ring on wound

[lea]

hi,
o bought several birds from Hungary market, its about 24h to travel to my place.
the problem is that, i didn't noticed, that one bird have a wound on his leg. i put some cream with antibiotics on his leg, but i think, that it is making nothing, cause that ring goes up and down, through that wound. bird is sitting on one healthy leg. the ring is metal, closed.
i want to ask. have you ever tried to remove the ring with nail clippers?

like this one

[L in Ontario]

I had a young Gouldian injure her leg quite severely a couple of months back. I notice she would not put any weight on the leg. I put her in a hospital cage with antibiotics and watched her for several days. The injury got worse to the point where her leg was swelling around the band - constricting it. I tried to cut the band off with regular human nail clippers but the clippers could not grab the band and cut it cleanly without doing more damage to her leg. As a last resort I ordered a leg-band-cutter. This is a tool made to remove leg bands. I ordered it RUSH and it came in two days. I practiced on a spare band I had to see how it would work. Then I tried it on her. It worked perfectly and did no damage to her swollen leg. She is fully recovered and perches normally now with only a visible bump on her leg at the injury site. This is a tool everyone should have in their first aid kit for finches.

[lea]

thank you very much.
but i am from lithuania(middle europe), and i think, that it is impossible to get that tool in two days (if it possible at all). this tool cuts ring from his width, right? not step by step?

[Meep]

First, I don't have any experience doing this. But I am an engineer. I strongly advise that you not attempt to use nail clippers.

You may try and find a vet who can remove the band. He or she may have the specialized tools designed for the task. There are aluminum bands and stainless steel bands. Stainless steel is much tougher.

Even using the proper tools, this takes skill and practice. Skill to properly restrain the bird to prevent injury, and skill and practice to use the tool.

Here are a few links I found on the topic that may be helpful. The final link includes a pdf with removal instructions.

If I had no other alternatives, I would consider contacting a very skilled jeweler. They might not be able to handle the bird, but they may have the dexterity and skill to remove the band.

I hope your bird recovers!

http://www.quakerparrots.com/general/pa ... ird-bands/
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/ ... emoval.htm
http://www.vetspecialtyproducts.com/ind ... roup_id=79&

[6finchfriends]

Hi Lea, how is your little birds leg? I understand how you aren't around any vets and/or pet stores or even online that would deliver to you any time soon. It must be very frustrating but you are doing your best. I hope you are able to figure out a solution or the leg heals without removing the ring. The jeweler is a great idea if you have one near.

[lea]

thank you for the info Meep.
Trish,
after applying antibiotic cream, today the wound looks better.
there is a little scab on the wound. i hope, that the leg will heal without ring removing
bird is very stressed after cream applying procedures (yesterday, today). it is not good for him too. i don't know how often i should do that? maybe it's enough one time per day?

and one situation from my experience. a year had passed then i bought a cockatiel with a ring, which was surely too small for her leg. i carried her to the best avian(he knows smth about birds) vet in whole country. after examination he sad, that he can't remove that ring without the whole body anesthesia, cause he don't have necessary tools. it was very dangerous, cause anesthesia could kill my bird, but i agreed. during it, he cut the ring with small electrical saw. everything had passed good. the bird is healthy today.
but the anesthesia is much more dangerous for little finches, if it can be done at all...

so, if everything become worse, the good jeweler would be better decision

[Meep]

Good to hear that the bird is doing better!

You might want to search for a jeweler now, and broach the subject, since it may take a while to find one. And then the jeweler may need to think about how they would do this for some time before doing it.

Another idea.. A dentist! Good jewelers all have dental handpieces, just like the ones used for filling teeth. But why not go to the source. Dentists have skills which jewlers do not. Jewelers can take all the time in the world, with no pressure. Dentists are accustomed to dealing with the high pressure time critical situations that occur when working with living things. Also, the dentist will probably have the forcips, etc, to hold the band securely.

A dental handpiece will cut through the band like butter. In the past, jewelers often obtained their handpieces from dentists, once they become worn. Now, their are probably inexpensive import units.

It may take some time to find a dentist willing to make the attempt. Even if your bird heals, as we hope it shall, it would be good to begin building this relationship for the future.

[L in Ontario]

This is the tool I ordered and received - second item from the bottom.
https://www.islandnet.com/~aacc/products.htm


If you are in an emergency situation - you will need to find an avian vet who can remove the band safely for you. I'm sure someone over there must sell these too.

[Ursula]

and one situation from my experience. a year had passed then i bought a cockatiel with a ring, which was surely too small for her leg. i carried her to the best avian(he knows smth about birds) vet in whole country. after examination he sad, that he can't remove that ring without the whole body anesthesia, cause he don't have necessary tools. it was very dangerous, cause anesthesia could kill my bird, but i agreed. during it, he cut the ring with small electrical saw. everything had passed good. the bird is healthy today.
but the anesthesia is much more dangerous for little finches, if it can be done at all...

That's my experience also! As preventive measure I wanted the rings removed from my parrotlets because I don't intend to breed them or ever sell them. The avian vet said if it's a metal ring they can only remove them under full anesthesia... So I didn't do it and decided to keep the rings on them, hoping that they will never cause any problems.

[lea]

That's my experience also! As preventive measure I wanted the rings removed from my parrotlets because I don't intend to breed them or ever sell them. The avian vet said if it's a metal ring they can only remove them under full anesthesia... So I didn't do it and decided to keep the rings on them, hoping that they will never cause any problems.

the cockatiel couldn't move one of the fingers cause that ring, so i didn't have another choice.

now what about my finch? how often i should apply that cream on his foot?

[Meep]

This is the tool I ordered and received - second item from the bottom.
https://www.islandnet.com/~aacc/products.htm
[ https://www.islandnet.com/~aacc/ring%20cutter.jpg ]

If you are in an emergency situation - you will need to find an avian vet who can remove the band safely for you. I'm sure someone over there must sell these too.

Interesting. I feel very strongly that those are common, inexpensive wire strippers.

The adjustment screw in the groove is used to set the depth of the cut, so you only strip the plastic insulation and not cut the wire. Is there any other possible reason why it would be there?

Perhaps those would work. If so, they are available for much less money.

One concern is the position of the relief in the cutting edge. There needs to be a sufficient gap between the band and leg to accomodate the tip.

[6finchfriends]

How about a breeder in your area? Even a breeder of parrots might have the cutting tool. I'm sure they would help if they could. Good luck!

[Meep]

How is your finch?

[6finchfriends]

did it's leg heal up alright? Hope so!

[lea]

well, after applying that antibiotic cream for two days, his leg turn bigger, you know, that scab, it was really big, the ring couldn't move at all (up and down) on the leg. today the finch feels much better, he stands on his wounded leg much stronger and tries to remove that scab.
i noticed, that scab is starting to fall out on one side.
i don't use antibiotic cream anymore, cause it has really strong smell.
when that scab will fall out completely, i will use cream once more to finish the treatent:)