FINCHforum

Question: can you identify and advise treatment for the following:

Spartacus, our wonderful zebra finch, has developed a swollen foot, which over the course of about two weeks has grown to about a pencil eraser sized swelling. It seems to be confined to claw itself, without the toes. It started as him not using it and holding it up and he keeps his beak open. I'm thinking it hurts the poor guy.

It developed from just a little nub on the backside of the claw, but not in the "palm". We gave him anti-inflammatory and antibiotics, given by the vet who was able to get plenty into him. On subsequent days we had more and more trouble until he just refused to open his beak to take it, so he's gotten little medicine recently. I'm also looking for advice on how to get him to take medicine. We've tried catching him and trying to give syringe of medicine (no needle), trying to put on food (how much is he really getting), and putting a teaspoon of water with medicine in his water bottle.

We're trying to give him nutritious food, though he only cares for seed, few fruits, and green leaf lettuce.

I will try to post a picture.

Two pics are in the Health Concern gallery, under my userid:

http://www.finchforum.com/gallery/displ ... p?pos=-736

Don't worry buddy, I'll take care of you...

HI,

I am not sure what else you can do. Does it look like a localised abscess? i.e. if you lacerated the lump would it release the pressure caused by the fluid build-up?

Other than the foot is the bird acting normally, eating, drinking and active??

Poor Spartacus - I hope he gets through this okay.

When my Gouldian had an infected food, the vet gave me antibiotics (already diluted) which I used as he only source of water for about 10 days. My Gouldian did great on those antibiotics and his infection went away. I've never had to force meds into a bird.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

Thanks for the comments.

Though he is pretty lively, his foot hasn't gotten better and has gotten a bit worse since first posting. It's now swollen around the joint and he's not using his toes much. We've unfortunately had to give him antibiotics injections twice a day because he just won't take the medicine orally. That's why we call him Spartacus. It breaks my heart to do that to him every day. It may have stabilized a bit but I know through my Internet searches that his condition is not at all good. However, articles from Crystal indicate that it takes a long time to heal. I'm evaluating him everyday and using a magnifiying class to look at his feet. He doesn't have any open sores thankfully. Giving him new perches is a task in itself because you can't clean wooden perches completely and plastic perches are too hard. We're thinking of wrapping in cloth but I worry about his snagging his claw in that.

Sorry you are having such a time with Spartacus. Since you were able to take him to a vet, you are doing all you can. Try to keep his appetite up--have you offered spray millet? As far as new perches, have you used branches from the garden? These would offer a little 'give', plus a variation in size helps the feet.

Thanks for your response.

Most of his perches are larger, with some smaller. Rope perches as well. Wondering whether I am overweighted to larger perches. also wondering about cleaning rope perches.

How is Spartacus? I hope he's getting better.....

My female zebra finch seems to have the same problem on her left leg. I saw the picture of Spartacus....my finch's middle claw started to be swollen like that. I took her to the vet asking if she had scaly leg or bamble foot, but the vet said it wasn't that case. She said maybe my finch's leg got hurt and could be infected. I wonder if she sprained her leg.

Now it's swollen badly that she puts her leg up all the time. THe vet gave her injection and gave me Baytril (antibiotics) that I can put in drinking water.

Once in a while, I notice my finches' legs get hurt but I just can't figure out by what. The only thing I can think of is by the cage.... maybe the material of the cage? When I notice my finch looks uncomfortable w/ his/her leg, I put apple cider vinegar on perches and it seems like it helps.

Besides she puts her left leg up all the time now, she eats, drinks and flies fine. It's frustrating I can't find the exact reason how her leg got swollen. My best wish for Spartacus. I understand how you feel about him.