Swallowed the bell clapper?

Shine

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My BFA managed to get ahold of a small new toy that I had gotten him yesterday before I was ready for him to have it. I hadnt yet removed the bell clapper yet from a very small bell.

Last night after he went to bed I started getting the new toys ready and found the clapper was gone. :( His behavior has been the same as always, but I am worried. I have looked all over and cant find it. So, spent the morning out looking for an avian vet, but there isnt one that is available today. :(

I am in full panic mode. Any suggestions of things I can do until I can get him to a vet monday morning?
 

wrench13

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Is he eating and pooping normally? Keep a sharp eye out for that today. I would think it unusual for any parrot to swally a hard metal object like a bell clapper. He may have flung it far from hiscage or play area. If you dont find it, well a trip to the CAV for an x-ray is probably warranted.
 
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Shine

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I found a vet who would at least xray him so I can either stop freaking out or freak out even more.
His eating and pooping seem ok.
The clapper is very small, probably only about a quarter inch long.


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Shine

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That's a good idea. I'll do that when I get home. So far, behavior, eating and pooping is normal.

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Shine

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I'm kicking myself and feel so guilty for being so stupid. :(

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Kiwibird

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For all the warnings, it's actually a very rare occurrence for a pet bird to ingest a non-food item. If it was as small as you say, it is more likely it was flung somewhere you have yet to look or is hiding in the pile of the carpet, near a furniture leg, under a piece of furniture etc... , likely a good distance away from where you believe it was lost.
 
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Shine

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I hope you are right. They just took him to do the xray. Praying it comes out negative.

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Anansi

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I'm praying it comes out negative as well.
 
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Shine

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$171.00 later and I can breathe again! The xray was negative! So so thankful that he's going to be ok.

Lesson learned. I knew to keep dangerous things out of reach, but now I KNOW to keep dangerous things out of reach.

Thank you all for the support. :)

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Shine

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Here's the bell. Tiny little thing. Think I might keep it as a reminder!
523a0e749c921b739a20c3df7e10a3e8.jpg


I'm still gonna look for that little clapper though! Its gotta be here somewhere!

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Katu

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Very good news! Thanks for the picture. I have been completely removing all bells from all toys because I didn't quite fully understand the danger. I did buy a larger safer stainless steel bell from the safe bird store, just in case a bell was a necessity. :)
 
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Shine

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I have some big SS ones too and he LOVES those! This one just came attached to a toy I picked up for him. Wasnt going to give it to him until I removed the clapper. I still have no idea where it is, but thats ok as long as its not in him! :)
 

dhraiden

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I have some big SS ones too and he LOVES those! This one just came attached to a toy I picked up for him. Wasnt going to give it to him until I removed the clapper. I still have no idea where it is, but thats ok as long as its not in him! :)
Peace of mind is priceless, or at least $171, eh?[emoji4] glad you resolved it to your satisfaction. I watch what the fids chew when ooc, other than wall paint nothing is really cause for alarm- they generally like to rip but don't ingest, deliberately or incidentally, what they're gnawing on. Which includes everything wooden from furniture to doors, lol[emoji1]

I used to find it more disturbing that they could reduce a wooden toy to sharp looking splinters without poking themselves their little tongues!

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wrench13

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Great news. You did the right thing, by all accounts. A hard lesson to be learned, hopefully many of our members will learn from this thread.
 

clark_conure

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My bird likes to chew on the chains and ONCE he got a link basically caught on his beak. Kind of like he had a goth beak piercing. I was able to pull it off ok and he didn't mind. After that I took some pliers and basically forced each chain link together more on his toys, so there was no gap he could work at. I'd recommend taking 15 minutes fumbling around with the tiny links, to make each chain link tighter. (Might take more than 15 minutes.)
 

Inger

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My bird likes to chew on the chains and ONCE he got a link basically caught on his beak. Kind of like he had a goth beak piercing. I was able to pull it off ok and he didn't mind. After that I took some pliers and basically forced each chain link together more on his toys, so there was no gap he could work at. I'd recommend taking 15 minutes fumbling around with the tiny links, to make each chain link tighter. (Might take more than 15 minutes.)



If I find a toy I think Bumble will really enjoy but it has a chain, or rope, or something else that could pose a danger, I wrap it in vet wrap before I give it to her.


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SailBoat

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If the bell and clanger are made of steel, one can use a magnet to locate pieces and parts! Glue the magnet to a stick and run the edges and around stuff likes legs or anything that comes in contact with the floor (hiding places).

At some unlucky point, the vac will find it!
 

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