We discovered today that a twist tie that my husband had used to fasten a toy to the top of Cosmo's cage now has some of the plastic missing. :sadsorry:

He had tried to stick all the twist tie so far out of the cage that Cosmo couldn't get to it, but he somehow did... we caught him trying to rip it off. But we can't see any of the plastic underneath on the floor of the cage!!

It could be that he ripped it off a few days ago and I didn't notice it when cleaning out the cage, but I think I would have, as they were both in quarantine until today and I examined their poos a lot.

 

So... either it has somehow compressed and shrunk into itself... or he has possibly swallowed it. He's looking and acting fine but I am a bit worried and will take him to a vet at any sign of not being quite right.

 

Is there anything I should know about the possibility of budgies swallowing plastic? Anyone had this happen before? I really don't know... I would like to think he hasn't, because I can't even imagine it would be easy or pleasant to swallow... or if he has, I hope it's in tiny pieces and with food, so that it doesn't clump together and not be able to pass through.

 

Oh dear, this is the third safety thread I've posted recently, am starting to feel like a bad bird owner!

Maybe it was shredded so fine and dropped you just havent noticed it ?

Maybe it was shredded so fine and dropped you just havent noticed it ?

Their's always a different solution to everything :sadsorry: i do not think cosmo would have eaten it.... Did you check in his water? his seed? bottom of his tray? on the floor? could be anywhere

 

if your talking about the fine peice of bendy metal confined by a bit of cardboard strip kinda thing then he most likely would have chewed it to bit's and then dropped the hardly visible metal strip on the ground.

Edited July 21, 200915 yr by mattdog2

He most likely will be okay, just keep an eye on him, if he did eat any of it it will probably come out the other end :sadsorry:

I agree, budgies usually chew things, but dont swallow non food items. If some did get swallowed than it will pass :sadsorry:

They are unusually curious about twist ties, I tried to introduce Django to his cuttlefish bone and he was more interested in the twist tie I'd attached to its metal frame for hanging the bone.

Well at least you are consistent...

But seriously, we must all be so vigilant against those hidden pitfalls...

lol Richo I think the only consistent thing in all this is my apparent paranoia

 

Thanks everyone --- I really couldn't imagine that he had swallowed it but I couldn't find any other explanation. I feel a lot better now. It's not just that he looks fine and healthy -- but he's actually very vibrant and full of life... bouncing around and dancing and being incredibly noisy now that Piccolo is in the same room. I was just worried that he might end up with an obstruction if he swallowed a lot of plastic at once, but there's no signs of it and I don't really know the timeframe of how long he chewed it up for either. Oh well... I guess it will always remain a mystery!