Something's wrong

My Sennie was startled last night, just before bed, by a loud bang from next door and flew into the wall. He seemed to hit it sideways and not head on.
Since then he's been very subdued. Usually, when I put him to bed he yells at me. Last night - not a sound.

This morning there has been no yelling either - just this soft peep, which I haven't heard him make since he was a baby. His voice is completely different - like he's lost his scream and is a bit hoarse. Even when I've walked out the room, there's been no calling for me.

He's moving very slowly around his cage and not being his usual hyperactive bratty self. I'm snuggling him and he's just giving in to it, which he doesn't often do at this time of day - because he usually wants to play.

He's picking at his food but not that interested. His breathing is ok - no noise. Also his tail seems to be pointing downwards a little and one wing held slightly up (like he's hunching his shoulder) and a little bit out from his body- though not sure if I'm just looking for something.

He's perching ok but not moving a great deal. He's just very quiet, lethargic etc. It's not him at all.

I rang my avian vet but he's not there till Monday. I can't get to any other, as they are very few and far between (I don't drive). The receptionist said that he could just be in shock and to see how he goes - but I'm worried he's done some damage.

Is there anything I can do, till I take him in on Monday? It seems like such a long time, if he's in pain.

SennieSlave so sorry to hear about your baby. It sounds like he might be in a shocked state or maybe something more could be going on with him. Is there anyway possible to get him to any vet (avian or regular) ASAP? They might be able to check him out and do some x-rays or lab work to help determine what might be going on. I would take him to any vet at this point just to be safe. Hope he gets better and please keep us posted. Thanks and warm thoughts to you. BTW if he is in shock keep him in a warm place, maybe partially covered and keep a eye on him.

Thank you - I was going to take him to my normal vet but didn't want them making things worse.
I'll get an appointment for this afternoon and just make sure they don't try any procedures on him. It can't hurt just for them to look, I guess.

I moan about how loud and hyper he is - but then I hate it when he's not.

Sennieslave good luck and please keep us posted. Thanks and good luck.

I'm sorry to hear about your little guy's accident. I think it's a good idea to take him to your regular vet. I hope they will be able to help. Good luck this afternoon and please let us know.

Thank you - got an appointment in 3 hours (with regular vet) - so shall let you know what happens.

I hope all is well. Sorry to hear he is hurt. I agree with the others and glad you are taking him to your regular vet. Please keep us posted. I can't believe the can opener is so quiet but it sounds like he hit the wall hard. I'm hoping he's not hurt and just needs time to recover.

Well the vet was a bit of a waste of time - though he had told me he has very little experience with birds, so it wasn't his fault.

He had a look and a feel but said he could see nothing wrong. He did ask if I wanted an x ray done but I was worried about his lack of experience with any anaesthetic. He just said he thinks he's a bit dazed and shaken up but to keep my appointment with my avian vet on Monday.

Ri's eaten a little more. I did him some mash potato and he had some of that. Also he had a little of his bedtime porridge (made with water). He's just so subdued and quiet, bless him. There's not been a noise all day and I want my naughty boy back.

He's been mostly sitting snuggled with me all day but has just wandered across to his playstand. He's still very slow and careful and seems a little unbalanced, as he's stumbled a couple of times. I'm wondering if that's the reason for his tail down and wing out slightly - for a balance issue.

I've checked all over and can't see any inflated air sacs. He's stretched his wings out a couple of times today but been very slow about it. He's been very sleepy and keeps nodding off - but is still grinding his beak, as if content.

I was having a little cry about him earlier and he came up onto my chest and nibbled my tears away. That set me off even more.

So, it's going to be a long, stressful weekend. I'm watching him every second and am feeling sick with worry. I'm praying it's just a headache, or a bruise somewhere. I just want him to scream and drive me mad again.

I'm truly hopeful that Ri 'just' has a bruised wing, and that by the time the weekend is over, he'll be as good as new.

If he's aching/hurting, that would explain his lack of mobility and not wanting to play or be rambunctious. And since he's rather 'quiet' and not doing much, he won't have the same appetite as he normally would.

Fingers crossed! Thank you for the update, too.

Just a quick update - have phoned my avian vet today, just to make sure that he definitely isn't in till Monday, and they have an emergency avian vet on today - so I've managed to get an appointment with him at 1.00 this afternoon (it's 9.00 am here now).

I haven't got Ri up yet (so don't know how he is today) - thought I'd let him sleep but I've been awake all night worrying, so hope this vet visit will help in some way.

Thank you for all your best wishes.

Edited to add - just got him up and he's still the same .....very quiet, barely moving and really sleepy. His posture seems wrong also - like he's leaning slightly to one side. Hopefully the vet will sort him out, as I'm in bits thinking he may be in pain.

Sorry to bump my own post up. Didn't know whether to edit my last one and add it there, or post new.

Just got back from vet. He felt all round and said there was no swelling anywhere but he could see that his posture is not right (the leaning, tail down and holding wing slightly out).
He saw him sitting and walking and said Ri looks like a bird in a lot of pain. He doesn't think it's anything internal or life threatening - but that he's hurt his back and that's causing him to move very slowly. Also that the reason he's quiet is that he's in pain. I did mention that when he does try to make a noise, it's like he's lost his voice and hoarse but he said that he definitely thinks it's just because he's feeling unwell.

He's given him 0.01 mg (I think mg) of Metacam and said to see how he is on Monday and, if he's no better, then to take him back and he'll have an x ray. He was going to give him 0.02, to get it into his system but I told him how paranoid I am about medication, so he gave him 0.01.

I'm neurotic when it comes to meds for my animals (having lost my dog to a reaction to medication). Is Metacam pretty safe? I have to give it once a day. He said if he seems no better tomorrow, to up it to 0.02 but I'm going to try and keep it at 0.01. I worry that meds can cause more problems than they treat.

I always think that pain relief isn't great, as they think they're better, even though the injury is still there and they try to do more than they should - when they should be resting. But I shall give it tomorrow, like instructed and just pray he doesn't have a reaction to it. The vet said he's never had any problems with it.

So, now the guilt kicks in - what I could have done for him not to get hurt. I don't keep him in his cage because he likes to be out with me all day - but maybe it's best to keep him in a bit more, so he doesn't get hurt. The guilt is driving me crazy. I hate to think he's in so much pain. To see a creature who is so feisty and full of life - become a shadow of himself, is heartbreaking.

I just hope that he gets back to his noisy, naughty, obnoxious self, as soon as possible.

Thank you again so much for the update!!

I'm glad you had him seen by an A-vet, and I'm also happy to hear that the vet thinks he's just so quiet because he's hurting.

I actually agree with you about your theory on pain meds The only time I resort to them for any of my animals is when absolutely necessary. I, too, have seen fairly bad reactions to drugs by my dogs. My Simon (RIP) flat-lined while being given a presumably SAFE anesthesia. My vet revived him, but still...that was a VERY scary day!

I'd keep Ri warm and quiet. Please don't feel guilty! Accidents can happen to the best of us, and that's exactly what it was - a freak accident. He was startled while in mid air, and there's nothing you could have done to prevent it.

It's so obvious how much you love him, and how well you care for him. I'm sure he will recover from this. Just give him some time to heal up.

And yes, I'd give him his daily dose of metacam. See how he does on the half dose you are giving him, and if you see no difference, you could always give him just a tad bit more.

Thank you for your kind words - that guilt is here for a while though, I think. :/

How scary for you about your dog. My dog had to have an emergency euthanasia due to organ failure - just one day after taking medication. He was running round, full of life just before that. That was nearly a year and a half ago and I'm still not over it and such a worrier about any meds. I tell my avian vets what a nightmare I am (I question everything) and they seem to understand.

I shall be on constant guard over the next couple of days. I want my annoying, evil genius back. He usually torments me all day long and I never thought I'd miss it.

It sounds like right now time is what your CO (Can Opener) needs. Like being in a car accident, you may not have been seriously hurt but you are sore for several days from the force while your body heals. Then time feels the worst because it passes slower when you are worrying about your baby. As for what you could have done to avoid it, didn't you say he heard a loud noise coming from the neighbors? Tell the neighbors to move. KIDDING! That was out of your control. I love that he's out of his cage, that's a full flock member and he's the boss of the house, ha! When I lived in lofts or flats and had pets I would keep a radio on pretty much all the time near their cage or kennel. The noise of the radio seemed to keep them quiet or less likely to bark or scream if they heard noise from outside or a neighbor, kind of like leveling out their reaction to noises. Just hang in there, keep him quiet like Wendy said and let him rest, I'm sure he'll be back to his self soon, and you'll be so pleased when he starts annoying you again, lol. I still love the can opener reference, that is awesome. Keep us posted.

Thanks Taw.
Yeah it was the new neighbours moving in - they banged something against the wall and it freaked him out. He's not normally scared of anything but maybe new neighbours = new noises.

Yes, time is going to go so slow. Can't wait till he's back to being himself and ruling the house. Then I'll be moaning about him again - and all will be ok with the world.