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Post by nikib5 on Jun 27, 2016 14:34:44 GMT -5
Hello,
I used to frequent this site, but life got in the way and I see that I haven't posted anything for 2 years! I am so glad it is still around. This is a great resource.
I looked around the archives and couldn't find any information, so I thought I would just ask. Have any of your Quakers ever broken a wing?
I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and boarded Niki at his vet. I got back to pick him up and he looked terrible and his wing was drooping. It turns out his wing is fractured. Niki is 21 years old and has some bone loss and the vet attributes that to his fracture. He is doing better this week, but I have to keep him out of his cage and in a plastic tub because we're afraid he'll fall. I'm just wondering how birds heal from broken wings. He had a sling which he chewed off after the first day. The vet then put tape on his flight feathers and taped them to his tail. He is tolerating that better. It supports his wing a little better and must be less painful. It was very frightening. At first I thought niki had had a stroke and lost mobility on his right side.
Chris (niki's mom)
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 27, 2016 16:26:57 GMT -5
I have seen broken wings taped up. It will take time for the bone to heal. Wonder how he fractured it in the first place?
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Post by easttex on Jun 27, 2016 18:51:08 GMT -5
Poor Niki! I hope he's getting something for the pain. I've helped wrap wings a couple times, but only on wild birds. They have to be wrapped pretty snuggly to heal, but that may be more of a concern with wild ones who fight you madly. Good luck to Niki and to you!
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Post by biteybird on Jun 27, 2016 19:01:23 GMT -5
None of my birds has ever broken a wing, thank goodness....sorry I'm no help, but I just wanted to say welcome back.  Hope Niki goes OK - let us know if you have the time. |
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Post by cnyguy on Jun 27, 2016 19:55:25 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about Niki's injury and wish him a speedy recovery.
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Post by nikib5 on Jun 27, 2016 20:00:13 GMT -5
I cannot prove it, but i think he was dropped at the vet's office. I had asked for him to be checked for yeast. He was doing fine until the day they examined him. The vet tech acted like niki was fine and sent him home with me. I should have insisted he stay and get checked, but niki is older and i didn't know what was wrong until i could watch him more closely. I figured out it wasn't a stroke because he bit me every time i touched his wing. Let's just say i'm not leaving him alone there ever again. It is a shame because the vet is great, but she has all new staff. The ones that had been with her all left around the same time.
He was wrapped pretty tightly, but chewed through it within 24 hours and was very agitated about it. I heard him chirping and moving about during the night and he was on his back and couldn't get up. I about lost it. The vet thinks that he can't handle anything on his upper shoulder so she just taped the back of him. She said wild birds can tolerate that better, so maybe niki would. He seems to be.
He is on pain meds and a critical care diet because he wasn't eating much. He must be feeling better because he wants his cage back and has been begging me to go back, but i'm terrified he will fall. the poor guy. 😓
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Post by duckysmom on Jun 27, 2016 20:28:19 GMT -5
So sorry to hear about this. How awful. Prayers for a speedy recovery and no complications.
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Post by Caseysmom on Jun 27, 2016 20:35:44 GMT -5
Poor Niki, I hope he does start to feel better fast!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 27, 2016 20:51:46 GMT -5
You can put the branches low down in his cage so if he did fall, it wouldn't be far. You can also put soft material on the floor of his cage (which will need to be changed frequently due to droppings). Hope he gets better soon.
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Post by nikib5 on Jun 28, 2016 8:39:34 GMT -5
Thank you for all of your support. We're going to the vet today to check his progress. Jan, I understand what your saying about low perches and soft bedding. I am most worried about him falling when on top of his cage. I usually leave his cage door open and he goes up on top. It's going to be tough. He is used to some independence.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 28, 2016 12:32:13 GMT -5
Let us know how he goes at the vet.
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Post by julianna on Jun 28, 2016 15:00:08 GMT -5
Holy smokes... I would sure be some upset. However.... I know accidents can happen. It just gets me going when the QP is at the vet... and they didn't see that he had a broken wing??? Come on... you noticed it...
Sorry... but my heart goes out to your little one... I really am sad for you both. Hope he heals quickly.
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Post by nikib5 on Jun 29, 2016 8:05:09 GMT -5
The Nikster had his follow-up appointment yesterday. It has been 2 weeks and he is healing nicely. She mentioned she felt lots of bumps which I guess indicates re-calcification. She was happy with his progress. All tape has been taken off. His wing droops still, but she told me he has been used to having some support and now he has to build up his strength again to keep his wing up and against his body. She recommends one more week in the plastic tub, but with 2 hours/day time spent at his cage. In 3 weeks or so, she wants me to work with him to get him to do flying exercises. I remember trying that with him years ago, but he was kind of terrified. We are going to try again, because he really needs to build up his muscle and bone. Any suggestions how to make it fun for him?
Niki also has bone loss in his legs. He needs exercise!! He used to build, but within the last year or so he has stopped and he also has some arthritis so he doesn't really like to climb around like he used to. I had him walking from room to room, but that doesn't seem to be enough.
The Dr. said that it doesn't matter how much flying a pet bird does around the house, their bones are never as dense as a wild bird.
Other good news, his bacterial and yeast infections have cleared up and he is off those meds. Yes, poor Niki has been dealing with a lot lately!
Thanks for all of your support. I hope this never happens to your birds.
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Post by duckysmom on Jun 29, 2016 8:39:46 GMT -5
So happy Niki is feeling better!
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Post by julianna on Jun 29, 2016 14:27:06 GMT -5
My Oscar does not fly but I know it is important that his wings remain strong. What I do each day... is hold him up high with my left hand... and then wave my right hand a few feet away from him... very quickly... like flight. I say to him "fly Oscar fly"... I say this over and over in an excited voice and he begins to flap his wings... He used to only flap a little, but now he flaps them a lot as he clings to my finger as tight as can be.
I know he enjoys this... I can tell when we stop he prances around like a King.
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Hope Niki goes OK - let us know if you have the time.
