Fate Just Sucks.

[AliBlack]

How's he doing Janet?

[amyable]

Hi Ali,

Well I don't know what to do to be honest. I've been in bits all day trying to decide how to help him.

This open wound is right at the thigh, almost like the skin is torn, but the problem is the limb underneath keeps poking through the skin when he moves the leg. I bathed it again this morning and what seemed like a small scab came away, very tiny so can't be sure what it was. I was trying to make sure there were no feathers in the hole.

The problem is I can't see how it will ever heal if his leg can't be stopped from moving. He is getting quite tame and so it doesn't scare him for me to examine him luckily, but he does struggle when I have to turn him upside down. However I thought I'd lost him this morning as he put up with a lot while I cleaned him up and he started panting. I gave him Aconite for shock and he pulled through again after an hour.
Now he's back to his old self and eating and drinking as usual, really perky in fact.
So this makes it hard to see how I can physically do anything for him in the way of strapping the leg, he is so, so tiny. I just don't have the know how.

It is so frustrating as I think if this could be stablilized so the skin can heal over, then this might hold his leg in the normal position, enough for him to use the leg for balance regardless of the missing toes.
He sits in my hand and he has the leg tucked under him then, he just sticks it out at the back when he moves, but he just won't sit still all day.

I need a really experienced avian vet I would think as opposed to my local vet, as I fear they won't do anything if they see it, but he is such a little fighter I can't bear to just let him go without trying something else.

I want to try and see if I can find a vet somewhere that can help, but wonder whether I'm expecting too much. If I can't find help i don't know what will happen to him as I can't possibly set him free, and he can't go on with this wound as it is.

I just wonder what would happen to this type of wound if it was just left. I just imagine that if the edges don't meet and he keeps opening up the hole by moving his leg, the skin will never get a chance to heal up.

Any thoughts?

Janet

[amyable]

Hi,

An update to my last post as I wrote it late last night, and having had to make an emergency trip to the vets this morning for my dog, took the opportunity to talk to my vet about the bird.

He was quite prepared to see him but from what I said would not recommend or attempt to stitch the skin, it's far too thin. To strap the leg, even if able to do it successfully with such a small bird, would probably stop it healing. So he just sugggested seeing what nature does with it as he feared any intervention would kill him from stress. He doesn't think just the skin healing over would give the leg stability, so feels he must have injured the joint/bone if it's lying backwards.

The bird does have movement in the leg, but not good control, so just maybe he will find a position that feels comfortable and use it to help him balance eventually.

He also said he would manage well with one leg but as far as the wound goes, it will have to sort itself out.

So maybe he will need to find a forever home where he can live outside and see other birds, but stay safe. Or if it heals over ok, have a soft release, if I can find some other Dunnocks coming and going he can join with.

For the time being he needs to stay put and see what happens for a while.
He's quite happy to sit in my hand so maybe he's gone past releasing now anyway.

Janet

[kbbigman]

Oh Janet you sound like you have been thru so much with this little one, please keep trying for him, you are giving him so much love and attention he has just got to pull thru.
Was your dog ok? I know the site is primarily for birds but I'm a dog nut been owned by a GSD and a StaffiX.

[amyable]

Hi kbbigman, Nice to meet you.

Thanks I am so determined to try and make things up to this little chap, he's such a sweet thing.

Yes my dog wrenched a dew claw and it was hanging off and bleeding like a river. The vet had to cut the rest off which made Blake screech in pain. But should settle down and is on anti-biotics to help.
I have two Shelties but this one is more the size of a Rough Collie/ Lassie type.
He's so hates strangers touching him and has bitten this vet before, but today bless him, he sat on the floor and actually lifted his bad paw up for the vet to see. I think he knew he needed this man's help today !!!

Do put some pictures fo your dogs up in an album in your profile for us to see. Love to see people's dogs and other pets just as much as the birds.

Janet

[chriss80]

I am sorry to hear Janet, sad story and is truly unfortunate!

Keep us in touch,

[amyable]

Just thought I'd post a picture of him as he has started to love sitting in my hands, then fluttered onto the computer keyboard. He likes company.

Please meet the latest member of PT.



This is a picture of his injured left leg, see how it sits behind him. he can fold it under him when he sits.

[chriss80]

Such a sweet thing. I wish him well fast recovery!

[mr squeaks]

He reminds me sooo much of a Sparrow one of our members (Susan) in Australia has: Spoggy. The bird has captured their hearts and is a part of the family.

What a cutie!! SURE wish him all the VERY BEST with

Loves, Hugs and Scritches

Shi

[kbbigman]

Hi Janet, hope Blake's getting over his ordeal, it's awful when they do that, Ellie has split hers in half before, we don't need to worry bout Missie catching her's though as she lays and files them with her teeth until they are like razor sharp hooks, which I have seen her slit a duvet cover with before and plenty of times slice my arms if I'm playing with her, I think that's why she started doing it so she had weapons!!! Have put some pics up for reference, hope you enjoy them !!

[amyable]

I just thought I'd update on the sad outcome.

Little 'Un', as she was called died this morning so unexpectedly.

Up to now, she had been doing so well and had become part of the family. The wound at her thigh healed up really well and with bathing the scabs came away and it looked perfect. Unfortunately, it didn't stabilize the leg and she still generally held it out at the back, but it did start to have movement, and she had learnt how to pull it up underneath her and she actually used it like a crutch.
With all the handling she became very tame and every evening I would have her out of the cage and she would have a fly around the lounge, sit on my shoulder, or sit on the computer keyboard while I was on the computer. Before bed, she would sit in my hands and doze off.

The other day I was chatting on Skype to Maria, (Taralotti), in New Zealand, and she was watching her on the video link buzzing around and hopping up my arm to sit on my shoulder. She was doing really well.

She was very greedy, and would call as soon as she heard my voice for more worms. I found if I cut a twig off my roses, covered with green fly, she would sit and pick them off one by one. Also she loved eating ants and ant larvae. Funny really, I always used to curse the geen fly and ants, but suddenly they were in great demand, and she loved them. She loved bathing too, and I would find her wet sometimes where she had sat in the drinking fountain in the cage. This morning was no exception.

Two days ago, she was using the leg in a better position, and even balancing with the one good toe on a perch, but I could see she still hadn't got good control, it was unstable more at the body level. This is where I think she might have had a break, or dislocation of that joint. But as she was so bright I had decided to setup an outside area for her to see how she'd manage in a natural environment. I was hoping she could eventually live in an aviary environment with other birds, but if not she would stay with me as a pet, I promised her I wouldn't let her down as I felt so responsible for her condition.

Yesterday she was holding her leg out at the back more than usual, and was very restless, however she was eating like a horse, and just as lively.
This morning though, when I opened her cage, she looked unstable and kept spreading her wings for balance which was unusual.
I just sensed she was in pain, and as I walked about with her in my hands doing jobs and she would tuck her head under her wing and doze.
I gave her some Aconite and she rallied and started to call again for her worms. I put her on some heat and covered her box to keep her still.

I just knew she was going today, but I didn't know why, or what had suddenly gone wrong, but I just knew she wasn't going to make it. I kept checking on her and she got out of her box at one time and was still calling for more worms, so I hoped I might be wrong.
However, after a while she had started to sit with her head tucked away again. I was rushing to get my daughter off on a holiday, and as soon as I was free was going to devote the rest of the day if necessary, and just sit with her in my hands, so she wasn't alone.

I'm sad as she passed before I could get back to her, I so wanted to be with her. She was such a fighter and such a sweet heart, and I miss her sitting here tonight so much.

Bless your big heart Little 'Un', but I am just so glad you're free of pain now.

Janet

[Feefo]

I am so sorry Janet, she was such a sweet, brave little thing. Thank you for giving her such a lot of tender care and love.

Cynthia