Dog Skirmish

[mrmags]

Our budgie decided to cause a ruckus yesterday whilst I was cleaning her cage. It resulted in an incident in which we're not really sure what occurred, but needless to say she escaped into the dog zone (a strictly off-limits event). Miraculously the dogs only cornered her but needless to say nobody is too pleased about the result.



We can't get to a vet, at least until tomorrow, and are looking for any pointers as how to proceed in the meantime.



She is favouring her right side and can't seem to climb down into her cage to sleep or eat. Flying is still a go but outside of evasive maneuvers isn't being employed.



There was a build-up of poop around her bottom this morning which she couldn't dislodge with her beak or foot. This tells us something is preventing her from stretching around to that area to clean.



Her right joint is very very slightly swollen, but still a healthy colour, and she is favouring the same side; not wanting to use this leg or put weight on it could prevent her from being able to preen properly.



When picked up she doesn't cry out in pain, or give the usually mouthy comments. Outside of a small "put me down right now" squirm she is quiet. This is kept to a minimum as not to further exasperate what ever is ailing her. Her wings and body don't appear to show any other signs of trauma but we're not avian vets so can't be certain.



A "cove" was made on the cage roof and she slept in there last evening. Food and water have been moved to an accessible location. The poop was manually removed and the area cleaned. Poop isn't sticking in that area during the day therefore it must be how she hunkered down to sleep.



There happens to be pain meds, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics & an analgesic available from an incident with another bird (ingrown feather). We gave her 0.03 of the metcam as an anti-inflammatory to keep things at bay and hope it isn't too rash.



What do people think?

[Marianne Marlow]

To be it sounds like she may have had a fall (hurt her leg) and be in shock. Keep her calm, make food and water easily accessible until you can get her to a vet.

Careful putting her in a "cove" as females will try and lay eggs if they feel safe and comfortable to do so.

[mrmags]

Thanks for the support.

She is starting to look a little worse for wear. Usually a clean and tidy preeny bird the feathers around her eyes are all separated to see the pink underneath, her eyes are dopey and she is breathing heavier than usual. Her leg looks more normal and possibly not swollen.

She managed to climb down into her cage (she may have avoided it earlier as when it was cleaned yesterday the contents were moved about).

Had to smile at the unexpected egg comment, that would be a first in five birds we've ever gotten an egg .... the sex of our birds has never been investigated. The birds climb into the cage around 10 pm and it is then covered at night, the top forms a tent where it opens to a rooftop perch, she snuggled next to her ball and the perch last evening.

How long would they stay in a state of shock?

[Hezz]

While she is like this you really should confine her to a small cage and keep her calm and warm but not hot, and make sure she is still eating and drinking. Give her a perch just off the floor in case she can't perch for long during the night and needs to move around. It does sound like there has been possible internal damage done so the sooner a vet can see her, the better.

[mrmags]

In attempts to lift "The Biebe's" spirits a special delivery was made of her favourite mango honey treat. She perked up immediately and started bopping around the cage and nibbling food (1st in over a day).

She bounced back and preened and nibbled when talked too, then went and rested under her ball for the afternoon.

All was good until her cover was placed over at which point she experienced a small throw up. We had a short lullaby and she settled for the entire night.

ATM she's soaking up the sun under her ball which is normal morning behaviour and it was noticed that a small amount of water was also taken.

There are no avian vets in the area and we are concerned a trip to the vet will result in the usual "she's a tiny bird - here are some meds." This is what we got for all our other birds when taken to the vet (in exception of the ingrown feather which was cauterized). But its early still and there are a few hours until anything opens.

What is a vets usual course of treatment?

Not being acclimated to human contact I'm worried taking her to a vet will stress her out to the point it makes things worse. There has been more contact in the past 2 days than in 7 years. Our birds (at one point here were 5) simply keep to themselves, they have free fly of the house (except the dog zones) and visit us at our computer stations frequently but there is no contact. Every time she is handled the more she seems to freak out (except for when we cleaned the poop off her bum the first time... she was very appreciative).

[Hezz]

A general vet will probably give her some pain relief (just in case) and a course of Baytril, if no obvious injuries can be felt.

[mrmags]

Due to our remote location from avian vets we've opted to not bring to a vet.

After a day of throwing up all over herself she appears stable, though possibly some traumatized.

The highlight was when out of nowhere she climbed onto the swing - for the first time in 7 years!

Not acclimatized to people she has been extremely responsive to affectionate attention.

[Marianne Marlow]

How is she now? vomiting is always a worrying sign.

[mrmags]

The Biebe is hanging in there.

The vomiting was only for that one day. She is eating and drinking very little, but some, and the feathers on her head aren't as clean as they usually are, we've been trying to entice her into a bath but she's having none of it (she never baths so its not unusual). Her activity level is low and she's not perching... it is also very warm right now, which isn't helping any, so she has been nestling near the fan.

She is not fluffed out, breathing heavy, or sitting with strange wing posture. Her one eye is wide and observant, the other not so much.

We're taking the days one at a time.