Blood Everywhere!

[barbiedoll]

what an afternoon! Still don't know how he did it, but Harry (6th month old African Grey) broke off half the length of one of his backwards facing claws. Blood everywhere as it just streamed and streamed. He was in the sitting room with me as usual and there was no incident - one minute he is fine - next minute streaming blood.
Well, I know they can bleed out from a toe break so I started shaking, but pretty quickly got him up to the bathroom and stopped it on a bar of woolfat soap. Fine. but a little blood goes a long way and my daughter and I and the bathroom and the sitting room looked a mess!
Rang my avian vet in Andover - great bloke - rang me straight back and as the meat (sorry) was hanging out from the inside of the nail, I was told to bring him straight up to have it cauterised.
It's a 45 min trip from here so we set off and sure enough, half way there he started bleeding again - so my daughter got him out of the cat basket we ship him in and tried to stop it. Now blood all over her and the car.
Vet took him straight through and cauterised the toe and gave him a shot of pain killer and a shot of antibiotic.
Now he is home again with us but covered up in the carry basket - no perching - with his pink(and bloodstained)flamingo called Humpy (don't ask...) to cuddle up to.

Any advice?
Anyone had a bad parrot claw break?

driving in the pouring rain dodging artics with a parrot bleeding al lover the car is no joke. Glad I took the valium before I set off......

 

[Jessica13]

He should be fine now - just keep an eye on it Its really common when trimming the nails to take too much off apparently. I dont trim my parrots nails very often as they dont need it done, but my aian vet told me even he's had blood pouring from that before!
But your vet has sorted him out so i wouldn't imagine you'd have any problems. Im planning to take my green cheeked conure to have the end of his toe removed sometimes soon as the nail is growing at a funny angle and im paranoid he'll get it caught and tear it off as your's did!! Its lucky you were able to get him to the vet so quickly! Well done!

Give him lots of cuddles and he'll be fine!!

 

[barbiedoll]

Thanks so much for your reply.

I wish I had an avian vet closer but I know some don't even have one as close as I do.

Harry doesn't get his nails trimmed - just sands them off himself on his made for the job perches.
I'm wondering if I should get in something else other than woolfat soap - which I just happened to have - to stop the blood if it happens again. The vet said I could use flour.

BTW: If anyone wants his cantact details - vet in Andover - let me know. We are quick to hand out brickbats but this guy is the biz.

 

[Jessica13]

yes, im really lucky to have 3 avian vets within half an hour of me, and one only 15 mins away! I know people have a lot of trouble finding them though, and 'normal' vets just dont know enought to threat exotic animals like birds unfortunately..

Flour is good to stop the bleeding - I also have some styptic sticks to use which my vet gave me but i've heard that the powder can be poisonous to them so i dont think i'd use them! Flour and pressure or ice is the best idea!