking such good care of her :ygbudgie: