Conference 7.286::pet_birds

846.0. "Leg Problem" by GUCCI::BBELL () Thu Jan 27 1994 11:29

    Ollie, our two year old double yellow head, is recovering from an
    injury which affected his left leg.  About three weeks ago, Ollie, who
    has all his feathers, was sitting on the back of my chair in a familiar
    pose getting attention.  The six month old puppy, Bernie, comes up
    jealously wanting some attention also.  I had my hand back touching
    Ollie when he decided he was not happy with this idea of the puppy just
    walking over and interrupting, so Ollie grabbed my index finger in his
    beak.  It wasn't hard enough to be at all painful, but it surprized me
    and I jerked my arm (and finger) forward.  Ollie was hanging on
    strongly enough that it catapulted him toward the floor, where he
    crash landed.  This crash caused his left leg to be completely
    unusable.  I checked his leg for obvious breaks and it seemed to be OK
    as far as I could tell.  He did not exibit any symptom of pain except
    that his left leg and foot were limp.  After a couple days with no
    improvement, I took him to the Vet.  The Vet said that he, also, could
    find no obvious problem after a torough exam (but no X-ray).  After
    many questions, he said that he thought it was some kind of a nerve
    problem and to restrict Ollie's movement as much as possible so that
    any inflammation could recede.  He also gave me some cortisone powder
    to put in Ollie's food or water.
    
    Now, after three weeks, Ollie is putting a little weight on the leg and
    grasping the perch with his foot.  It seems to me that the Vet was
    right on track with his diagnosis.  I was wondering if anyone else has
    had such and experience.
    
    Bob

    Just a follow-up on Ollie's leg problem:  here we are, a couple months
    later and Ollie is fully recovered.  There seems not to be any residual
    effects or complications.  I have to guess that the Vet was right - -
    it was a pinched nerve.  Good news  :-)
    
    Bob