Didn't Think It Would Happen to Me

[finchmix22]

Acelin_Wolf
Give her torn up paper towels formed into a sort of cup shape in the floor, on top of the flat paper towels. You could even put a small wash cloth, folded into a V-shape or folded with dent in the middle, so she can sit upright by resting on the side of the folded towel. Keep us posted.

[Acelin_Wolf]

finchmix22 - Thanks for the tip! I did just that.

Sally - I hope so too!


She hasn't eaten yet this morning (judging by the clean paper towel/that she hasn't moved from one spot) and it's been about 1.5-2 hours since she had her meds (with a drop of honey!).

[delray]

Acelin_Wolf following your thread, hope she feels better. Its hard because she seems better at one point and worse the next point. Rooting for her!!

[Acelin_Wolf]

Thank you everyone! Alot.

She's taken her meds alot better today. BUT both middle toes on each foot look like they might not make it. Vet did say this was possible. And she's on antibiotics for it. So I'm optimistic.

Again, thanks all! So far, so good!

[MiaCarter]

Acelin_Wolf --- That's great news that she seems well!

I would expect her to lose the toes. If the way she was caught was tight enough to prevent her from escaping, it likely inhibited blood flow quite a bit.

And really, losing the toes is a best case scenario.
Healing is much more painful and it will take a fairly long time, whereas if they get necrotic and fall off, it's much less painful as the nerves die away fairly quickly --- within a few days. Once that happens, there's little if any pain. It's just a matter of letting them die and fall off -- a couple weeks, usually -- and then the stump should heal up.

So happy the millet helped! I'm glad the others thought to mention it. I tend to assume everyone has millet, cuttle bones, etc. so I didn't mention!

Keep us updated! Rooting for her!

[sundancekid]

Acelin_Wolf
I just stumbled upon this and have to know if she made it! I'm almost afraid to ask, but I really hope she pulled through. If so, did she lose the toes?
I'm a newbie and this was a very informative thread.... hopefully I won't need to utilize what I've learned anytime soon. Anyhow, I hope to read good news!

[Acelin_Wolf]

Here with an update!

The toe is still hardly hanging on, but she seems to be feeling alot better regardless. Shes finished her antibiotics and her pain meds. She's eating/drinking normally.

Though she's still separated from the others (I'm unsure when she can go back in with her friends), she calls for her buddies a few times a day.

[Gráinne Barrett]

Hoping for the best!

[MiaCarter]

Acelin_Wolf -- That's great news!!

What does the toe look like now? Is it black and dead? Or is it pink?

I'd wait until she loses the toe (or it fully heals) before I'd put her back with the others.
You want to make sure you give her some time to adapt and get used to her new normal before you put her in with others.

So happy she's doing well!

[Acelin_Wolf]

Hey guys! Back with more updates and a question/concern.

The finch (Goose)'s feet have "bumps" at the base of her foot, where the dying toe (on each foot) meets her foot. Is this normal? I'm unsure if it's swelling or just how her body is healing.

She's eating/drinking normal still.

Has anyone here had toes fall off their finches before? Is this normal for the healing process?

Pic: http://i57.tinypic.com/2e0jza9.jpg

[MiaCarter]

That's a good question.
I'm going to tag KarenB as she just went through something similar and she may have a good idea!

[monotwine]

Don't stress. That is fairly normal. The swelling will reduce once the dead piece falls off completely and the toe grows around the injury, sealing it again. It takes a while before the toe looks "normal" albeit a bit shorter.
A little antibiotic / antiseptic cream applied would do no harm if you are really worried.

[KarenB]

I believe that to be normal. Annie, my owl finch, lost her leg below the tibio-tarsal articulation, and she had that enlargement just above the area which died. The dead section was hanging on by some tissue, and getting in her way, so I took sterile surgical scissors and snipped it off to speed up the process and to keep it from ripping in the wrong way. The bump soon went down and began to heal. I took a photo just after. I think she was so relieved to get rid of that dangling thing. I know I was. So I think once that toe is gone, that will heal over the tip just fine.