Need Some Input on this Owl's Leg

[MisterGribs]

Hydrogen peroxide makes for an excellent disinfectant on closed wounds, and it also very effectively removes dead tissue. I have amputated several pigeons in the past, but am not a vet either so take my advice at face value. ;v

I definitely agree with lovezebs about the soaking, slowly remove as much dead tissue as you can, and gently debride the injury site daily. It will soon quickly become clear where there is live and healing tissue.

Do you have styptic powder on hand?

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Regarding the styptic powder...

If the foot is indeed dead and needs to be removed, there should be no bleeding whatsoever. It should be like a black dry twig.

However, I am still hopeful that she can keep the foot.

[wildbird]

Just remember that you can always take it off but you can't put it back on.

[MisterGribs]

I have seen birds keep a dead foot with no adverse effects under the right conditions. As long as it's not likely to get caught on anything or decomposing, it should be ok!

[GouldieFledge]

lovezebs mistergribs wildbird

Thanks for all your advise and sharing your past experiences
Yup, won't be taking any drastic measures anytime soon. I did the soak/debriding yesterday, which went well. This thing I did like about the results is that it SEEMS like she's been putting a bit of weight, or at least resting, the leg wherever she's perching, whereas before she was holding the leg up flush against her body.

I'm fairly certain the foot is dead and won't be coming back. The soaking did not enable me to maneuver her toes at all, they're still rigid as ever. I think she enjoyed it though

I do have styptic powder. I'm gonna continue to watch her--the leg seems like it's being more of a hindrance at this point, but I haven't observed enough to know for sure. I also want to get that band off, unfortunately I don't have splitters though.

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Glad that the soak was comforting.

How loose is the band on your girlie's leg?
Can you move it up and down easily?

[GouldieFledge]

lovezebs

Yes, luckily the band is able to easily move up and down the leg with no issue

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Is the back toe moveable?
Can you hold it together with the front toes, without forcing it?

[GouldieFledge]

lovezebs

Sorry I missed this post. Her foot is most certainly dead and I would not be able to manipulate the toes in any way. The back toe is closed forward, which I suppose is better than the other way around since it's not as likely to get caught on something. So she just sort of clicks around, balancing on the leg portion the best she can. I admire her determination.

With her last epsom salt soak, I noticed that the point of injury had the slightest bit of bleeding occurring, whereas it never showed signs of blood before. Very miniscule. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Her behavior has not changed at all, and the foot is still as black and rigid as ever.

I suspect it may in fact be a M/F pair, because every time I remove her for her leg cleaning, her mate goes nuts and starts incessantly singing (at least it sounds like singing to my novice owl ear, anyway).

Still no signs of warmth, swelling, oozing...no signs of infection. No malaise. And MAN these little stinkers are fast--she got away from me 3 times last soaking! It made catching my gouldians feel like catching butterflies, hahaha! Then when I repair them, they chatter away to one another about the horrors I've put her through I'm really loving their little personalities.

[GouldieFledge]

Elana--I feel like the foot is very much feeling like that "matchstick" texture you described, where it would break clean off of the leg with enough pressure applied. This may be another thing I have to watch, as far as accidents are concerned.

How can I set up the cage to be a little more user-friendly for her impediment?

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

I had to make a cage set up for Max who has one leg and only one wing (both on the same side). His girlfriend Kelsie, is missing half a wing, and can only flutter, not fly.

This is what their cage looks like...

Mostly everything is at ground level, so that both can reach things.
There is a perch across, which Kelsie can get to , but Max can't perch, so it's out of reach for him.

[GouldieFledge]

Updates:

So I'm a little concerned about the leg now. On Wednesday when I did her foot soak, it looked like the point of injury had/has become larger. When I cleaned it, she seemed more uncomfortable than normal. And while I wouldn't consider it "pus" or infection, I noticed that the area had a yellow-tinged appearance to it. I took some pictures, but they actually make it look more more drastic that the foot/leg looks in reality.

Nonetheless, I am a little worried. I've left it be the past couple of days, as I thought maybe it was getting to much manipulation with the cleanings, and started a course of antibiotics for the week as a preventative measure. Other than that, I've just been watching her behavior...which seems to be fine, still.

I feel like the fact that she can't perch properly isn't helping the healing process any better. She can and will perch, she NEVER stays on the floor of the cage...would it be wise to give her an open nest to sit/sleep in? Something more comfortable she can rest her body on? I'm not sure if that'd trigger breeding behavior.

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Sorry to hear that there appears to be some sort of an issue with that leg. Have you tried rubbing a bit of Polysporin around the area of the wound?

If she's on antibiotics, then I stop the hydrogen peroxide wash. It may be drying the skin too much, causing it to crack.

Regarding something for her to sit on:
You could attach a little shelf or a platform in one corner of the cage. That way, she has a place to sit, but won't have to perch (if that seems to be causing discomfort of any sort).

Just out of curiousity, is she using the injured foot to perch, or is she pulling it upwards, perching on the good foot only?

[GouldieFledge]

lovezebs

Thanks Elana

She's going back and forth with the weight-bearing on her foot. Sometimes I see her using it for balance, others she's holding it up against the body. It SEEMS like she's starting to hold it up more, which is a littler concerning.

I stopped the peroxide, I think maybe she was getting alittle too dried out. I didn't even think about the polysporoin idea, I can most definitely do that.

I'll see if I can get some videos of the duo today

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

I do hope things work out for this little girlie .

As long as she does have some use of it, that's good.