Very quiet since Vet visit 2 days ago

I took Kiwi to the Vet 2 days ago. Thought I would need a test for a respiratory disease to board her. Didn’t need that but this Vet, who said was a Exotic specialist stated she needed her beak and nails trimmed. I’m new at having a Quaker so I said ok. She and her tech took Kiwi to another room to do this and the tech came back saying they sprayed her a little and was letting her warm up and calm down a bit. When I got her back one nail was bleeding enough that it was dripping. Vet said she did cut into the quick on a few because her nails were so long. Kiwi is 5 months. So they put the quick stop on her and when everything looked good we left. I knew kiwi might be quiet the rest of the day but she was sooo uncomfortable. She fell off her perch and couldn’t climb up her cage. I think her feet were really sore. She’s moving around better today but is still really sleepy and has been napping a lot since the Vet. It was two days ago. She’s eating good and drinking and she sings a little to musics but she’s just quiet and sleepy. Is this normal behavior 2 days later?? I think her nails were cut to short

Oh, no. I am so sorry to hear this!

In case you'd like a second opinion, and I bet you would...

Here are some links.

Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.

"Exotic" specialist? I am not sure what that means...

PLEASE find a genuine Avial Vet for your next visit.There are too many things wrong with what this place told you about the treatment of your parrot. Quick Stop is apowrful topical treatment mant for human use, it can burn delicate toe and toenail structure in birds. I personally do not holdwith grinding or filing back beaks. For both too long nails and beaks there are natural fixes. For the toe nails, there are sand or cement perches that will allow his nails to trim themselves to their ideal length. I would replace his sleeping perch at first,and then replace more if he is not using that one. Keep an eye out on the bottom of his feet tolook for any sign of redness or them being tender. If that happens, go back to his original perch and alternate on a weekly basis with the cement one.

Beaks - again you wantnature todo the shaping of his beak. I'e been keeping parrots a long time and never had to have a beak trimmed with a file or dremel tool. What type of toys does he have to play with? You will want some of the tougher woods included in his toys. Pine and soft woods will not do the trick. You will want ones that have hard woods like walnut, maple, and beech and other hardwoods. You might have to search them out, or look to a local wood working shop for scraps of these woods and mix these up with chips on other toys. The cement perches also will help , if your quaker is a beak wiper.

Good luck.

I feel so bad. I cannot find an Avian Vet. This Vet was suppose to be that but she doesn't just treat birds. So, I'm guessing Kiwi was pretty traumatized from all of this. Hopefully she will be back to normal soon.

Did my links above help? For finding an avian vet? Maybe we can keep looking...

That is terrible, I'm sure she will perk up soon again ;;. Maybe you could learn how to trim her nails in the future yourself if she needs a trim again? I took care of a few quakers a while ago and they did not like having their feet messed with so I would just use a regular nail filer and work bit by bit up to whatever they tolerated. After that I just gave them a scratchier perch and they took care of it themselves.

I guess in the future if your baby's nails aren't hurting you when she's on your shoulder or wherever that touches your skin I wouldn't recommend trimming her nails. Same thing with her beak, unless it's growing in weird directions and needs to be trimmed it shouldn't be necessary. As long as you give them the methods to keep their beak to the size they want the birds usually take care of it themselves.

I just got her a warm bath and the one foot that was cut more than the others is sore. it was shakey when she was trying to get into the bowl of water!

I tried one and none could be found in Utah. Maybe I was doing it wrong?

Oh, poor bird ...it the nails bleed they were indeed cut too short.

I know is is kind of fasionable to give every parrot a "lovebird-look-a-like-beak"- because it makes them appear more baby-ish and extra cute ... personally I think this is insane!
All parrots have different looking beaks because they eat slightly differend foods and lead different lives.

Chances are your vet has not even seen a 'natural beak' or feet and is just shaping in "general the right direction" but really has no clue about finetuning etc.
The onle beaktrimming I have seen was a terribly overgrown one that the bird had no way of fixing it by itself - usually wear and tear (playing and eating, climbing etc.) and rubbing on the perches (and maybe the special mineralblocks) will be everything it ever needs.

'Cleaning up' a beak is about as usefull as putting on nailpolish on dogs (oh yes, people actually do this as well) - its probably something made up by the vets to be able to *show* the owner something has been done?
As if a thourough health-check was not enough?
It does not add anything to the wellbeing/ health of the animal - it is done to please the owners.

Try to get your birdy some nice wear-down perches (after the feet are back to functional and no longer are tender) and maybe try filing.

Japie loves it, and Appie learned to tolerate it, Sunny is getting doubtfully curious but still rather kills the file to be completely sure ... (longest at it to the neweste arrival) - so yea ... think years instead of months

Thanks so much for the Vet info. I just found another one too but I will try the Parrish for sure, when I need one.

Dr. Echols is a nationally known avian specialist. He actually gave a second opinion/consultation on Gracies radiographs.

I would say either him or the other dr. listed at the same practice would be great.

Makes me almost wish I lived in Utah

By the way I think her sleepy behavior could just be her just trying to relax after the experience.

About three months ago my Booger was acting very sleepy for about two days. I was really worried because he's usually very active and crazy but I found out he hadn't been able to sleep well because my brother was talking on the phone with his gf until about 3AM in the same room their cage is. Once he got a full nights rest he was back to normal. Your girl might be a bit sleep deprived from being achy and having to stand on her feet all day.

I've been doing alot of calling around and I was told about Dr Echols for the 2nd time now so I will for sure keep that info.

I wish I could teach her to lie down! lol. I have a platform and a platform perch that are wide enough for her feet to not have to grip a perch and she sleeps on either one of these at night.

Thank, Beetory, I was just about to post that

Whenever a vet won't work on your bird in front of you that is a red flag.
Surgeries, x-ray sure but the normal care should be done in front of you.
that's what my vet does. even blood tests.

texsize

FYI, when I first got my JoJo, about a month after we had him, we took him in for a nail clip. They also did a bit short because his nails were quite long! For several days he really was super quiet and just trying to readjust! I believe what was going on, was at this point he was beginning to trust me, and I put him into a situation that hurt him! He was very confused, rightfully so!

texsize said:

Whenever a vet won't work on your bird in front of you that is a red flag.
Surgeries, x-ray sure but the normal care should be done in front of you.
that's what my vet does. even blood tests.

texsize

Click to expand...

I do believe that birds are VERY good at sensing emotion. For that reason, depending on my mood, I often ask if it is okay if I leave (just because I think my bird can tell that I am nervous--I leave, and then I am not associated with the procedure AS much)--I am not afraid of blood etc- If it were my own arm, I would watch the needle go in! I just am more "amped up" about the vet...whom she has grown to like ("YOUR BIRD IS THE ONLY ONE I LET DO THIS! etc etc..and she is very nice mostly).


If your vet refuses to work in front of you, that is weird. If you ask to leave and they let you, that is normal. I would still look for a second opinion etc.




It has always been my option to stay, and I did for many visits (until I realized that me being there may actually have ben fueling reactions)..My bird is always SO nice to me there, but scared.,,I think I feed into that when I am in the room.

She looks fluffed in picture....is she sitting fluffed often? What in the world was she sprayed with??? Ask the vet if you don't know. My certified avian vet whom I was most unhappy with and am tempted to post name and location of, because I'm that unhappy with them.. anyway when I called to make my appointment the receptionist asked if I was going to want beak nail and wing trims, I said no I have a sick bird I would not want to stress. Then when I saw the certified avian vet first thing she said was oh you turned down beak and nail and wing trims???? I said take a look they are normal! She said yes they don't look to bad... I have not ever had to beak or nail trim. I use many different size natural wood perches, and one cement perch, the best thing is to have different diameter perches, some very wide. I have cuttle bones, mineral blocks, wood blocks, and different toy chewing stuff, almonds in the shell are pretty tuff and other occasional nuts in the shell they really work at. I am do sorry KiWi is going through this, she really should be better by tomorrow behavior wise, the feet's might still be a bit sore..if not I would maybe see an avain vet on Mon.... Keeping them a little warmer helps birds,