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is my bird o.k

Guest emma mcdonald
Guest emma mcdonald
in Health Questions and Tips

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my bird mash seems to keep lifting his feet as if he can't put his weight on feet.is this common what could this mean?can you help? :)

Hi Emma

 

how old is he?

 

are his perches all sorts of different thicknesses?

 

i know there is a foot problem called bumble foot not uncommon in budgies. Not sure what the first syptoms are though .

 

take him to the vet ifyou are really worried

my bird mash seems to keep lifting his feet as if he can't put his weight on feet.is this common what could this mean?can you help? :)

 

Not sure Emma? My Patch lifts her feet and almost gives them a little shake and then ruffles herself down. Looks to me like she's just having a little stretch!

 

Have you got a variety of perches in Mash's cage?

HE JUST HAS ONE SIZE OF WOODEN PERCHES ,BUT IN THE CORNER OF THE CAGE THEY HAVE PLSTIC PERCHES.BUT THEY ARE MOSTLY ON THE WOODEN ONES.

i think you should take him to the vet to make sure he isnt coming down with bumblefoot.

 

it is very important to have many different sized perches in the cage. a rope one and some natural branches that you can buy from pets at home. this will prevent bumblefoot.

 

just wooden dowel perches and pastic ones are no good im afraid.

What's bumble foot?? :)

it is where the foot gets infected and gets a big lump on it. it happens if the birds feet stay in the same position, which is why you need lots of different sized perches.

Oh I see. Yup, Patch is just strectching then. She has concrete, rope and fruit twig to sit on.

 

Do you think that might be whats up with Mash, Emma? I hope he will be okay. Let us know what happens.

 

Like Pixie said you can get lots of different perches at Pets at Home....they cost a few pennies, but they are well worth it!

 

Good luck :)

possibly.i am going to the pet shop this afternoon to get some new perches and rope.because he has only just started to do this it should be early enough to stop it developing.

thanks for your help.

emma :)

my bird mash seems to keep lifting his feet as if he can't put his weight on feet.is this common what could this mean?can you help? :bluebudgie:

 

It sounds like bumble foot and there's no guarantee the reason is the perches.

 

Nevertheless, ideally try to obtain non-toxic natural branches (clean, wash and dry thoroughly before fitting them in the cage).

If you can't do this, then make sure the perches are of different diameters in order to let your bird get some foot and toe exercise.

 

A treatment you should use to try to fix this problem (basically a problem with the feelings in the nerves of the foot) is to pick up your bird and massage its feet top and bottom AT LEAST 2 or 3 times a week.

 

Gil Solomon

Budgie Care Publications

www.budgiecare.com.au

I thought bumble foot was caused when a bird gets a small cut or scratch on its foot and then goes on dirty perches. :bluebudgie:

I thought one of the causes was perches all of the same size?

I thought bumble foot was caused when a bird gets a small cut or scratch on its foot and then goes on dirty perches. :bluebudgie:

 

Hi Bea,

 

This has nothing to do with it.

 

"Bumble foot" is a problem with the nerves in the foot and one very positive way to try to cure it is to massage the bird's feet.

As I said in my reply to Emma she needs to massage her budgie's feet at least 2 or 3 times a week.

 

If I were her though I'd do it twice daily - I hope she reads this last comment

 

Regards

Gil

Birds get bumblefoot from standing on very rough perches, or on sanded perch covers. A grain of sand can cut the birds foot or get imbedded in it and then the foot becomes infected and swollen.

 

It might not be bumblefoot... a bird hopping from side to side (if repeatedly) can be a sign of boredom. Are there plenty of toys in the cage and stuff for it to look at (or in the case of my birds, something to destroy?).

 

If this doesn't sound likely then the changes are that like "budgie care publications" said it could be a nerve problem from having the same sized perches, or more likely mash is just excited to see you :bluebudgie:

Birds get bumblefoot from standing on very rough perches, or on sanded perch covers. A grain of sand can cut the birds foot or get imbedded in it and then the foot becomes infected and swollen.

 

It might not be bumblefoot... a bird hopping from side to side (if repeatedly) can be a sign of boredom. Are there plenty of toys in the cage and stuff for it to look at (or in the case of my birds, something to destroy?).

 

If this doesn't sound likely then the changes are that like "budgie care publications" said it could be a nerve problem from having the same sized perches, or more likely mash is just excited to see you  :bluebudgie:

 

Please don't mis-quote me.

I did NOT say that the the nerve problem was CAUSED by having the same size perches.

Having the same size perches could cause cramps (especially for those birds that are not tamed enough to come out of their cages and therefore don't have the opportunity of walking on various surfaces) because the bird is not getting any toe or foot exercise.

 

For this reason I do recommend the use of non-toxic natural branches (clean, wash and dry thoroughly before fitting into the cage).

If one can't get this, then I recommend perches of differing diameters.

 

I don't know how "Bumble Foot" is caused and even if the bird in question has it.

From the symptoms described I am assuming it does.

Only a Bird Veterinarian would know this for sure.

 

However, IF the bird has "Bumble Foot" then the treatment described in my first reply to Emma would certainly have a positive effect and possibly cure the problem.

That is, she MUST massage the bird's feet.

Bumble foot (pododermatitis)

 

Bumble foot refers to an inflammatory or degenerative condition of the foot. In mild cases, redness or swelling on the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot, while severe bumble foot involves deep-seated abscesses and infection of the bone. This condition is most prevalent in heavy bodied birds such as amazons, raptors and waterfowl. Many factors are thought to be involved - including poor nutritional status, improper perches, improper environment and trauma to the foot. Early bumble foot can be treated successfully while severe cases involving bone carry a poor prognosis.

 

 

 

Thank you for your input Gil. I will add to my library. :bluebudgie:

Bumble foot (pododermatitis)

 

Bumble foot refers to an inflammatory or degenerative condition of the foot. In mild cases, redness or swelling on the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot, while severe bumble foot involves deep-seated abscesses and infection of the bone. This condition is most prevalent in heavy bodied birds such as amazons, raptors and waterfowl. Many factors are thought to be involved - including poor nutritional status, improper perches, improper environment and trauma to the foot. Early bumble foot can be treated successfully while severe cases involving bone carry a poor prognosis.

 

 

 

 

 

I think I must get bumblefoot then :D

 

Who will massage my foot? :(Laughing out loud):

Who will massage my foot? :(Laughing out loud):

 

:D

 

How did you get on Emma? Did you find some nice perches for Mash? Has he had his massage today yet....lucky thing!!

 

Oh to be a bird :blush:

my bird mash seems to keep lifting his feet as if he can't put his weight on feet.is this common what could this mean?can you help? :D

Can i also just point out that he could just be resting his foot. Does he tuck it up in his feathers?

Can i also just point out that he could just be resting his foot. Does he tuck it up in his feathers?

 

 

Bea, I was wondering the same thing! :D

Can i also just point out that he could just be resting his foot. Does he tuck it up in his feathers?

 

Oh good point Bea! When Patch was a baby she took ages to master the hang of sitting on one leg, so her leg used to go up and down up and down till she got her balance...it was quite sweet :D

I GAVE A HIM MASSAGE TODAY HE DIDN'T REALLY LIKED BEING HANDLED BUT THATS TOUGH.

 

I WENT TO A PET SHOP TODAY BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUITABLE PERCHES.I AM GOING TO A BETTER ONE TOMMORROW AFTER WORK HOPEFULLY IT SHOULD SOUGHT THE PROBLEM.

 

I LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS FOOT AND IT WAS A BIT RED.

 

THEY DO FLY AROUND THE BEDROOM THEY LOVE IT,THEY THINK IT'S A GAME WHEN I TRY TO PUT THEM BACK IN.

 

THEY WILL GO ON MY FINGER EASILY BUT THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE CAGE.AND OH DO THEY LOVE A BIT OF LETTUCE.

 

THANKS FOR THE HELP OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE NO CLUE AND BE RUNNING TO ASK THE VET HOW TO HELP.I WILL KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.

 

BANGERS HAS HIS CHIRP BACK AND HE IS HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

 

THANK GOODNESS. EMMA :D

 

NO HE DOESN'T TUCK HIS FOOT UNDERNEATH I THINK HE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH STANDING ON IT.

 

HOPEFULLY THE TIPS I GOT WILL HELP HIM.

 

THANKS.EMMA

thats great emma, hope you find some suitable perches soon :D it will do him good.

 

could you please not post in all capital letters though, as it makes it seem like you are shouting.

 

thanks

 

pix

Hi Emma,

 

Everyone on this forum is going on as if new perches are the solution to your bird's problem.

 

I have just received reliable confirmation that IF the bird has Bumble Foot, the perch size, as I suspected, has NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

 

As I said in one of the commentaries above, having perches of differing diameters will stop the bird getting cramps because it will be getting a lot of foot and toe exercise.

 

However, IF your bird has Bumble Foot, the nerves in the foot are inflammed and massaging is one of the positive things you can do.

I'd do it daily if I were you. If you can't, then 2 or 3 times a week would be the minimum.

 

If after a reasonable amount of time you see that the massaging isn't doing much good, then take your bird to a good Bird Veterinarian.

 

Thanks Daz for giving that definition

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