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Post by nettles on Nov 1, 2013 18:34:14 GMT
I read a post a while ago about how to check if claws are too long.. when Melman stands on the flat perch, I can see two of his claws on his right foot definitely need clipped as his toes bend upwards. The problem being, I haven't a hope of getting them clipped as he still won't let me touch him. I also don't want to try and grab him as its taken months for him to just let me rest my hand beside him on the perch. I have all natural perches of different shapes and sizes but they don't seem to be wearing his claws down at all. I know concrete and sand perch covers are a big no no but is there anything else I can do rather than catch him and traumatise him? Could I use the concrete/sand perches for a few weeks to see if they help?
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Post by phoebe on Nov 1, 2013 18:58:16 GMT
I'm having the same problem with my birds. The one I did clip bled even though I had special stuff to stop the bleeding it started again in the cage. I hope someone gives the answer, good question. Are your budgies nails black, this is another problem. I am purchasing a large magnifying glass from wayfair used normally in beauty salons. I am hoping it will help me , I can't see too well. I may have to pay for the vet to come to my home. I understand your dilemma. Also the bird who has the longest nails has had a stroke complicating matters for me. Hopefully some good advice will come along. I did manage to catch one bird by putting aluminum foil on a window and making it so dark the bird could not see (me not much either). That worked pretty well. I too have cement perches and they don't seem to do much. The bird that bled is ok and she forgave me. This is her. As you can see nutriberries help her get over it.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 2, 2013 1:48:25 GMT
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Post by nettles on Nov 2, 2013 3:21:06 GMT
phoebe Who would have thought nail clipping could become such a complicated problem! Good thinking with the aluminium foil! Melmans nails aren't black but Marge does have one very thin black nail.. Is that something I should be concerned about? Glad your birdie has forgiven you and she definitely looks to be enjoying those nutriberries
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Post by nettles on Nov 2, 2013 3:30:16 GMT
Hezz, if I crouch down I can see right underneath one of his front toes. It's about 5mm off the perch and the nail looks like its starting to curl under on itself and one nail at the back is making his toe bend out to one side. It was hard to tell on the normal perches but he's now started using the flat perch and it seems quite bad. They definitely need clipped There's no way I'd ever attempt it myself so it'll be a wee visit to the vet for him unfortunately If I'm not the one who actually does the catching, do you think he'll still be ok with me? I could get my mum to do it.. I don't care if he doesn't forgive her lol Just as long as he doesn't blame me! Dreading it now.. he's still so terrified of EVERYTHING and actually looks like he's going to have a heart attack when he gets scared :S
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Post by nettles on Nov 2, 2013 3:35:17 GMT
Is this something I would need a specialist avian vet for? The reason I ask is, there is an avian vet in our town but I've never used them before so don't know what they're like. Our usual vet, that we have taken all our pets too, is really fantastic.. but she's not an avian vet. What should I do?
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Jan 12, 2012 22:54:32 GMT
Nicola
Senior Spangle
Poppi, Digger, Daisy, Mawson, Cleo, Casper, Romeo, Georgia, Melmen, Rosalie, Willow, Alice and Finn
Posts: 1,148
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Post by Nicola on Nov 2, 2013 4:08:32 GMT
Im no help but I am in a similar situation with beak clipping...
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Jan 12, 2012 22:54:32 GMT
Nicola
Senior Spangle
Poppi, Digger, Daisy, Mawson, Cleo, Casper, Romeo, Georgia, Melmen, Rosalie, Willow, Alice and Finn
Posts: 1,148
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Post by Nicola on Nov 2, 2013 4:10:53 GMT
You could always give your usual vet a ring and see if they know anything about birds. Seeing as it is only nail clipping and not an illness diagnosis, I think your usual vet would be fine. And plus, if your vets make you pay for clipping, the avian vet would probably be dearer seeing as they specialize.
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Post by stace on Nov 2, 2013 4:38:07 GMT
I've found that the avian vets aren't generally any more expensive than normal vets. It's just that the avian vets, if they're any good, will run tests to confirm what's wrong and a normal vet just looks at the bird and kind of guesses. The extra cost is due to the extra tests.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 2, 2013 10:04:45 GMT
I think your regular vet would be fine, nettles. All, or most, animals we keep as pets need this service to different degrees - I have never had a pet that needed it's claws clipped, but I know that it is a very common problem ........ but I totally agree with Nicola's suggestion of ringing your local vet and asking the question, especially if you already have a good relationship there. It is only a nail clipping, after all! And I love the idea of making Mum the ogre!
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Post by lemonade on Nov 2, 2013 12:08:34 GMT
I'd just take him to the vet. It's a quick process for them and it stops you being the bad one in their eyes! I'd go to the avain vet though, even for just a clip. Just saying this because I thought my local vet would be ok for a simple nail clip and paddy came out covered in blood. They didn't even know what 'cere' meant and were calling him a she!
The local vet charged me £4.20 and the avian charged £6.40, so it's not too expensive.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,775
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 2, 2013 12:13:47 GMT
If you go to a normal vet then make sure you explain about the bloodline that goes down the centre of the nail!
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Post by phoebe on Nov 2, 2013 15:54:03 GMT
phoebe Who would have thought nail clipping could become such a complicated problem! Good thinking with the aluminium foil! Melmans nails aren't black but Marge does have one very thin black nail.. Is that something I should be concerned about? Glad your birdie has forgiven you and she definitely looks to be enjoying those nutriberries It's just that black nails make it harder to see a little vein in my opinion. My bird who is worst has black nails.
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Post by nettles on Nov 3, 2013 0:59:49 GMT
Thanks everyone Ok, as I've absolutely no clue about the bloodline in their nails and Melman is not hand tame AT ALL, I think I'll just take him to the avian vet. Hopefully they'll know how to handle him and if anything does go wrong, he's at a specialist vet who'll know what to do... I'll also take Marge along for the journey as I'm a little worried about her cere as it seems so be getting thicker. I''ll get her checked out while I'm there. I'll ring on Monday and make an appointment.. I may get my mum over to try and start catching them now as they're not gonna leave their cage willingly! Fingers crossed this doesn't set them back
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Post by nettles on Nov 3, 2013 1:05:00 GMT
phoebe Who would have thought nail clipping could become such a complicated problem! Good thinking with the aluminium foil! Melmans nails aren't black but Marge does have one very thin black nail.. Is that something I should be concerned about? Glad your birdie has forgiven you and she definitely looks to be enjoying those nutriberries It's just that black nails make it harder to see a little vein in my opinion. My bird who is worst has black nails. Lol sorry, I'm new to this whole birdie thing so I didn't realise some budgies actually had black nails!! My two have clear nails and i can see the vein running down them. I just assumed they were all like that.. Doh! I panicked a bit when I read your post as Marge has one darker nail. I thought it was an illness!
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