Slightly red leg/vein 2 days after nail clipping

[suninthewinter]

I could catch him and check... What would it being hot mean?

[cindy]

If it is hot it could mean there is some type of infection. The heat indicates the body trying to fight it off, much like a fever in humans.

[suninthewinter]

All right, thank you for the information! I'm a new bird owner, so I don't know much of these things yet. I'll be calling my vet this morning to have some medication called in. Thank you all for your wonderful help - I would have panicked more than necessary if not for you guys!

[L in Ontario]

How's the leg looking today? Did you call the vet?

[suninthewinter]

The leg is progressively getting better on it's own. He's still tucking it inside of himself occasionally, but otherwise is performing normally/perching, eating, etc.

I called the vet two days ago - Monday is her day reserved for surgeries and on Tuesday she has off. Unfortunately, she's one of the only avian vets in the small state that I live in. Today I have an appointment at 3:30. Hoping to get the antibiotics he needs as soon as possible. It's tough watching one of your babies suffer, even if it's minuscule.

[cindy]

Keep us posted, I do hope he will recover quickly.

[suninthewinter]

I certainly will! Thanks for all the support!

[DanteD716]

It is tough to seem them hurt! Hope he recovers

[suninthewinter]

Good news! I just got back from the vet and she was reluctant even to give him an antibiotic simply because he seemed to be healing well on his own. She did, however, prescribe him Baylin to be taken orally for the next 4-5 days (I believe that's what it's called... I would have to grab it out of the refrigerator). She also checked his reflexes and ability to grip and move his toes and all were perfectly fine.

Thanks again, all of you, for all of your wonderful support! You're all great!

[L in Ontario]

Glad to hear he passed the medical test.

[DanteD716]

Good news! I just got back from the vet and she was reluctant even to give him an antibiotic simply because he seemed to be healing well on his own. She did, however, prescribe him Baylin to be taken orally for the next 4-5 days (I believe that's what it's called... I would have to grab it out of the refrigerator). She also checked his reflexes and ability to grip and move his toes and all were perfectly fine.

Thanks again, all of you, for all of your wonderful support! You're all great!

Great news!

[debbie276]

That's GREAT news!
best of luck and a speedy recovery

[suninthewinter]

I went to administer his medicine today... Of course, as finch owners, we all know how hard and frustrating it can be to catch a finch bare-handed. After 10-15 minutes, I finally caught him and gave him his medicine. However, the redness and prominence of the vein have returned. The color of both tend to fluctuate, but it seems that when he uses his leg to dart around the cage, that's when it's most prominent. I'm beginning to wonder if it really is an infection...? I mentioned earlier, the doctor was reluctant to give any antibiotics because he seemed to be healing nicely on his own and I might not be so sure, but agitating him for the next 4-5 days on a daily basis doesn't seem like such a good thing for his leg. I don't have a choice, but am praying that he heals up nicely and doesn't need another vet visit - this is very hard to deal with.

[DanteD716]

[cindy]

Did your vet say anything about blood poisining? In a human if say they cut their finger and it becomes infected sometimes a red streak will show up the limb. This occurred to me when I first read this. This is just a thought, not saying this is what is happening but it is puzzling. Does the leg feel hot?