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Post by Emily on Nov 1, 2013 21:42:11 GMT
I'm having my worst nightmare right now (or it just seems like my worst nightmare) I came home from PetSmart and went to let Pepper out. I noticed she was favoring one foot, and when she climbed onto my finger, her right foot was light. She doesn't want to stand on it, I've inspected it, touched it---there are no sores, no bleeding. It LOOKS bruised on one talon. She is eating normal, drinking normal amounts (sips, not chugging) and still is her bubbly/playful self. I'm not sure if I should rush her to the vet or see if it will be okay in a couple days. She walks normal on carpet or the blanket I have on top of the cage and SOMETIMES steps up using it but then switches. I can't figure out what might have happened to her while I was gone (gone for 4 hours). Bubbles is in Whisper's cage because he somehow made his way into it when I had the doors open, no ladders or perches are out of place. I have a swing, a destructible toy, two bell toys and balls with bells in them. What is dangerous in there so I can destroy it!? The only reason I'm making this post first is because it's not payday...and I'm afraid to spend the $60+ if it's something not serious. I've felt all around the rest of her body and rump (since some crazy google sites said it could mean Egg bound) but her butt is fine and she's still trying to annoy Whisper in her cage. Here is a pick of the talon that I feel looks a little bruised (although it could be my eyes going paranoid crazy)  I've made one call asking about it and the vet assistant advised to watch her and if she starts deteriorating in behavior to bring her in but I've read posts on Google that bring up neurological problems to egg binding to all these other things. |
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Post by Emily on Nov 1, 2013 21:48:41 GMT
Just an Update:
She's still rambunctious, grinding her beak and sitting under my husband's chin. Still walking on it but when she stops she brings it up slightly...
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Post by Sarah on Nov 1, 2013 23:38:36 GMT
Okay, here's the first thing to know about baby cockatiels. They are so adorable... but hun... they are a bit dumb and a lot clumsy lol! She's a little kid, and bumps and scrapes and bruises are going to happen. She will learn from her mistakes and grow up like all kids do. Pirate got a few toes pinched along the way, let me tell you. They are very scary when they happen at first, but this is almost certainly skinned knee territory. If you are really worried about her, you can try to get her to put her foot on an ice cube wrapped in paper towel: this gave pirate some comfort if there was every any bruising, heat or swelling as a consequence of his misadventures. If she is anything at all like Pirate with his little bumps and even his great big clumsy wangs, she will probably be fine again in 24 hours. If she is beak grinding, take that as an excellent sign. She is accepting comfort from you and your husband, and she has a feeling of wellbeing. If she were in a really bad state, she wouldn't be doing that.
On the one in a million chance it could be something else, just keep a close eye (I know you will anyway) particularly for prolonged shaking or soft out of context crying... but for now I really wouldn't put her through the trauma of the car ride and full examination a vet trip would mean.
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Post by Emily on Nov 1, 2013 23:56:34 GMT
Thanks Sarah, that makes me feel a LOT better. I've just revamped her cage and made sure everything was solid and not wabbly that would have made her fall off or something. She's resting on a soft fuzzy blanket right now with a bunch of seeds in a bowl next to her. She probably thinks she's in heaven. Her foot doesn't seem any worse, and she's applying some pressure to it.
Without making another thread, I'm SO confused about sand perches vs concrete perches. I talked to the "pro" in the bird section and she said sand perches are fine and don't cause sores. I'm inclined to NOT believe her and stay on the safe side, but Pepper's claws are feeling a tad sharp. Is there anything that I can do to "file" them down without cutting them?
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Post by Sarah on Nov 2, 2013 0:02:16 GMT
Yes, you can work on training her to tolerate nail filing lol. You can use the same ones on her as you do on yourself. I some times do this with Pirate, but most of the time I use nail clippers to dull just the point. Natural wood perches with the bark still on will also help her to file them down herself a little
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Post by Emily on Nov 2, 2013 0:08:41 GMT
How do I train her to allow me to file her nails? I think once her foot is all better I'll also trim just the tip (so it doesn't stab me every time she moves or climbs on my neck  |
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Post by Sarah on Nov 2, 2013 0:16:21 GMT
Well, you start by getting her accustomed to your handling her feet. Touch them and praise her and make a fuss, give her treats for letting you pick up her toes and manipulate her nails. Start rubbing at the tip of the nail with your thumb, so she gets used to the back and forth motion, and then just do it with a nail file.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 2, 2013 3:29:53 GMT
I'm so glad she's okay, Emily! Please tell us how she's doing in the morning.
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Post by Emily on Nov 3, 2013 4:13:33 GMT
Pepper is doing better today. Her poor foot definitely looks bruised though. Although it does look sore, she hasn't stopped her normal activities of knocking Whisper's swing down, and chasing Bubbles on top of the cage. She still climbs and perches in her normal area at bed time (I put a soft cloth at the bottom of the cage in case she was too hurt to climb up the ladders and branches. I think by tomorrow she will be putting her full weight on her foot.  |
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Post by Pammy on Nov 3, 2013 4:44:04 GMT
Oh, I'm so glad the little darling is doing better! I know it's naughty of her, but I think it's so funny that she knocks Whisper's swing down, and that you called that a normal activity for her. HA!!
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Post by Emily on Nov 3, 2013 4:55:12 GMT
I do too! At first I thought Whisper was being to rough on it (The hook is plastic so I thought it was slipping off the bar). One day I sat and watched Pepper unhook the plastic part and drop it in Whisper's cage. Every time I hooked it back up, Pepper needed to unhook it. Today I finally got another swing for poor Whisper that has a metal hook that connects. Pepper is a bit of a bully to her smaller siblings sometimes.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 3, 2013 5:17:09 GMT
Not that I want Pepper to be a bully, of course! But I am a little relieved to hear it, because I just keep hearing the opposite about potential problems arising from housing a cockatiel with budgies. That the budgies are the ones who might pick on the cockatiel, even though budgies are so much smaller.
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Post by Emily on Nov 3, 2013 5:32:00 GMT
I'm not sure if it has to do with Pepper being female, but Whisper and Bubbles love following Pepper around and being by her. I'll try uploading a video of them tailing along with her when I get the chance. It's definitely cute, and although Pepper and Whisper don't like each other, Whisper definitely knows that Pepper is the boss.
When I watch Bubbles and Pepper in their cage, Pepper minds her own business and Bubbles kind of just watches and admires her. It's really kind of cute. I feel like Bubbles is a hopeless romantic who can't get either lady-Pepper or Whisper no matter how much he tries. His bobbing of the head and tweeting fall on deaf ears. I hope one day I can find a lady bird that will dote on poor Bubbles hahaha.
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Post by Sarah on Nov 3, 2013 17:48:04 GMT
Aww. He's so handsome too! XD It's wonderful that Pepper seems to be recovering well - a visible injury on the foot now confirms it was a bump and not any kind of neurological issue. It's nice to hear you are keeping her comfy too  |
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Post by Emily on Nov 3, 2013 17:57:40 GMT
She was doing a lot better this morning, but she keeps dive bombing off of the cage. She's inside now and she's doing all these things that she shouldn't be doing with a sore foot! How can it get better if she keeps doing goofy stuff lol.  |
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