Sore Heel

[cierlo]

Hello everyone.

I brought a new budgie home on Monday, so he's still settling in. He's a little older, anywhere up to 18 months, been through his first moult.

I noticed last night that he had a sore on one heel. I gently scooped him up, he was still uncertain enough that he didn't resist, only wriggled and nibbled a bit. Looking at it, it looks like he's scraped it on something but it doesn't seem to be fresh enough to be bleeding. Not sure if he had it before or after he came home. I'm doing my best to be calm and slow so that he doesn't panic and bump it.

I've bought some F10 antiseptic ointment. Anyone have experience of it? And whilst waiting for that to arrive was planning to give the wound a wash with some saline later. He's a bit more willing to move away from me this morning but hopefully I'll be able to scoop him up without too much fuss.

I've also ordered some styptic liquid and Guardian Angel to have in a first aid box.
Any other recommendations of things I should have to hand?

Edit just to add: he's not favouring the leg at all, there doesn't appear to be any swelling, and no indications of pain.

Second edit: Just caught him up and washed the red patch with warm slightly salty water. No blood came off onto the tissue and he was not bothered by me touching it.

[Hezz]

Photos are needed to know what you are seeing. Clear, focused and up close, please.

Also please do not use styptic liquid or pen on a budgie. It constricts the circulation, that is how it works, which is too much on any bird. It can actually restrict the circulation to the extent of the surrounding tissue dying. To stop any bleeding you are better off applying cayenne pepper which also acts as a pain reliever, or corn flour.

[cierlo]

Hezz Thank you. I'll pick some up from the shop today.

I will try to get a suitable photo later.


Okay, I've bought some cornflour.

I can't get the camera to focus to take a clear photo and don't want to catch him again unless strictly necessary until I can teach him properly.
It's the joint up from the toes, the equivalent of our ankle. It looks like he's scraped the skin off the back and it's scabbed. I have found a single speck of blood on the platform perch, so it's likely he scraped his leg on one swing because he was trying to climb the side of it before he started dancing circles on the platform.
The swing has been removed anyway, before I discovered this. There are no signs of bleeding other than the one speck.

[Hezz]

Okay, so not on the bottom of his foot, that's good. It should heal well without too much intervention then. Just make sure it stays clean and doesn't get infected. Budgies' core temps run around the 41^oC mark so their little feet will feel warm on your finger, if you can get him there. Don't hassle him for a photo unless you feel it might be needing treatment. I was concerned about bumblefoot, which occurs on the bottom of their feet and can be very painful and hard to clear up.

[cierlo]

Not the bottom, no. More the joint that's the equivalent of our ankle, but on the back so sort of the heel.

Thank you for your help, Hezz. I'll be keeping a close eye on him.