It's string injury season again

Teresa wrote:

Thank you, Cindy!

I'll forward your hug to all the ones that don't peck or bite, and wave at the others, is that alright?

You betcha!!

My string babies are MUCH better tonight.

I've spent a lot of time with them both today, as the weekend will be taken up with painting and decorating, and I was able to remove almost all of the callouses. The improvement in the surrounding area is remarkable. (I've been taking photos all along, but I won't be able to upload them for a while).

Speedy has a toe missing but should keep the others. With Houdini it's harder to tell -- two of his toes still hang in the balance. Both will almost certainly need to have their feet taped (once debriding is completed) to maintain the toes in the right position as they heal.

Would you believe Speedy just started eating as I write?! Don't know if it's a late supper or an early breakfast... She has a great appetite, and produces text-book poops. I'm amazed at how strong and determined they are!

Great update, Teresa.
I'm so glad things are going well.

Thanks Teresa Its great reading the updates on these poor pijjies.

Teresa - I am so glad about reading these positive developments. Sending you lots of energy and healing thoughts again. These poor birds are so lucky to have found you true

I am anxious to see the photos you made...

Pics!

This is Houdini...



... and his feet before treatment:



And the almost undistinguishable Speedy...



... and her feet before treatment:



Definitely not on the quick release list...

Houdini and Speedy are beautiful, Teresa.
Bless their hearts.
String injuries can be so awful.
They're definitely in good hands with you.

They are both beautiful Teresa

I just cringe everytime I see injuries I feel so very bad for the poor creatures, but don't stop posting the photos because I learn from each one.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

They are both beautiful Teresa

I just cringe everytime I see injuries I feel so very bad for the poor creatures, but don't stop posting the photos because I learn from each one.

Robin.

Speedy has been released!
She was doing really well, no longer in need of meds and trying to escape at every opportunity, so after a final check I decided to let her fly free.
One of her toes still curled under a little, but the same happened with Merlin before, and it corrected itself over time, so I hope hers will too.
I'll keep an eye on her when she comes over to feed.

Considering her previous daredevil attempts to escape, I thought the moment I placed her cage in front of the open window and opened the door, she'd be out like a rocket. But she surprised me... She jumped on to my arm, gave me a long, thoughtful look, looked at the window, then back at me, and then flew out the window like an arrow! Be safe, sweetheart!

Houdini is still on antibiotics. On the photo, you can see that the colouring of two toes on his left foot isn't right. The back toe has improved a lot, although it lies sideways, but I think the other one isn't going to make it. It's still discoloured and barely attached.
Apart from that he's doing well and getting feisty.

Geraldo stopped by on Friday. He landed on the windowsill and almost accepted seed from my hand. I ended up putting the seed on the windowsill -- then he polished it!

Three cheers for Speedy and her recovery.
"Fly safe sweet one"

I'm glad Houdini is improving.

Hi Geraldo.
I'm glad you are doing well and stopped by to see you Mom.

Teresa wrote:

Houdini is still on antibiotics. On the photo, you can see that the colouring of two toes on his left foot isn't right. The back toe has improved a lot, although it lies sideways, but I think the other one isn't going to make it. It's still discoloured and barely attached.Apart from that he's doing well and getting feisty.

Yep, the bad toe has fallen off. There was no bleeding. He's standing much better now.

Speedy came in for breakfast. I'll post up a pic later!

Teresa wrote:

Teresa wrote:

Houdini is still on antibiotics. On the photo, you can see that the colouring of two toes on his left foot isn't right. The back toe has improved a lot, although it lies sideways, but I think the other one isn't going to make it. It's still discoloured and barely attached.Apart from that he's doing well and getting feisty.

Yep, the bad toe has fallen off. There was no bleeding.
He's standing much better now.

Speedy came in for breakfast. I'll post up a pic later!

I'll bet he actually feels much better too.

Speedy knows where the good stuff is.
Will be looking forward to seeing the little sweetie.

I took Houdini to the vet's today, together with Halo, because I was getting very concerned about the inner toe on his right foot. It had a good colour, and he had feeling in it, but the cut was so very deep that it dangled a lot and got in the way of his walking, and sometimes when he moved it started to bleed.

The vet agreed with me that it was best to amputate that toe to give him a chance to be able to walk normally and, especially, to prevent a serious haemorrhage.
That has now been done, and he's staying overnight for observation. It was a hard choice, but I'm sure it was the right one.
On a positive note, his middle toe, which looks awful in the photo, is so much better you wouldn't recognise it!

That's good thing to do, Teresa. His life will be much easier with that toe gone. They heal so quickly that you will be amazed.

Appreciate the update, Teresa.
Sending 'get well' wishes to Mr. Houdini.

I'm sure he will get along much better.

String injuries break my heart The poor birds can spend their entire lives in total agony, maimed and struggling. I dont know if it happens much in your countries, but here, in England, thugs quite often catch pidgies just to tie their poor feet together. Ive never caught one doing it yet, hence the reason Im not eating porride for breakfast looking at the sky through bars
Id like to tie the thugs feet up. Not together, wouldnt be so unkind. However, one foot to one side of the railway track, and the other foot to the other side would suffice I think.

AnnieBirdy wrote:

String injuries break my heart The poor birds can spend their entire lives in total agony, maimed and struggling. I dont know if it happens much in your countries, but here, in England, thugs quite often catch pidgies just to tie their poor feet together. Ive never caught one doing it yet, hence the reason Im not eating porride for breakfast looking at the sky through bars

Id like to tie the thugs feet up. Not together, wouldnt be so unkind. However, one foot to one side of the railway track, and the other foot to the other side would suffice I think.

I think the thugs would definitely get the point that it isn't nice to tie a pigeon's feet together.

AnnieBirdy wrote:

String injuries break my heart The poor birds can spend their entire lives in total agony, maimed and struggling. I dont know if it happens much in your countries, but here, in England, thugs quite often catch pidgies just to tie their poor feet together. Ive never caught one doing it yet, hence the reason Im not eating porride for breakfast looking at the sky through bars
Id like to tie the thugs feet up. Not together, wouldnt be so unkind. However, one foot to one side of the railway track, and the other foot to the other side would suffice I think.

Do I know those feelings...

And the reason why I was thinking that is because Houdini's string had knots on it. That was no accident! Speedy and Geraldo were accidental victims, but with Houdini somebody did that to him, and the poor thing is terrified of humans. Every time I pick him up he shakes with fear.

On a happier note, he is doing so much better already!
The vet said the timing couldn't have been better, because the toe was about to come off, and it would have bled profusely. As it was, they put him under briefly, removed the toe, staunched the bleeding and put a couple of self-dissolving stitches on it. You should see him now, strutting his stuff like nothing happened!
The vet also confirmed that there was no gangrene, but agreed with me that the back toe on his left foot needs monitoring. I did think, when I first caught him, that it might not have a future, but it's improved so much that I'm sure that with proper care it will be okay.

I'll try to post up new photos later. (Dinner break, lol)

Teresa wrote:

AnnieBirdy wrote:

String injuries break my heart The poor birds can spend their entire lives in total agony, maimed and struggling. I dont know if it happens much in your countries, but here, in England, thugs quite often catch pidgies just to tie their poor feet together. Ive never caught one doing it yet, hence the reason Im not eating porride for breakfast looking at the sky through bars
Id like to tie the thugs feet up. Not together, wouldnt be so unkind. However, one foot to one side of the railway track, and the other foot to the other side would suffice I think.

Do I know those feelings...

And the reason why I was thinking that is because Houdini's string had knots on it. That was no accident! Speedy and Geraldo were accidental victims, but with Houdini somebody did that to him, and the poor thing is terrified of humans. Every time I pick him up he shakes with fear.
On a happier note, he is doing so much better already!
The vet said the timing couldn't have been better, because the toe was about to come off, and it would have bled profusely. As it was, they put him under briefly, removed the toe, staunched the bleeding and put a couple of self-dissolving stitches on it. You should see him now, strutting his stuff like nothing happened!
The vet also confirmed that there was no gangrene, but agreed with me that the back toe on his left foot needs monitoring. I did think, when I first caught him, that it might not have a future, but it's improved so much that I'm sure that with proper care it will be okay.

I'll try to post up new photos later. (Dinner break, lol)

That is good news.

Theresa........I'm so happy to hear that Houdini is doing so well

Thank you for all that you have done for him.

Louise

Pics!

Houdini strutting his stuff this evening:



Progress history:

30th January:



3rd March (the toe that was later amputated shows evidence of slight bleeding):



5th March (you can clearly see the stitches on the stump, but they will dissolve):



He hadn't curled that toe for a while now, so it should be temporary. Either way, if he needs a splint on that toe, it will be much easier to do it now.

His poor feet. They look better but still have a way to go. Darn good thing you got him.

Thanks for sharing the photos, Teresa.
Such a handsome fella.
It's a shame he has lost some of his toes. But the positive of it all is he's alive and getting along. Thanks to you.

Bless you both for all you have gone through.

I love the background picture in Houdini's cage, Teresa.