Budgie hurt foot need advice

[somethingigottause]

Okay so as of yesterday my budgie has hurt his foot. Ill start off by saying I think the option of a vet is impossible. Which is why I've made an account here because I don't know what to do. My budgie hasn't fully warmed up to me; I cant just grab him whenever I want. I don't dare try to pet him because he still gets scared by my hands. And I don't want to separate him from his other budgie pal for too long. I've read that a trip to the vet could make them go into shock and knowing how scared he'd be, I say it's possible. Which scares me. Anyway, I noticed it yesterday morning since he didn't seem to walk right and was holding his foot up. I've looked at it as much as I could and it's obvious he's in pain. It doesn't look like any of his bones are protruding out and I'm really hoping it's just a sprain cause those can go away without a vet visit. If it really is broken I will obviously consider the vet but the negatives and positives cancel each other out. So yeah I don't know I'm just looking for a second opinion I guess which will probably just say go to the vet. Are we allowed to post pics on this site? (Also I should mention that I didn't see the accident so I'm not entirely sure what happened. But I notice him and the other both have long nails that get caught on things sometimes. So I think that might be what happened. And if you're worried about they're long nails, I am too. But they're scared of my hands so I'm at a loss with that too.) And I was wondering if someone had photos of the difference between a broken budgie foot and a sprained foot. Thank you!

[Marianne Marlow]

Hello there, yes you can post photos here. It would be good if we could see one.

If you're posting on a computer, you will see an add picture option when you reply.

[JennyB]

My budgies were being sick within the first 8 weeks of me having them. Fortunately for me they were in a cage that I could fit in the back seat of a car so I took them to the vet in that. I always take them both together so they don't get anxious from being separated. It's only a twenty minute drive so I know I'm very lucky in that respect.

Can you take them in the cage you currently have them in? I understand that you can't catch them as I couldn't at first. If he's holding his foot up and continues to do so the vets might be the only option left if it's more than just a sprain. They do sometimes sleep on one foot but you've said he's not walking on it which isn't good.

Other members will say to keep him warm which goes for any poorly budgie. Is he still managing to perch? Maybe you could lower some of the perches and create a soft landing area so if he can't grip and does fall he's got a soft landing.

I make sure I don't have anything long nails can catch on. They have rope perches but they're tightly twisted so they're okay the rest are natural wood. They could probably do with a clip but I'm not that confident yet.

Posting a photo would be very welcome in case someone has seen similar before.

Sorry I can't be of any more help.

[somethingigottause]

postimg.org/gallery/qs1ryrww/

I am typing this on mobile so this is the best I could do. There is an option to upload an image but for some reason it lead me to a different platform so I assume it's a bit different on a computer. With that being said I hope this link works. The link I've posted above is to photos I've uploaded. It is the blue budgie that has the foot injury and it is the foot on the left in the photos (which would be his right). Thanks for the suggestions about getting rid of things that their nails will catch on, it's a good tip! They have one branch perch and three wood perches. I should mention that his foot is doing a lil better today but it is minor improvement from yesterday. For more info on how he's acting: he doesn't move as much as before the injury, which is clear cause he's trying to avoid adding pain, and he's still eating and he chirps a little bit not as much as active as before. But he is a bit more feisty today. He holds his foot up and if he feels like going to a different part of the cage he'll hop more on his good foot. And when he wants to turn around he'll use his beak and good foot. I've read that sprains can take up to a week but yes if he doesn't seem to get better definitely taking him to a vet. Will probably bring their cage cause that is a great idea. (But I'd be nervous because it's winter here and I don't want them to be exposed to too much drafts) I'm just waiting it out and maybe someone will respond to the pics? (Again hoping the link above is accessible.) But thank you for feedback.

[Hezz]

Is it the foot or the leg that you think is hurt? If the budgie's leg is broken, the bird is going to be in a lot of pain and needs a vet asap. I don't think anyone can tell simply by looking at the photos. Does he put any weight on that leg at all, such as when he is turning around on a perch? If he does, that is good news and there is less likelihood of there being a break.

If is a sprain, depending on the severity of the sprain it could take much longer than a week for it to be totally returned to normal. Does there seem to be any redness or swelling anywhere on the leg or foot?

[somethingigottause]

I think it's his foot that's been hurting him. I mean it could be his leg but he's been holding his foot up and I haven't gotten a good look at anything but his foot. I feel like if something did happen to his leg that I'd see some sort of twist that would effect the position of his foot.  He is more active today thankfully which I'm counting that as the pain isn't as bad as it was. And yes he is still able to put pressure on his foot but he probably preferres not to since it hurts. When I pulled his cover off this morning he had both feet down, which was something he didn't do yesterday (but once he started moving he pulled it up again.) I checked for discoloration and nothing seems out of the ordinary. I've compared his bad foot to his good foot and everything seems similar. But I'm not a professional so my judgement isn't 100%. Im just waiting it out and hoping each day he shows some improvement. 

[budgiebudgie]

Hello there somethingigottause,

Shortly after getting her, I had an accident with my budgie. I didn't know quite how bad her injury was until we got to the vet.

It turned out that her long, forward facing toe had been squashed. There was a little bruising where her toe joined her foot, and also on the toe. I didn't know until we got to the vet. All I could see was that she wouldn't put her foot down and therefore wasn't using one whole foot and leg. I thought this might mean that her leg was broken. In fact, I feared that this was what had happened. She wouldn't put her foot down, so I assumed her little leg was damaged.

As Hezz said earlier, it's revealing to see if they can use their leg at all. My bird could use her poorly leg if she really really needed to. For instance, to stand on her feeding station or for balance. So this (if I'd known) would have been a sign that it wasn't broken.

When we go to the avian vet (avian, just in case the leg needed to be splinted, which fortunately - touches wood - it didn't), the vet prescribed a drop of metacam (sp?) twice a day to help her with the discomfort, and cage rest in a smaller hospital cage. That was all. Very quickly she was back to her normal self.

If I hadn't gone to the vet and had just held tight and watched her, my budgie would have recovered fully. But I couldn't stand not knowing what had happened to her, and if her leg was possibly broken I wanted it splinting right away. Fortunately, she hadn't hurt herself too badly.

I hope this is helpful and that your budgie makes a full recovery. Can you see any bruising on your budgie's feet?

[somethingigottause]

I'm assuming for bruising you mean the underside of the foot and the top, for the top it doesn't seem like there's any bruising. The bottom of his foot I've only seen it once the first day (on day three today) when he was recklessly climbing the side of the cage to travel around. When he was doing that there seemed to be no discoloration on the bottom. I'll be on the lookout to try to see the underside again. As of today he's been putting his hurt foot more lower on the perch although not putting weight on it where as the other two days he's just held itI know he's in pain so that's worrying even though with each day he seems to improve at least a little. 

[budgiebudgie]

When my bird hurt her foot, the brusing could be seen on the top of the toe, not underneath it.

There's a whole lot of difference between a bruised toe and a broken leg, but on a budgie, these can look the same - i.e. bird holding foot up not putting weight on (much).

[JennyB]

Jan 11, 2016 2:14:19 GMT somethingigottause said:

postimg.org/gallery/qs1ryrww/

I am typing this on mobile so this is the best I could do. There is an option to upload an image but for some reason it lead me to a different platform so I assume it's a bit different on a computer. With that being said I hope this link works. The link I've posted above is to photos I've uploaded. It is the blue budgie that has the foot injury and it is the foot on the left in the photos (which would be his right). Thanks for the suggestions about getting rid of things that their nails will catch on, it's a good tip! They have one branch perch and three wood perches. I should mention that his foot is doing a lil better today but it is minor improvement from yesterday. For more info on how he's acting: he doesn't move as much as before the injury, which is clear cause he's trying to avoid adding pain, and he's still eating and he chirps a little bit not as much as active as before. But he is a bit more feisty today. He holds his foot up and if he feels like going to a different part of the cage he'll hop more on his good foot. And when he wants to turn around he'll use his beak and good foot. I've read that sprains can take up to a week but yes if he doesn't seem to get better definitely taking him to a vet. Will probably bring their cage cause that is a great idea. (But I'd be nervous because it's winter here and I don't want them to be exposed to too much drafts) I'm just waiting it out and maybe someone will respond to the pics? (Again hoping the link above is accessible.) But thank you for feedback.

I folded a bed sheet to go over their cage so all sides were completely covered and then a heavy towel on top to weigh it down so the wind didn't catch it re drafts etc. I think if I took them in very bad weather I'd wrap up a hot water bottle to put on their floor to help keep them cosy. I'd definely recommend taking both together. My vet still examined my other bird and weighed them both and noted that down for future reference. I've since been practicing catching them and holding them for a few seconds then letting them go so they get as used to that as much as possible should I need to administer meds again. 

I read, on here probably, to keep the sheet over them in the vets waiting room so they don't get scared by all the comings and goings so mine are only uncovered once their in the examination room. 

it does sound like your little guy is improving though so hopefully you can just bear in mind the above for the future. Xx

[budgiebudgie]

My budgie was holding your foot exactly as yours is doing. It was slightly drawn in and raised just a little to be off the perch. Keep watching - it may be just a sprain, especially if he can put it down at all.

When I took my budgie to the vet, I got the car warmed up first (it's 15 years old and leaky as a sieve). Then I put the budgie in, in her travel cage, which was loosely covered at the back (so fibres from car upholstery didn't get in the cage) and slightly draping both ends. I made sure she had a clear view out of the front (so she could rest her eyes on the horizon and look around. I don't know if birds can be travel sick but I don't see why not, and I know it helps to look into the distance, which she did - all the way on the journey.

I hope your bird is okay. x

[budgiebudgie]

*holding HER foot

[somethingigottause]

Thanks for advice on vet visits, that is a great idea and yes I've also heard too much active motion in their environment can make them anxious so covering all sides is something to keep in mind. And thank you (for saying your birds foot looked similar) it helps ease worry. I checked a bit more for bruising at the top of his feet and everything looks fine compared to his non injured foot (except for holding it up of course.) I'm going to bed soon and then tomorrow will be day four so I will check for improvement. Will add an update on how he's doing tomorrow!

[Hezz]

If your bird is starting to use his foot, even in a slight way, then you can be sure that the leg isn't broken, so that is a big relief. I think all you can do is leave him be for the time being and see how he is recovering. Toes can be easily dislocated, but that doesn't seem to be his problem either. I would be fairly comfortable that his leg or foot will be good with a bit of time and rest.

[somethingigottause]

postimg.org/image/6ronx3f0f/

postimg.org/image/xqsis91hb/

I added more images if anyone's interested. In the first one he's kind of just hovering his bad foot over the perch (it's on the left in the picture which would be his right) and in the second one he's been holding it up like this now. I was worried about the position of one of his back foot legs, it looks odd since its kind of on an angle but then again I'm just used to seeing budgie feet be curled around a perch so it confused me. And yes he's still able to set his foot down so that's a relief! I can't tell if there's much improvement since all I've noticed is he holds it up a bit different now. I just woke up not too long ago so I'll have to see how he is throughout the day.