Slightly red leg/vein 2 days after nail clipping

[suninthewinter]

No, she didn't say anything about blood or lead poisoning. In fact, he's doing just fine. Everything is normal with him, other than the occasional flare up of redness/vein prominence and sometimes tucking the leg in, which has been ongoing for about a week now. There aren't any other symptoms, especially not anything related to sepsis (blood poisoning) or any other type of poisoning. Not to mention, with sepsis, necrosis of the tissue around the infection is recognizable in early stages of the infection. The vet said he'd be just fine after testing his vital and reflexes, which were perfectly normal - (likely to rule out sepsis, which has a paralytic, deadening effect on the nerves). His droppings, feathers, eyes, beak, nails and behavior are also normal.

I'm hoping in the next 4 days of administering his medicine, he makes a full recovery.

[cindy]

Could it be like a strain in the muscle? I hope he gets better for you. Keep us posted. Do you have a heat lamp near him...it may help him feel more comfortable.

[suninthewinter]

It might be...! I didn't consider that at first, because I figured it had something to do with clipping him... But now that I think about it, the redness and vein prominence didn't show up until 2-3 days later, which seems delayed for an infection. Plus, it didn't gradually show up - the leg was perfectly normal one day and red with vein prominence the next. And to add to the theory, I mentioned earlier that the redness and vein prominence tends to show up when he's exerting himself (when I'm trying to catch him). Hopefully it's as simple as a small, treatable infection or even a strained muscle... Since it's been ongoing for about a week now, and if it had been something extremely serious and life-threatening, I'm sure he would have been exerting more ill-like symptoms by now.

Edit: Although just to add, the way the leg looks does suggest an infection rather than a strained muscle... But I don't know.

Considering all the things that might be wrong with him hurts my heart, for sure. And I'm definitely stretched thin with my fair share of stress over this: Money for the vet isn't a concern for me, however, the vet I see is the only avian vet in the state that isn't a 3+ hour drive, and is still almost an hour drive. I depend on a family member for transportation that isn't emotionally supportive of the situation and undervalues the importance of veterinarian care for birds that are ill.

Praying for his recovery the first time around.

[L in Ontario]

If you are giving him "Baytril" daily - that is an antibiotic. Make sure to follow the vet's directions exactly and for the full length of time. Don't quit early even if his leg looks better.

To make it easier to catch him - put a divider in the cage so he has less room to fly and you have a smaller area to catch him in.

Good luck.

[suninthewinter]

Yes, I meant to check the label in the original returning from the vet post. It is Baytril. Today was the second day out of his treatment. He doesn't seem to be tucking his leg in anymore, but redness and vein are still prominent. With that being said, maybe it's safe to assume the redness and red vein prominence will be healing in the next few days as well.

[cindy]

Baytril is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, hopefully by the time he is done with the meds he will be better....fingers crossed!!!!

[suninthewinter]

Fingers crossed definitely!! Thank you for your support, yet again and Mila (the society) thanks you too, I'm sure!

[DanteD716]

Fingers crossed here, too!

[suninthewinter]

Went ahead and disinfected the perches and toys, etc. Helps to mitigate the amount of bacteria around his foot and now he's ready for bed. Hoping he shows some more improvement tomorrow. I also gave my vet a call back just to make sure that his leg still being red with the also red, prominent vein was O.K. and she reassured to give it a few more days of treatment. 4 days left! Come on, Mila!

[L in Ontario]

Yes, it won't heal instantly which is why you have to make sure to give him the Baytril for the entire length of time prescribed. Don't end it early even if his leg should look 100% better within the next day or two.

[suninthewinter]

Day 3 was today. His toes are returning to their normal color with the occasional, maybe once a day flare up, but the flare ups aren't as red anymore. His leg, however, is still red. Making progress!!

[L in Ontario]

Sounds good so far - keep up with the meds.

[kenny66]

I have found it perfectly normal for the vein to go into overdrive and become prominantly red when you clip too close, particularly in canaries. The blood supply vein has to be repaired and replenished because of what is a minor injury and this causes redness. It will disappear in a couple of days. It is tender in the meantime which causes the lifting leg. I find it better to cut nails from underneath in silouette which helps to make sure you dont clip too close. Very good avdice fron Dante about the fibres-made me go and look at all my caged birds feet

[suninthewinter]

@kenny66, Great advice - that was my original suspicion... But it's nearly been 2 weeks and I've also been treating him with Baytril, an antibiotic and the redness has only slightly subsided in his toes but not his leg yet.

Today was his 5th and last day of medication as advocated by the vet. I gave the office a call and asked what I should do at this point. Just waiting for a call back from the Dr.

[kenny66]

i am sure it will resolve itself-you are doing everything right