Injured african grey

[aaa1992]

My grey somehow injured himself while alone in his cage, we think he might have hit the blunt end on the screw of his feeder, or maybe with a toy. He the area below his eye and it swoll up so that he could not open it. Over the past couple of days it has been getting better and he could open his eye again, but now all of a sudden the area around his eye up to the beak is all greenish-blue. What's happening? Could the wound be infected?

[Lambert58]

If you can, get to the vet ASAP. Yes, it could be infected but the only person that can confirm that is a vet.

 

Go Go Go.

 

Are you still here? Get to the Vet!

[dblhelix]

No substitute for going to the vet. You should go ASAP. However, if the skin was never broken an infection is not very likely. Your description sounds much like a fairly normal bruise progression...swelling, subsiding leaving greenish/blue bruise from the blood/fluids that were beneath the skin. The discoloration can spread fairly far from the acute injury site as the fluids are absorbed by nearby tissue.

 

Again, I would go see a vet for peace of mind and just in case, but think the chances are pretty good the discoloration will go away over the next 1-2 weeks. Wishing you and your Fid all the best. Keep us posted.<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2010/01/16 03:23

[Talon]

You need to take your bird to a vet asap!!! Don't wait, there could be an infection.

[Luvparrots]

To be on the safe side, if you can't take your grey to an avian vet, please call one and ask if there should be any concern. Please let us know the outcome as we all worry and love our own and each others greys.

[pearllyn]

Hope he's feeling better soon, you really MUST get him to a vet, just in case.

[Acappella]

Please let us know how your baby is. As luvparrots said, we worry about each other's greys when they're hurt.

[danmcq]

The others have given great comments.

 

I hope we hear an update from you. :-)

[aaa1992]

there were no bird specialists at any of the emergency clinics we phoned yesterday, so we did not go. today, our grey seems much livelier and his eye area is barely blue anymore. nonetheless we have an appointment set up for tomorrow. but i think bdlhelix is correct when they say that it's probably just normal bruise progression.

 

thanks everyone!

[judygram]

Mark, aka dblhelix, is right about the bruising, it will turn a blue shade then purple then green as the blood is absorbed by the body but I am glad to hear you have made an appointment with a vet for your grey and let us know what you find out.

[Acappella]

Glad your baby seems to be feeling better. I guess all of us here have a tendency to err on the side of caution, because we know how well greys hide illness. Good luck with your vet visit.