Horrible fracture (Beware, GRAPHIC) -- what can I do?

Hercules has become quite the star!: He may be the only pigeon patient at the vet's, because they make a big fuss of him!

He spent the whole afternoon at the vets today, because the surgeon wanted to see him, and he also wanted the bird vet to see him. They are very happy with his progress, especially the fact that there isn't any suppuration. Having said that, they warned me that it wasn't good for the flesh wounds to keep them covered, but it was imperative to mend the bone first, and then treat the wounds.

He's having another X-ray done next week to determine when the splint can come off. Meanwhile he's going on another antibiotic course, but considering that he still has diarrhoea (in spite of the brown rice, and the probiotic, and the ACV and the vitamins -- not all at the same time, lol) the vet prescribed BACTRIM (Sulfamethoxazole+Trimethropim) for 8 days. He said this would be gentler on his digestive system.
(This 'zole' business makes me wonder if that antibiotic might treat canker?)

All the time we were talking, Hercules appeared to be listening, lying down on his pillow like a monarch, looking down at everybody!

I'm glad he's doing so well. Sounds like he's turning into a pretty good Pigeon Ambasador.

What a wonderful update, Teresa.
I'm thrilled Hercules is doing so well.
And such a star he has become.

Quote :

(Sulfamethoxazole+Trimethropim) for 8 days. He said this would be gentler on his digestive system.
(This 'zole' business makes me wonder if that antibiotic might treat canker?)

Yes, it is called also Cotrimoxazole and treats protozoal infections, but it is also antibacterial.
They used it for toxoplasmosis treatment too, so it has wide spectrum action. I believe that with withdrawal of Baytril from the market, there are new drugs coming.

Just a thought Teresa,
Why don't you ask Vet for two day break between medications and give him liquid calcium and vitamins? It should help bone mending and calcium firms poop. (and bit detox on his liver won't do harm).

plamenh wrote:

Just a thought Teresa,
Why don't you ask Vet for two day break between medications and give him liquid calcium and vitamins? It should help bone mending and calcium firms poop. (and bit detox on his liver won't do harm).

He had a 3-day break from the antibiotics (last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). And he's been taking Glicopan-pet:
www.rightsunchina.com/english/vetnil_glicopan_pet.html+Vetnil+%22glicopan+pet%22&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pt" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:uivsBwJOgewJ:www.rightsunchina.com/english/vetnil_glicopan_pet.html+Vetnil+%22glicopan+pet%22&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pt
That should be ok, shouldn't it?

The new antibiotic sounds great, and it was so cheap!!

Looks good to me. It is totally different when you have good Vet around.

Hercules is improving visibly!

He's acting king of the roost, being more active and pecking for Portugal!

His appetite is MUCH better, and at long last he's started producing poops that look like poops, rather than that smelly horror he had! I knew it couldn't be due to Salmonella, because the Baytril would have taken care of it, and it couldn't be roundworms because I'd 'dropped' him with Ivermectin -- which meant he probably had intestinal canker or Coccidiosis. I did ask the vet whether it would be a good idea to test a fecal sample, but he didn't think it was necessary. I'm guessing it was canker, and this new antibiotic is kicking butt!

The only disappointment is that now he often stands on the knuckles of the injured foot, instead of extending his toes. Should I let him do his thing for now and, if needed, use a foot splint later (after the leg has healed) to correct that? It worked with another pigeon I treated.

This is great news, Teresa.

Is he able to extend his toes?

Fancyfeathers wrote:

This is great news, Teresa.

Is he able to extend his toes?

I'm not sure if he can actually move any toes except the back one. I hope that's because the dressing is very constrictive. I can't wait for the time when the splint can come off. Fingers crossed!

This is him taking his medicine.

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Pigeons/Hercules/?action=view&current=DSCNB3253.flv

Heehee, was that a little wing wiggle at the end there?

What an easy Pigeon.

Hercules could very well be the 'spokesperson pigeon for all pigeons on how to properly take their medicine.
Hercules.

Luna Wolf wrote:

Heehee, was that a little wing wiggle at the end there?

I noticed that as well. cute.

What a wonderful and dignified patient, Teresa. Incredible for many people but I firmly believe he knows exactly what he is taking here.

Hercules! You're one lucky bird with Teresa to help you. And those veterinarians sound awesome!

Jenaka wrote:

Hercules! You're one lucky bird with Teresa to help you. And those veterinarians sound awesome!

I think so too.

Matilda wrote:

Jenaka wrote:

Hercules! You're one lucky bird with Teresa to help you. And those veterinarians sound awesome!

I think so too.

Me three!

Luna Wolf wrote:

Heehee, was that a little wing wiggle at the end there?

Oh goodness me, yes! Sip, sip, sip, SLAP!
I said he was a good patient, I didn't say he was tame!

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Matilda wrote:

Jenaka wrote:

Hercules! You're one lucky bird with Teresa to help you. And those veterinarians sound awesome!

I think so too.

Me three!

He's very special!
Any bird that can survive for a week with a double exposed fracture and still looks people straight in the eye has got to be something else!
This method seems to work best with alpha males. They like to stay in control, even of their own medication -- and for their carer that means cooperation and an unstressed bird!

Teresa wrote:

He's very special!
Any bird that can survive for a week with a double exposed fracture and still looks people straight in the eye has got to be something else!
This method seems to work best with alpha males. They like to stay in control, even of their own medication -- and for their carer that means cooperation and an unstressed bird!

Teresa, that proves that you know these birds, you can look into their hearts and you can feel exactly what they need and how. I wished all people on the world would be able to do this - we had a much better world then.

I am so glad that I had the chance to get to know you and Charis and Cindy and Cynthia and Plamenh and everybody else. I am learning so much from you all!

I'm going to show this video my birds so they can see how to behave when taking medicine.

plamenh wrote:

I'm going to show this video my birds so they can see how to behave when taking medicine.

You'd better edit out the wing twitch, or they'll get ideas...

pigeonwriter wrote:

Teresa wrote:

He's very special!
Any bird that can survive for a week with a double exposed fracture and still looks people straight in the eye has got to be something else!
This method seems to work best with alpha males. They like to stay in control, even of their own medication -- and for their carer that means cooperation and an unstressed bird!

Teresa, that proves that you know these birds, you can look into their hearts and you can feel exactly what they need and how. I wished all people on the world would be able to do this - we had a much better world then.

I am so glad that I had the chance to get to know you and Charis and Cindy and Cynthia and Plamenh and everybody else. I am learning so much from you all!

Like you, I've been learning a lot from the very people you mentioned , and a few others over the past couple of years. They have a wonderful understanding of how to read a pigeon's reaction and what that means. They're incredibly patient, gentle and dedicated and taught me about the possible causes of a pigeon's aggressiveness and how to get round them (when that's possible) and also how to learn from the pigeons themselves. But no matter how much you already know, you are constantly learning!

Thank you both very much. Each of you are much adored by me. Thank my lucky stars every single day that I know you...just how could I have been so lucky.