Think I'm gonna make this some kind of running blog with updates about Merlins vet visits!
Merlin has a bad leg (splayed) and foot, it's twisted the wrong way around and he has overlapping toes. He usually walks around with a club foot and struggles to grip everything.
June '11- Took Merlin to a vet in Oldham which said that yes they do 'deal' with birds. The intention here was to discuss options to help his leg/foot gain some mobility. I asked about perhaps an operation. He said an outright 'nothing can be done for this bird/any bird with a splayed leg' just gave Merlin a toe clipping and then I went on my way.
Very disheartened about the whole thing, I then contacted another vets in Manchester, who apparently spe******e in extotics/birds. I was excited for Merlin going to see this vet as I was 100% sure they had avian vets there.
Late June/Early July '11 - Whilst I was on holiday in Turkey with my boyfriends mother, my boyfriend took Merlin to this spe******t vets in Manchester. He then contacted me whilst I was away as they said that they could do an operation, but the pricing would be around £400 (and then extras that occured, such as problems during surgery, etc). Andrew didn't agree there and then about the surgery as I was the one paying for it so we agreed to wait until I was home.
July '11 - Rang the spe******t vets in Manchester about this surgery and they told me they had never agreed to the surgery - it 'wasnt possible' but they could refer me on to someone who might be able to, but it'd cost me more in the thousands to get his leg sorted. I said no thankyou, and left it at that.
I carried on searching for a vet that spe******es in birds in a hope that one would come up with something to help Merlin out. Then a stumbled across Pennine Vet's in Tottington. I rang up and asked in an Avian vet actually worked there - hurrah, one did! I asked if I could speak to him about Merlins leg, but she said it'd cost me over the phone, or I could come in and have Merlin looked at (which I'd of had to do anyway before the vet could decide on what to do!) so she booked me in for the same day.
Mid July '11 - I got the bus to the vets with Merlin in his little travel box. Poor dear has been all over the show in that thing recently! We got to the vets and we were eventually seen (I arrived two hours early, whoops!). I spoke to the vet, who looked Merlin up and down, twiddled his leg around a bit, played with his bad foot, etc. and then said, no - I don't think he should have surgery.
The vet suggested that instead of surgery we try physio therapy with Merlin instead as he's only 3 months old and his leg is still... 'changeable'. During this visit the vet was playing with Merlin and talking to me, Merlin didn't have a care in the world!
Some improvisaton had to take place, the vet got some cotton ball and placed it between Merlins claw so that the toes wern't folded over each other and constantly 'clubbed'. He wrapped this up with some bright blue medical tape which Merlin wasn't too happy about, and told me that I'm to keep this ball on his foot for two days, take it off and stretch his toes so the tendons/ligaments don't get all stiff and painful for him, then put the ball back on for two days. etc.
A week later - Return to the vets after a difficult week of Merlin constantly pulling his bandage off, so lots of difficult reapplications. However the treatment did show signs of working! The vet was happy about this but decided we should stop what we were doing as Merlin obviously wasn't happy with it and was going to keep pulling it off regardless. We discussed Harrissons as being part of Merlins diet (and then order some Adult Lifetime Fine in!) and then we talked about splinting Merlins leg, so it was the 'wrong way around' (but not just halfway... meaning he could use his toes to grip things as they're not sideways). We tried and failed to splint, we discussed even getting a head collar on Merlin to stop him pulling the strappings off. But the vet didn't want to upset Merlin too much as he has a "fantastic personality that we don't want to change" through us traumatising him
so he showed me how to do physiotherapy on his leg, gentle twists and holds so that his leg slowly got used to being the 'right, wrong way around'. I go home slightly disheartened that I didn't get to see Merlin wearing a head collar, and a little bit worried that I might not be able to do what the vet wants properly... is this the end of the line for Merlin and his leg? I was hoping not.
End of July '11 - A week of physio... I couldn't see much difference myself, but my father, who is clueless, even noted that Merlin's getting better with his leg and his foot. Woohoo, so off we go back to the vet for another checkup (and to pick up my harrissons!) the vet is happy with Merlins progress and spends most of the 10 minutes just playing with Merlin. He made Merlin walk, so we could see how that's improved, (it had!) and then just gave him cuddles whilst manipulating his toes so they were being used properly. Got told to come back in four weeks time to see his progress!
Treatment: sneaky cuddles to manipulate his leg and toes with a dose of belly rubs and physio.
August 17th - Vet visit scheduled for today, going to be discussing his progress and maybe ordering some more Harrissons in as I'm starting to run low. Merlin will be getting microchipped incase someone decides they want to steal my precious baby (or he happens to get off out a window/door). He's also finally getting DNA sexed, so we know Merlin is DEFINITLY a he! and finally - getting those horrific talons of his clipped. It's been almost 2 months and my word do they hurt when he grips me! >: (
Update August 18th- Went to the vet, got Merlin to walk for the vet (well, tried to anyway!) Vet seems happy with Merlins leg/foot progress, since he's now able to perch on his playstand unlike before. Didn't end up ordering any Harrissons as I've got enough to tide me over for another week or two at least.
Spent most of the appointment signing consent forms etc whilst Merlin preened at the vets face quite casually. After that, off he went to get knocked out with some light anesthetic and have his microchip inserted. Apparently there was a little bit more blood than usual and he got wound glue used on him, the vet said not to worry and if Merlin does preen it off too soon, just apply pressure and get in contact with the vet if it doesn't happen to stop, which he assured me isn't likely to happen (he knows I know bird first aid too) I saw him fresh from the procedure and there was no blood or anything in sight, which was reassuring knowing that it wasn't that bad/they had cleaned it up - wouldn't want a negligent vet now would we?
Whilst Merlin was knocked out we had a few feathers plucked so we can get them sent off for DNA sexing, should find out sometime early next week! The vet came out from chipping him etc, with a big grin "I'm pretty sure he's a boy, I have a feeling!". I'm almost certain myself that he is, but I'd rather know just so he doesn't end up being a shemale! Whilst he was still woozy from his anesthetic, he had his nails trimmed ever so slightly so he doesn't tear my flesh apart every time he cuddles me.
I will keep y'all updated as to what happens!
Merlin has a bad leg (splayed) and foot, it's twisted the wrong way around and he has overlapping toes. He usually walks around with a club foot and struggles to grip everything.
June '11- Took Merlin to a vet in Oldham which said that yes they do 'deal' with birds. The intention here was to discuss options to help his leg/foot gain some mobility. I asked about perhaps an operation. He said an outright 'nothing can be done for this bird/any bird with a splayed leg' just gave Merlin a toe clipping and then I went on my way.
Very disheartened about the whole thing, I then contacted another vets in Manchester, who apparently spe******e in extotics/birds. I was excited for Merlin going to see this vet as I was 100% sure they had avian vets there.
Late June/Early July '11 - Whilst I was on holiday in Turkey with my boyfriends mother, my boyfriend took Merlin to this spe******t vets in Manchester. He then contacted me whilst I was away as they said that they could do an operation, but the pricing would be around £400 (and then extras that occured, such as problems during surgery, etc). Andrew didn't agree there and then about the surgery as I was the one paying for it so we agreed to wait until I was home.
July '11 - Rang the spe******t vets in Manchester about this surgery and they told me they had never agreed to the surgery - it 'wasnt possible' but they could refer me on to someone who might be able to, but it'd cost me more in the thousands to get his leg sorted. I said no thankyou, and left it at that.
I carried on searching for a vet that spe******es in birds in a hope that one would come up with something to help Merlin out. Then a stumbled across Pennine Vet's in Tottington. I rang up and asked in an Avian vet actually worked there - hurrah, one did! I asked if I could speak to him about Merlins leg, but she said it'd cost me over the phone, or I could come in and have Merlin looked at (which I'd of had to do anyway before the vet could decide on what to do!) so she booked me in for the same day.
Mid July '11 - I got the bus to the vets with Merlin in his little travel box. Poor dear has been all over the show in that thing recently! We got to the vets and we were eventually seen (I arrived two hours early, whoops!). I spoke to the vet, who looked Merlin up and down, twiddled his leg around a bit, played with his bad foot, etc. and then said, no - I don't think he should have surgery.
The vet suggested that instead of surgery we try physio therapy with Merlin instead as he's only 3 months old and his leg is still... 'changeable'. During this visit the vet was playing with Merlin and talking to me, Merlin didn't have a care in the world!
Some improvisaton had to take place, the vet got some cotton ball and placed it between Merlins claw so that the toes wern't folded over each other and constantly 'clubbed'. He wrapped this up with some bright blue medical tape which Merlin wasn't too happy about, and told me that I'm to keep this ball on his foot for two days, take it off and stretch his toes so the tendons/ligaments don't get all stiff and painful for him, then put the ball back on for two days. etc.
A week later - Return to the vets after a difficult week of Merlin constantly pulling his bandage off, so lots of difficult reapplications. However the treatment did show signs of working! The vet was happy about this but decided we should stop what we were doing as Merlin obviously wasn't happy with it and was going to keep pulling it off regardless. We discussed Harrissons as being part of Merlins diet (and then order some Adult Lifetime Fine in!) and then we talked about splinting Merlins leg, so it was the 'wrong way around' (but not just halfway... meaning he could use his toes to grip things as they're not sideways). We tried and failed to splint, we discussed even getting a head collar on Merlin to stop him pulling the strappings off. But the vet didn't want to upset Merlin too much as he has a "fantastic personality that we don't want to change" through us traumatising him
so he showed me how to do physiotherapy on his leg, gentle twists and holds so that his leg slowly got used to being the 'right, wrong way around'. I go home slightly disheartened that I didn't get to see Merlin wearing a head collar, and a little bit worried that I might not be able to do what the vet wants properly... is this the end of the line for Merlin and his leg? I was hoping not.End of July '11 - A week of physio... I couldn't see much difference myself, but my father, who is clueless, even noted that Merlin's getting better with his leg and his foot. Woohoo, so off we go back to the vet for another checkup (and to pick up my harrissons!) the vet is happy with Merlins progress and spends most of the 10 minutes just playing with Merlin. He made Merlin walk, so we could see how that's improved, (it had!) and then just gave him cuddles whilst manipulating his toes so they were being used properly. Got told to come back in four weeks time to see his progress!
Treatment: sneaky cuddles to manipulate his leg and toes with a dose of belly rubs and physio.
August 17th - Vet visit scheduled for today, going to be discussing his progress and maybe ordering some more Harrissons in as I'm starting to run low. Merlin will be getting microchipped incase someone decides they want to steal my precious baby (or he happens to get off out a window/door). He's also finally getting DNA sexed, so we know Merlin is DEFINITLY a he! and finally - getting those horrific talons of his clipped. It's been almost 2 months and my word do they hurt when he grips me! >: (
Update August 18th- Went to the vet, got Merlin to walk for the vet (well, tried to anyway!) Vet seems happy with Merlins leg/foot progress, since he's now able to perch on his playstand unlike before. Didn't end up ordering any Harrissons as I've got enough to tide me over for another week or two at least.
Spent most of the appointment signing consent forms etc whilst Merlin preened at the vets face quite casually. After that, off he went to get knocked out with some light anesthetic and have his microchip inserted. Apparently there was a little bit more blood than usual and he got wound glue used on him, the vet said not to worry and if Merlin does preen it off too soon, just apply pressure and get in contact with the vet if it doesn't happen to stop, which he assured me isn't likely to happen (he knows I know bird first aid too
) I saw him fresh from the procedure and there was no blood or anything in sight, which was reassuring knowing that it wasn't that bad/they had cleaned it up - wouldn't want a negligent vet now would we?Whilst Merlin was knocked out we had a few feathers plucked so we can get them sent off for DNA sexing, should find out sometime early next week!
The vet came out from chipping him etc, with a big grin "I'm pretty sure he's a boy, I have a feeling!". I'm almost certain myself that he is, but I'd rather know just so he doesn't end up being a shemale! Whilst he was still woozy from his anesthetic, he had his nails trimmed ever so slightly so he doesn't tear my flesh apart every time he cuddles me.I will keep y'all updated as to what happens!
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