Emergency - Need Advice - Graphic Photos

[bugaboo5]

I'm glad to hear Bambi is doing well, but I do want to give a word of caution. I had a bird that had similar injuries that died, and his injuries were due to aggression - fatal aggression. I had to temporarily house my silver florida fancy zebra male in a cage with my fawn split to penguin male for a few hours - I watched them for about 30 minutes and went out to run errands for a few hours. I came back, and found the silver florida fancy male's ENTIRE HEAD plucked of his feathers (just like how part of Bambi's face looks but way way worse) - there was not a single feather on his entire head and his eyes looked gorged out. It was one of the most horrific things I have seen while having birds -- this happened due to the fawn male being territorial towards the poor silver florida fancy male. The poor thing was already dead by the time I saw him.

Per the experiences of several members agree, I 100% agree that zebras are very fiesty birds. Unless you have something in your cage that you positively think Bambi got her head stuck in, I would be mindful of how Bambo interacts with the other female. Sometimes the dominant zebra gets aggressive and once zebras get going, it's lose or die. Prayers that Bambi heals fully. Hopefully her eye sight is not affected by this terrible experience.

[moonrise]

Thanks bugaboo! So sorry about your birdie.

Bambi's doing better today! Her left eye is still fully open and seems to be working just fine. And I finally saw her right eye open a little bit this morning! The stuff covering her eye is all but gone, and she's opening her eye a peek. It appears to be intact, best as I can tell so far.

Here are some new photos, but note that they were taken after I put Neosporin on her. The wet-look is from the ointment. Actually she looks wetter in the photos than she really is. Camera flash, I guess. She looks like a 50's "greaser"!

I'm thinking she's going to be okay!

(Are their ear holes normally that big when they're adults? Wowsers!)

[lovemyfinch]

She does appear to be doing better in the second picture.
I am praying for a speedy recovery

[moonrise]

Thanks Janine!

Now that the crusty/matted stuff over her other eye is gone, hopefully that side will improve as fast as the other side did.

She's feeling as chipper as ever this morning.

[moonrise]

Her other eye is open fully now, is intact, and appears to be fine!

[L in Ontario]

That's so great to hear!!

[nelloyello11]

That's wonderful news! So happy for you and her that she is on the mend! Great job!

[Meep]

So glad to hear your bird is doing better!

[Jossi]

Yay!!! She feeling better! Por little thing
Im so glad to hear she seams to recover!

[moonrise]

Notice any improvement now?

I still haven't received the Amoxitex but it should be here in the next day or so. Do you think I should still give it to her at this point? I know with antibiotics, they don't usually recommend using them without a true need as it can potentially create more resistant germs.

[finchmix22]

She is looking so much better. I can't tell from the pics if there is still an infection, but if so, go ahead and give Amoxitex. If not, keep up what you are doing until she is healed. Is the area around her eye swollen? She may need an NSAID like Metacam. I would also be giving Feather Fast to help regrow her feathers. Glad she is better.

[lovemyfinch]

She looks soooo much better, way to go
Unless you can see an infection (pus, red lines) I would hold off on the antibiotics. JMHO
Neosporin is an antibiotic cream, which means that she was already getting some that would have gone through the skin. I would also be worried about giving more medication than what she needs.
I agree on the featherfast, if you have some add a little to her eggfood, it will assist in the growth of those beautiful new feathers.
Just keep an eye on her (as you have been) and if she keeps up at this pace she will be back to her old beautiful self in no time.

[moonrise]

Thanks, y'all! The tracking number shows that the antibiotics are supposed to be here today (finally! ) but I think I'm going to hold off about giving them to her. I'm not seeing any sign of infection or redness or swelling. She looks perfect other than the missing feathers. I've got her on FeatherFast now (started this morning since I had her on NV Powder previously and I wasn't sure whether I should mix the two).

When I first posted, I sure thought she was a goner, but she's obviously a tough little girl!

[L in Ontario]

Your gut feeling is right - I wouldn't bother with the antiB's unless some swelling appears or if she starts showing signs of going downhill.

She looks great now!

[nelloyello11]

Wow! What a difference a few days makes! She is lookong much much better! Hope she gets her feathers in soon and she will be good as new!