DYH Amazon toenail injury

My Amazon likes to perch on top of our kitchen cupboard door, and tried to climb down to get inside, and got her big front toenail caught in the door hinge. It wasn't pinching her at first, as she appeared to just be using it to hang from when I noticed her there (not distressed or crying). But when I tried to get her out, I think I moved the door in the wrong direction and pinched her nail in it for a second, as she screamed when I did it. I moved it the other way immediately and got her right out, but now she's favoring that foot, holding it way up in her feathers and trying not to use it unless necessary.

There's no bleeding or cut or anything, and I'm almost positive it was just her nail that got pinched, not her toe at all. Because her nail was the only part in the hinge.

A good sign is that when I put her on my bed, she started playing with her toy using both feet and seemed happy like nothing is wrong. And she will perch on my finger with both feet and climb her cage with both too, w/o any crying or limping.

But when she's just resting, she still holds that foot up and favors it like it's hurting or something. So I'm just wondering if we should take her to the vet, or wait and see?

(The main thing I'm concerned about in the immediacy if she keeps standing on 1 foot, that good foot is eventually going to start hurting too. Should we keep her on a soft/flat surface like a pillow so she doesn't have to put all her weight on 1 foot?)

Thanks

I'm very sorry that your Thread has been missed.

Welcome to Parrot Forums! And, specifically the Amazon Forum as Amazon's have more Fun!

Toe nails and the toe sections at and near the nail have a limited number of pain receptors. Therefore any signs of there being pain should be considered as a concern.

Your idea of a pillow is a good idea, but the surface and construction a pillow in fact provides more problems that help as the weight of the Parrot cause the the leg to sit in the bottom of the bowl with the toes lifted. This could result in more pressure on the outer toes and nails.

Consider something like a high-wing chair back as it has a soft comfortable perch like shape.

If your Amazon continues to indicate pain, a bone may have been cracked or broken and a visit to your Avian Vet is proper.

SailBoat said:

I'm very sorry that your Thread has been missed.

Welcome to Parrot Forums! And, specifically the Amazon Forum as Amazon's have more Fun!

Toe nails and the toe sections at and near the nail have a limited number of pain receptors. Therefore any signs of there being pain should be considered as a concern.

Your idea of a pillow is a good idea, but the surface and construction a pillow in fact provides more problems that help as the weight of the Parrot cause the the leg to sit in the bottom of the bowl with the toes lifted. This could result in more pressure on the outer toes and nails.

Consider something like a high-wing chair back as it has a soft comfortable perch like shape.

If your Amazon continues to indicate pain, a bone may have been cracked or broken and a visit to your Avian Vet is proper.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I opted against using the pillow, but I'm still unsure if there's something wrong or not. Because she's able to perch on both feet, climb around, play, and even perch on the bad foot and eat with the other with no signs of pain or discomfort, and her personality/behavior hasn't changed at all. But then whenever she's resting, it seems like she's almost always using the good foot and keeping the bad foot curled up, whereas she used to alternate them before.

Though I have seen her resting on the bad one too a few times, just seems like she prefers the good one now. Which makes me think it's hurting her to stand on it, but then I think if there was something wrong she wouldn't be climbing around and playing on it, would she?

So because I can't tell, I'm going to make an vet appointment to be safe.

I'm wondering if a nerve was pinched in her nail that's causing some numbness/tingling, to where she can still use it when necessary, but still uncomfortable to stand on.

If that ends up being the case, is there a way to treat nerve damage/can it heal on its own?

The good news is that you have made an appointment with a Vet. At this point it is better to have the Vet make comment as s/her will have hands and eyes on your Amazon's foot.

Once that has happen, what to do will be of value, at this point its just guessing.