hurt toenail after blood test, should I worry? preventing infection?

Happy Holidays! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas.

Sorry if this is a silly question but yesterday my GCC Leo had a vet appt. they did a blood test and poop test (just as a yearly checkup). To draw blood they cut one nail too short. Since then he has been favoring the other foot/standing on the other foot and curling the foot with the cut nail up to his body. it isn't bleeding anymore but there's still dried blood on the inside of the nail which I can't get to to clean. Could he be in pain still? He has done the one foot thing before, tons of times, but now he seems to only be doing it with the hurt foot. Should I be worried and what can I do to help? Also, how can I prevent infection? I've heard that their entire foot (and blood) can get infected from a too short toenail that was cut poorly. This bird is gonna give me grey hairs :56:

You are smart to keep an eye on him, but a hurt toe will be sore afterward for a day or even 2-3. When blood has been taken from mine this way, she does act like her foot is a bit sore and favors the other.

I would suggest leaving it alone and just making sure you clean the places your bird walks---a clean cage=less chance of infection.

Like I said, don't ignore it, but what you are describing mirrors what I have seen in mine when she has had tests done that way. If it starts bleeding again, be careful--- you will need to stop it.

I would leave it alone in the meantime...IMO....

noodles123 said:

You are smart to keep an eye on him, but a hurt toe will be sore afterward for a day or even 2-3. When blood has been taken from mine this way, she does act like her foot is a bit sore and favors the other.

I would suggest leaving it alone and just making sure you clean the places your bird walks---a clean cage=less chance of infection.

Like I said, don't ignore it, but what you are describing mirrors what I have seen in mine when she has had tests done that way. If it starts bleeding again, be careful--- you will need to stop it.

I would leave it alone in the meantime...IMO....

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your response! I will be sure to keep everything spotless.

As long as it stopped bleeding you'll be ok. A bottle of styptic powder is always good to keep on hand. ( guy's use it when cutting themselves shaving) works good for a short nail and a pulled blood feather. I used to take Amy to my local pet store for his nails but no more. The last time a careless !@#$&^ cut two too short..the bird cried and held his foot up for hours. I was beside myself. I went back to the shop and screamed at the idiot...sighhh :15:


Jim

AmyMyBlueFront said:

As long as it stopped bleeding you'll be ok. A bottle of styptic powder is always good to keep on hand. ( guy's use it when cutting themselves shaving) works good for a short nail and a pulled blood feather. I used to take Amy to my local pet store for his nails but no more. The last time a careless !@#$&^ cut two too short..the bird cried and held his foot up for hours. I was beside myself. I went back to the shop and screamed at the idiot...sighhh :15:


Jim

Click to expand...

thanks for your response! I dealt with the same thing, the incompetent vet tech who trimmed Leo's nails did the same thing yesterday (cut the nail for blood but cut another nail on the other foot too short and made it bleed too). I will admit I cried about it all day yesterday. My poor baby:15:. He was talking to his coworker the entire time and not even looking down when he was doing it. I was so angry I complained to the front desk and they didn't charge me for the trimming (the tech didnt even bother trimming 2 of his nails...one on each foot) but I let them know I will never be back as long as that tech works there. I've trimmed Leo's nails countless times and he has never bled.

You were quite correct to voice your dissatisfaction with that vet tech. There’s nothing worse than a visit to the vet that leaves you with more worries than you already had due to their inattentiveness! I know they clipped one nail deliberately to draw blood, but in my very humble opinion general trimming of the claws is unnecessary unless they are conspicuously overgrown. If I were you and someone tries to foist this “service” on me in future I would refuse.

Welcome to the world of bird-induced grey hair, isn’t it wonderful?!

They cut he claw short to draw blood- not an ideal way of doing things, but fairly common.
In terms of cutting nails, my U2 requires it (not matter how much she plays or uses pumice perches). That having been said, a decent vet shouldn't cut a nail short without doing so on purpose. There has only been one "oops" with Noodles, and her early vets weren't that good lol. She is always on the move, but hers get too long and have to be cut (blood tests show that her liver is fine etc).

LaManuka said:

You were quite correct to voice your dissatisfaction with that vet tech. There’s nothing worse than a visit to the vet that leaves you with more worries than you already had due to their inattentiveness! I know they clipped one nail deliberately to draw blood, but in my very humble opinion general trimming of the claws is unnecessary unless they are conspicuously overgrown. If I were you and someone tries to foist this “service” on me in future I would refuse.

Welcome to the world of bird-induced grey hair, isn’t it wonderful?!

Click to expand...

Definitely agree about not letting others trim my bird's nails! I hadn't planned on getting his nails trimmed due to being a paranoid crazy person who doesn't trust people with my bird..Turns out my paranoia was right... I'm so mad at myself for agreeing when they offered! Never again.

birdlady91 said:

LaManuka said:

You were quite correct to voice your dissatisfaction with that vet tech. There’s nothing worse than a visit to the vet that leaves you with more worries than you already had due to their inattentiveness! I know they clipped one nail deliberately to draw blood, but in my very humble opinion general trimming of the claws is unnecessary unless they are conspicuously overgrown. If I were you and someone tries to foist this “service” on me in future I would refuse.

Welcome to the world of bird-induced grey hair, isn’t it wonderful?!

Click to expand...

Definitely agree about not letting others trim my bird's nails! I hadn't planned on getting his nails trimmed due to being a paranoid crazy person who doesn't trust people with my bird..Turns out my paranoia was right... I'm so mad at myself for agreeing when they offered! Never again.

Click to expand...

I do take my two guys to their CAV,but I have been going to this one place for over thirty years now,and I am in the exam room while the tech holds the fid and the doc herself does the nails and/or sleeves ( sleeves being wing (arm) feathers)

Jim