Bleeding Conure

[Nicolee3]

I've had my green cheek (Yogi) for 12 years. He was always a he until "he" laid eggs about 5 years ago. I left them in the cage for about a week then took them out and he was fine. He laid 2 eggs about 3-4 weeks ago and I took them out about a week later. For about a week after he just wanted to be in his room. He never wants to be in there because he likes to be in the living room with us. He started getting back to normal but then a few days ago he started not wanting to sleep in his sleep cage (which is where he laid the eggs). He acted like he was terrified so I turned on a dim light and have been letting him stay out of the sleep cage and sleep wherever he wanted. During this time he kept messing with his upper leg kind of like itching it rather than plucking. Last night I set up a different cage for him to sleep in to see if he would go in there. He did so I covered it and let him sleep. This morning I uncovered the cage to see several drops and splatters of blood at the bottom of the cage. He had blood (dried and wet) all over his leg. We put corn starch on it to stop the bleeding and brought him to the vet immediately. The vet said not only did he pluck his feathers but he went it to the muscle on his leg. They are keeping him possible over night to give him iron, antibiotics and pain meds and to do some testing. I'm a complete mess. We've had him 13 years and he's like our baby. The vet is an hour from my house and the whole ride he could barely keep his eyes open and didn't look good at all. I'm so worried. Has anyone experienced this? Sorry for the long post.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'm sorry you and Yogi are going through this but glad you got her to the vet right away for treatment. It sounds like your vet knows what they're doing so I would follow their advice. I wouldn't hesitate to keep her hospitalized until it's safe to bring her home. I'd ask the vet about using a cone shaped collar while her leg heals because birds like all animals tend to chew on their wounds. It probably will itch as it heals like human wounds often do and she can't be scratching or chewing on it or it won't heal.

 

[Nicolee3]

I'm sorry you and Yogi are going through this but glad you got her to the vet right away for treatment. It sounds like your vet knows what they're doing so I would follow their advice. I wouldn't hesitate to keep her hospitalized until it's safe to bring her home. I'd ask the vet about using a cone shaped collar while her leg heals because birds like all animals tend to chew on their wounds. It probably will itch as it heals like human wounds often do and she can't be scratching or chewing on it or it won't heal.

Thank you. The vet just called and said he's doing well but just sleepy from the pain meds. They told me I can pick him up at 2. The cone collar seems like a great idea. I'll ask him about that.

 

[Niteldy]

Prayers for a speedy recovery! For her and You for your nerves

 

[Nicolee3]

Thank you so much

 

[rheashard2]

Prayers too!

 

[Nicolee3]

Thank you

 

[Nicolee3]

We are home from the vet. They gave him antibiotics, a cream and gabapentin. I asked them for a cone/ collar for him and they weren't comfortable giving him one. They said after they have him gabapentin he didn't mess with the area the whole time he was there. As she was telling me this I looked over and he was messing with it. She took him back and gave him more gabapentin. Now that we're home he keeps trying to mess with the area so I'm having to literally watch him constantly. I don't know how I'm going to sleep. I just don't understand why they wouldn't give him a cone or collar.

 

[rheashard2]

Cones/collars are a double edge item. My CAG had a weird accident. The tip of a toe was damaged at quick. He had to have expensive treatment to stop bleeding. Toe was wrapped. He kept removing it. Bleeding and repeated vet trips. He was given a collar. I had to remove it 3x/day for 30 min and replace. I had to watch him constantly during off time. It was like a war. He was cooperative and pleasant with removal. Then would run, become aggressive with replacement. Vet bill was already 1.7K. I did everything to keep it from increasing. Once he got under a king sofa and followed it's movement. After that collar was removed in bathroom to limit chase scenes. Birds can have neurological problems from collars. They're prone to falling too. I can see the pros as you do. But the cons are there too. I don't know who was happier when that toe wrap came off! You have my prayers.

 

[Nicolee3]

Cones/collars are a double edge item. My CAG had a weird accident. The tip of a toe was damaged at quick. He had to have expensive treatment to stop bleeding. Toe was wrapped. He kept removing it. Bleeding and repeated vet trips. He was given a collar. I had to remove it 3x/day for 30 min and replace. I had to watch him constantly during off time. It was like a war. He was cooperative and pleasant with removal. Then would run, become aggressive with replacement. Vet bill was already 1.7K. I did everything to keep it from increasing. Once he got under a king sofa and followed it's movement. After that collar was removed in bathroom to limit chase scenes. Birds can have neurological problems from collars. They're prone to falling too. I can see the pros as you do. But the cons are there too. I don't know who was happier when that toe wrap came off! You have my prayers.

Thank you for the info. That makes sense to me now that they wouldn't give him a cone. My vet bill today was $742 and the only money I had was for rent so now I don't know how I'm going to pay rent but I had no choice.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Thank you for taking such good care of your baby despite the cost. I hope you can manage your rent.
Cones are a difficult thing to manage. They can get injured and they hate them. Keep a close eye on him is the best you can do. Hopefully he's tired so he'll sleep through the night. Try not to wake him up checking on him. Be sneaky@

 

[Nicolee3]

Thank you for taking such good care of your baby despite the cost. I hope you can manage your rent.
Cones are a difficult thing to manage. They can get injured and they hate them. Keep a close eye on him is the best you can do. Hopefully he's tired so he'll sleep through the night. Try not to wake him up checking on him. Be sneaky@

I would do anything I could for him. I'm too scared to put him in his room and he seems to not want to go in there so I put his sleep cage by me and he's sleeping now. I keep falling asleep and waking back up to look at him because I'm so worried

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I would do anything I could for him. So yoI'm too scared to put him in his room and he seems to not want to go in there so I put his sleep cage by me and he's sleeping now. I keep falling asleep and waking back up to look at him because I'm so worried

I'd put his cage near the bed so you can check on him.

 

[Vishnu :)]

Prayers from Casper and Daisy...hope Yogi gets better soon!