Broken Leg

Mayden

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Apr 22, 2010
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Merlin & Charlie (Senegals)
Hey all, I'm relatively new to this forum (I've posted only a few times before a long time back) but I wanted to ask you guys about my 12 week old senegal!

Basically, we believe her mother/father sat on her leg when she(or he?!) was just a chick, anywho; she doesn't have 'much' problem with her leg. Other than her claws being razor sharp as she can't wear them down (they'll be being snipped down asap!) and she kinda drags it along and has really bad balance and so climbing, playing, perching, etc. are difficult for her.

ANYWHO

It's really sad to watch her struggling as she is so I was wondering what peoples experiences are with vet visits regarding this, surgery an option? How much would that cost?

I'm only a student with no income etc, but I do have SOME money towards any treatment she may need, but we'll see. I'll be ringing the vet tomorrow anyway but I'd just like some peoples opinions/experiences with their babys broken legs. :)

She(he?!) is my baby and I'll do anything for her, to make living easier for her but I think if possible her leg would be (and so her quality of life!) better if it was rebroken and fixed so it's not backwards. I can upload some pictures of it if that would help anyone to get a better idea of what I mean :)
 

wibitywab

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"Kiwi" My Hahn's Macaw and R.I.P. Buddy the GCC-2009 - 2011
I don't know a lot about this :(....the only thing I can advice you to do is to take her to the vet like you said you were going to do...poor baby!
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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I don't know a lot about this :(....the only thing I can advice you to do is to take her to the vet like you said you were going to do...poor baby!

Managed to get him (after a lot of guesswork and 'slight differences in gender') booked in for the vets tomorrow. I guess I'll just wait to see what the vet says, I'd just like to hear some peoples experiences with their young 'ens having their legs... um, switched back around :p
 

wibitywab

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"Kiwi" My Hahn's Macaw and R.I.P. Buddy the GCC-2009 - 2011
Yea, I'm surprised no one had really posted on this...well, good luck with your little baby!
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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Yea, I'm surprised no one had really posted on this...well, good luck with your little baby!

Thanks, I'll post an update on here when I found out what the vet says tomorrow! I hope it doesn't cost too much as I'm a student with no income etc. If it's too much then baby Merlin won't be able to have surgery. >: (
 

merlinsmom13

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Jul 27, 2010
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Beckley, WV
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Merlin a Red Crowned Amazon
I have heard of damage like that when the babies are young, but I know nothing 1st hand. A vet check is what you need. It does seem like everyone gets sick when you can least afford it. Hope he's ok.
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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I have heard of damage like that when the babies are young, but I know nothing 1st hand. A vet check is what you need. It does seem like everyone gets sick when you can least afford it. Hope he's ok.

Well I'm rehoming my cockatoo as I rescued him from the horrible place he was at with the intention of finding him a better home, so the man will be giving me some money for that. I'm just hoping the surgery doesn't exceed 300, but I have a funny feeling it will be MUCH more than that. :(
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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I have heard of damage like that when the babies are young, but I know nothing 1st hand. A vet check is what you need. It does seem like everyone gets sick when you can least afford it. Hope he's ok.

Also, I just noticed you're bird is called Merlin too?

I have both Arthur and Merlin now. Haha! :)
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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Hey, sorry for the lack of updates and whatnot, but it'd be silly of me to try and reply before now anyways!

Merlin has had in total of three vet checks about his legs (different practises) we've had an outright 'nothing can be done ever' about his leg. We've had a 'hmm we could refer you on to someone else but you'll be looking at around £1k...' and then the wonderful vet yesterday who actually said no to surgery, but we're doing physio for him!

He's having physio so he can get his toes working properly as he just curls them up and walks around almost using his leg as a stump, so he's all wrapped up with his toes and I have to exercise them every two days by taking his dressings off and flexing them etc.

And regarding his leg, because he's so young he's said that if we do gentle physio (and because we're looking for function, not show bird quality!) then we should basically.... slowly be able to twist the leg into a 'somewhat' normal position, which means he'll be able to use it like a normal bird, it might just look slightly angled differently or something :p

I'm over the moon about that vet trip as not only will it cost me a lot less, I found a decent avian vets near me and it's non invasive unlike surgery, which obviously you have the risk of anethsetic and whatnot. and this is SO much cheaper which means after we've got the leg sortted, I can start spoiling him rotten. >: )
 

Bright Star

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Keats (budgie) born Feb. 18, 2011, and Raphael (budgie) adopted July 3, 2011. Finn, a Brown-Head Poicephalus, born January 4, 2010, has also joined the family!
Very glad to hear that you've found an option that will help him :) That's great news.
 

merlinsmom13

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Beckley, WV
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Merlin a Red Crowned Amazon
Wonderful news, I'm glad your Merlin won't have to have surgery. Its great you found a vet you can trust, that makes a world of difference.
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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It really does! He'll be going back tomorrow to see how his toes are doing and maybe getting a splint on his leg so that that can be corrected to! He's getting so much better with his toes already instead of just club footing around he seems to be stretching his toes out and getting them less.... 'tangled' (he has a toe twisted over the others)

I don't think I've uploaded a picture of my little man yet, maybe I'll head over to the sennie forum and shove some up there. >: )
 

jamesabond

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Broken leg is very dangerous to health and if the cure is not taken at the proper time then it damages the bone. Broken leg also creates problem in walking and for broken leg regular exercise is needs for the quick result.
 

suebee

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thats great news for merlin, can't believe i missed this post! where abouts is vet you are currently seeing??
 

Rennagade

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Male Alexandrine 3yrs old (Zeus) and Female Alexandrine 4 yrs old (Gretchen)
Just wondering how Merlin's physio is coming along??? So glad to hear you found a vet who you can work with on this! My dad had a tiel that had a busted pelvis as a baby. He was always a bit wonky but he became the family favourite and went everywhere with my dad! Such a character!
 
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Mayden

Mayden

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Sorry guys, never noticed any new posts here!

His leg isn't "broken" he's just got a splayed/backwards type leg, the bone itself is not broken, so there's no 'risk' the

Subee, the vet is in tottington (bury) in lancashire. I don't know if you have an avian vet nearby you, but I would most certainly recommend him if you were in the area and not York! He really is fantastic and he 'doesnt listen to me' in the sense of... I wanted an operation for him and he point blank refused as it was in Merlins best interest to try other options first. He really is one of those 'the bird comes first' type of guys and he was fantastic.

Merlins well loved by this family, his bad leg seems to make him a little more endeering. His physio is coming along fine, but we're struggling at the moment as he keeps returning to clubfooting and stuff, so I might see about getting him splinted when he's knocked out for his microchip since he's so defiant about physio.

He's doing well, I just think it might be a long process. :)
 

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