Broken leg :(

[Corkysgirl]

KarenB What kind of antibiotic is she on? Depending on which it is...and because I don't know, it's best to mix a fresh batch and give it in the morning when you know she's sure to take a big gulp...as apposed to putting it in in the evening before bed and she doesn't drink it. The strength lessens overnight. Laraine told me this about giving antibiotics to my Little Fawn for her eye. Also if it's Doxy especially, it tastes awful, she told me to add honey so it encourages her to drink it. She also said absolutely no vegetables/fruits except dried because she'll get her liquids (they don't need much because they're tropical and if she's trying to avoid the meds...all the more reason) from them and not from the antibiotics.

[KarenB]

It is amoxitex, and I give it in the morning

[Corkysgirl]

That's not a bad tasting one either...as they go. And giving it in the morning...you're doing everything perfect! Poor little girl's been through so much. Praying she comes through this okay!

[KarenB]

Corkysgirl, Thank you

[finchmix22]

So sorry Annie is having problems. What size cage is she and her mate in? I keep sick or injured finches in a 1 ft square cage, to reduce movement and allow me to get at them without as much stress. Are you giving her any Metacam? for pain and inflammation?

[KarenB]

finchmix22, Their hospital cage is about 14 x 14 x 18 ish. I have two low perches and all food and water is on the bottom. I had a heat lamp in there for a couple of weeks, but when she stopped hanging out under it I took it out. I have since moved the whole cage to be in the same room with other birds, to help them feel more secure. I have not given the poor bird anything for pain. I had no clue what to give, if anything. The male is in with her, because he had not left her side since the accident, and I thought it best not to separate them. So he has been getting everything she has.

[finchmix22]

I would put her in a smaller cage, but set it next to her mate. Then, you can much more easily get her out to treat her leg and rewrap as needed. The metacam is given 0.01cc drop to the beak for a 13 gram wt finch. I converted to give .5ml in a ml oral syringe, which is tons easier to measure. LOL. I had to try several times before I could give the metacam in a cc syringe to my injured finch last year. The metacam can be purchased online or your vet can make up a small batch for your finch, which is what I did the first time. I think the small bottle cost about $5. It was tiny. I hope she is feeling better soon.

[KarenB]

finchmix22, I am out of cages, so they will have to stay where they are for the time being. I have a tiny travel type cage, but that seems way too small.

I will see about getting the metacam.

[KarenB]

Today Annie looks much better. She was actually stabbing at preening Hoot today, and he was being a good sport. She lets him preen her but then he tends to knock her off balance some. She quit sleeping on the floor and now sleeps on the low perch, propped up and leaning on her right leg and counterbalances on the left ankle but doesn't put a whole lot of her weight onto it. The rest of the leg sticks out like a dead tree limb. She is not breathing hard anymore, but there is still some swelling at the ankle joint. That dead skin layer sloughed off and now the leg looks somewhat normal but for the joint swelling. All in all, I think she is starting to improve now each day. Barring any unforeseen incident, hopefully she will continue on this path. I'm still not sure about the foot. It looks rather dead to me. Time will tell whether it will fall off. I am really surprised the foot was so affected. It had to have been a blood flow issue.

[MiaCarter]

Happy to hear Annie's doing well! I hope she continues on the good trajectory!

Preening and perching are both a very good thing!

What does the foot look like? Is it blackening or simply bruised?

Metacam is perfect for bone pain. I'm most familiar with it as it's given to dogs with osteoarthritis. I've also given it to larger birds with broken bones and it really does help.
I've never given by mouth to a bird; I've always done it via injection (the couple birds I recall treating with Metacam were both large and nippy and VERY uncooperative. Though before we went to injections, I did try to inject it inside a grape for a grey....that worked only once! After that, he wouldn't take grapes from me for a looong time!)

But there is a potential problem stemming from the fact that the foot is not wrapped/splinted.

Right now, pain helps her keep off the foot. Metacam can work *really* well -- too well -- to the point where they'll forget the limb is damaged and they'll try to use it.
Obviously, that can damage the healing that's taken place.
So if you do opt for Metacam, I *strongly* recommend wrapping the leg with some self-adhering bandage -- just enough to stabilize the break and remind her that it's damaged.

[KarenB]

MiaCarter, The foot is dark, and the toes are stiff. It pretty much starts at the joint of the foot and goes towards the nails. The rest of the leg is pink.

I'm still on the fence about the pain meds. It would be my luck I would overdose her, and I couldn't live with that, too.

As an aside, both Annie and Hoot are calling, I assume to each other, in their little meows, and he is flying all around her, back and forth. I think he's saying, "Come on, Annie, get better, already!" And she's telling him, "Chill out dude, I'm healing as fast as I can."

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- Yeah, it's a tough call.

Honestly, I wouldn't medicate her.

If you do it by mouth, you'll have to force feed it to her, which is super stressful and you risk aspirating her.

Injections on a tiny bird like this are super difficult. I'm very comfortable with injections and they still make me nervous. They don't have much "meat". I'd do it on the fatty belly area, right in the center where the feathers naturally "split." (Plus, when you wet down the feathers with an antiseptic, it makes them cling together so you can see the skin better.)

And you'd have to face either wrapping her leg or you risk an injury because she doesn't have the pain to remind her.

If she's perching and seems to be improving, I would just let her be.
I think it's more risk and stress than it's worth at this point. Plus, she's likely through the worst of it. The first week is always the worst with a broken bone. It's steadily better from there.

[KarenB]

MiaCarter, My thoughts exactly.

[Corkysgirl]

It doesn't sound like she's suffering. Poor Hoot! He misses his girl! I'm super paranoid about aspiration after aspirating my finch. I don't think I will ever go oral meds again. I'd sooner do a shot any day. KarenB You can put Rescue Remedy in her water every day. I just rubbed it on Old Man's feet tonight after his great escape because he was traumatized and for the shock factor. It's really beneficial for anything health wise. It may help her heal faster. You may already be doing this...but just wanted to mention it.

[KarenB]

Corkysgirl, Yes, the Rescue Remedy is a daily thing in the water. I'm also adding the Amoxitex to the water with a little agave nectar to make it more palatable.