Hi Sunshine how is your stringfoot friend doing? This is one I can offer some tips in case it may help--I love removing string from their cute little feet, have done quite a few mainly bc I love pigeons and Ive been sewing my whole life so I have a thing for strings/thread and cant resist. And bc my own long hair that Ive always checked my babies toes for bc my hair gets everywhere. And believe me thats a risk too.
For your guy here, its swollen so hard to see the 'string' which is likely hair, flesh/tissue may have grown over it, somewhat anyway. Doesnt mean its hopeless tho.
Heres what you do, have someone help you.
Get these items, you may not need them all but will want them:
-Wide stretchy sock
-basin of cold water
-ice
-tiny manicure scissors
-tweezers
-if you have a metal cuticle remover--the small tool that is sort of U shaped.
-antibiotic ointment
-small cloth squares, even toilet paper is fine if thats all you have. I use gauze.
-clean cloth for a number of possible reasons, just have a cloth
-cornstarch if you dont have blood clotting/ stopping agent
-magnifier, use your phone if thats all you have
-light, again phone is fine
Goals: 1) locate strong/hair 2) USUALLY 1 tiny snip is all thats needed to free a footsie, one snip usually breaks the pressure tension.
-cut end off sock to make tube, hold it wide open while one of you puts him in it. Its a calming restraint. Ive had them so relaxed and sleep.
-keeo his head up, be mindful of comfortable normal position- bc they can get relaxed and its easy to start turning them all around to get to foot if they are too compliant in sock, if that makes sense--so just be mindful hes not accidentally in a crazy position, upside down etc. Youd be surprised
-one holds him on lap, use magnifier and light to see even the smallest part of string/hair. Also know bc of swelling, sometimes you can use cold pack to shrink the area. Ice does wonders.
To search for something string/hair--you need to probe around, you can gently press on foot areas next to indention--best using a tool with flat edge you can probe around with flat edge, pressing gently in spots.
All the while talk softly, telling pigeon what youre doing, and have friend gently stroke his head or cheek, wherever it seems calming to your guy.
If you find string/hair, thats great! Say to yourself Ive got this and be confident--with great care but not fear, this is how you will do it.
All you need to do is catch it--not you arent 'cutting' exactly, when its that tight, you are making contact with scissor edge and string and will gently start to close until it breaks it*your goal is tiny snip of one part to release tension* Put ice on spot again for a moment, pat gently any excess water if needed. Now pressing down with your tiny flat edge tool, if you can see the tiniest area of hair--keeping one spot pressed with tiny flat edge tool, slide one scissor tip under hair, pointing them slightly upwards. You will have to be a little firm at this moment, friend too in holding guy still, get that point under the hair, angled up some.
If you do this, you proceed after with tweezers to start unravel. Be patient and know if you can get one snip, take it from me, you can get it off. Ive had to snip, tweezer unravel, snip again, tweezer more, esp when theyve got it all around toes and in crazy directions. Sometimes, once tension is broke, you can use other ways of snipping--cuticle remover edge. even baby nail clippers. Use what you have and main thing to remember is upward angle away from flesh, hair barely needs to make contact with tool to break so think precision over force. Do NOT 'cut' as you would in traditional terms--you are sliding it under hair to break hold with very little contact needed to achieve this.
If you accidentally snip skin, dont panic. Stop, stay calm, apply pressure for awhile. If it bleeds after 5 or so min, pour cornstarch on it. '
After string removed, clean area, soak it, apply ointment. Even if a ring wound remains, it will heal, fast. Keep it clean with ointment.
If string cant be found to remove or too embedded in flesh, you can ice it regularly and keep checking over days, also can try applying exfoliant such as cream with salicylic acid over time to possibly break it down.
If its just never able to be removed, yes, it will fall off in time. Could take year or more, its slow. So please, if you can--keep pigeon with you and keep working on it. Its worth it. If foot eventually does fall off know he will be fine, its just the meantime is hard, painful. I have one feral with a terrible foot, hers had other issues that would require amputation but in meantime shes fiesty and limps but is the toughest girl out there.
Good luck. Long post bc I love love love removing the hair/strings. Its a great feeling to set their cute feet free and they run off all annoyed but they know what you did and deep down they love you for it.
