FINCHforum

Hello-
My Finch has a break or sprain. I am enclosing pictures. He actually lets it dangle and has a hard time getting it underneath him. These were taking after he got it up as far as he could. I think I should put him in a Hospital cage. When I was still handfeeding my Parrotlet I kept her in a 10 gallon fish tank with a heating pad underneath one third of it. Would that be ok for him? I just got him last Sunday and am so upset. I had my four new Finches at the Avain vet yesterday for a complete check up and fecals,cultures,etc. I think it may have happened while the vet was treating him? Should I call the Vet? Also, they have Trich and I was given Metronidazole and told to give .015 cc by mouth for 6 days. I was shocked by this because I was thinking I could give them medication in their water. So now, I have to stress them out by catching them and giving the meds for the next 6 days? Also, where on the syringe is the .015 cc mark? Thanx So Much~

Thank You

I called the Avain vet's emergency line and am taking him in in an hour.

The vet will be able to help you more than I can, but I can offer a little advice for when you get home. Yes, I would put him in a hospital cage for now, with some heat. Put his food and water down at the bottom so he doesn't have to perch if he doesn't want to. I'd still let him have a perch, he will use it if he feels like it.

Ask the vet about that dosage, and ask him to show you on the syringe. That is a very tiny amount, as if you have a 1cc syringe (I think that may be as small as they come, that would only be 1 1/2 hundredths of 1cc! Perhaps he meant .15, which would be halfway between the .1 and .2 mark on the side of a 1cc syringe, and the syringe is marked with lines between each tenth of a cc.

If you have to dose each bird individually, you may want to put them in a smaller cage for the 6 days so it is easier to catch them (that is, if they are in a flight/aviary). Good luck with it. I have a finch that broke it's hip? when young, the leg sticks out to the side like that--it was four years ago, and he gets along fine, so they can learn to adapt.

Oh Sally. Thank You. I really appreciate your reply. My heart is just broken. Yes, it does appear to be a hip thing instead of leg. When he can get his leg up on the perch, it is splayed out to the side. When he can't get it up there it hangs to the back. I have him in the travel cage 14"L x 11"w x 16"H now with the food and water and perch down low. I have a bit of heat on the cage. I will take him to the vet in that. When I get him home,should I put him in the 10 gallon fish tank with the heating pad and such and keep the other 3 in the 14"L x 11"w x 16"H for administering the meds to them, or will that be too small for 3 birds for 6 days?
Thanx So Much!

That's a bit small, but since they are Gouldians and a Society, they will tolerate smaller cages temporarily, much more so than the more active species. I would think the fish tank/heating pad would work as long as you can monitor the temperature, but keeping the heating pad under just 1/3 of the tank leaves an area where the bird can move if it gets too warm.

The vet may be able to correct this, I didn't take my little guy to the vet and so his leg healed sticking out to the side.

My baby boy has a dislocated hip. The Dr x-rayed and said it is a dislocated hip instead of a broken bone. She said it is very bruised and swollen. :'( Too swollen to try to move it back into place. She kept him overnite in an incubator and gave him some meds for pain & swelling. My heart is broken for him. He was my prize boy. He would stand so tall and sing so pretty. I just have to believe he will make a full recovery. I will pick him up after work tomorrow and bring him home to his hospital cage.

So sorry to hear of this with your new bird. I've never heard of anything like it with a bird. Wishing you both the best. Bob

Even if he doesn't recover the use of the leg fully, he can still be your prized boy. But I hope they can get the dislocation back in for him! I have read on the forum from other people with this problem. Also, remember that a lot of people including me have a bird or two that are crippled and they don't seem to even know there is a problem. Fingers crossed for his full recovery! Chin up!

yes i agree totally with what Trish said! I have a little flock of finches, doves and quail with broken wings, crippled feet, neurological problems, and blindness. They are my favourites, as they are so resilient and strong, they give me so much hope! Your little guy is so lucky to have you to take good care of him

Thank You Guys so much for your words of encouragement. It means the world to me. You are right,he will be stronger for this as he has already shown great strength by singing in his cage on the way to the vet. I have cried all weekend, but I feel better now to know there is hope for him even if he does not fully recover. You guys are the best. Thanx Again. I will keep you updated. Have a Blessed Day~

I picked little Chico up from the hospital. He hasn’t had any change yet, but the Dr. said when the swelling and soreness goes down,he should be able to use his leg again. I saw the x-ray and it sure is out of socket. She said their little sockets are so shallow,and the bones so fragile you can never get them back in place. She said maybe it will work it’s way back in. He seems to be feeling good and is eating and drinking and peeping. I put him in a hospital cage. I put him right up close to the other cage so he could talk to his friends and put the heat lamp on part of his cage. I put all his food & perches down low and made him a bed with the paper you gave me. He was snuggled in his bed when I left him earlier.

that's great news that he is doing ok

A MIRACLE this morning! He had both feet under him on the perch! A HUGE improvement from dragging it behind him! I am soooo hopeful now. Perhaps he will make a near full recovery! Praise the Lord! I’ll keep you updated.

lyzzyjayne wrote: A MIRACLE this morning! He had both feet under him on the perch! A HUGE improvement from dragging it behind him! I am soooo hopeful now. Perhaps he will make a near full recovery! Praise the Lord! I’ll keep you updated.

Lovely news!!!!

What wonderful news!!!! I am so happy for you and Chico!