Hey guys, so I have a male parakeet who appears to have a sprained leg. It happened all the sudden, as if overnight, about a month ago. One morning I just noticed he wasn't using that leg at all; it just hangs down. He uses the other leg and his beak to get around (or he just flies since his cage is big enough). I believe it's a sprain and not a break because after examine it, I can't see any bruising or misalignment. Also, a couple weeks later, I noticed that he sometimes uses just his foot on that injured leg to grasp the side of the cage for better balance. His leg does not appear to be anything out of the ordinary other than him not using it.
It's been over a month and he hasn't gotten any better. I cannot afford to bring him to the vet right now. If I could, I would. I've been making sure he gets food and water (he's eating and drinking just as much as he used to). But he appears to be very tired; other than moving to get food or water, he sits on his perch, usually sleeping with his feathers all puffed up. He still sings, but not as much. I take him out of his cage sometimes to hold him and let him sleep in my hand (I can imagine sleeping on one leg all the time isn't easy, so I like to give him a break and let him sleep on his belly in my hand). I've tried taking out all the perches and anything he can climb on in his cage, but he still tries to climb up the side of the cage because he's a bird and naturally birds do not like being on the ground because that's where they are vulnerable to predators in nature. So making him stay on the bottom of the cage is not an option.
He has one cage mate, a younger male parakeet who usually keeps to himself. He's perfectly healthy.
As for their diet, I feed them Harrison's all-natural/organic pellets. I also give them parakeet-friendly food scraps or treats from the fridge, such as fruits and veggies (carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, bananas, etc.) Their past owners, whom I got them from, only had them on a seed diet.
What can I do for him if I can't bring him to the vet? I feel so bad for the poor little guy. He's just tired all the time and has to balance on that one leg 24/7. I hope he's not in any pain. I was hoping the leg would heal on its own but so far it hasn't. Are there any vitamins/electrolytes I could give him that would help?
It's been over a month and he hasn't gotten any better. I cannot afford to bring him to the vet right now. If I could, I would. I've been making sure he gets food and water (he's eating and drinking just as much as he used to). But he appears to be very tired; other than moving to get food or water, he sits on his perch, usually sleeping with his feathers all puffed up. He still sings, but not as much. I take him out of his cage sometimes to hold him and let him sleep in my hand (I can imagine sleeping on one leg all the time isn't easy, so I like to give him a break and let him sleep on his belly in my hand). I've tried taking out all the perches and anything he can climb on in his cage, but he still tries to climb up the side of the cage because he's a bird and naturally birds do not like being on the ground because that's where they are vulnerable to predators in nature. So making him stay on the bottom of the cage is not an option.
He has one cage mate, a younger male parakeet who usually keeps to himself. He's perfectly healthy.
As for their diet, I feed them Harrison's all-natural/organic pellets. I also give them parakeet-friendly food scraps or treats from the fridge, such as fruits and veggies (carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, bananas, etc.) Their past owners, whom I got them from, only had them on a seed diet.
What can I do for him if I can't bring him to the vet? I feel so bad for the poor little guy. He's just tired all the time and has to balance on that one leg 24/7. I hope he's not in any pain. I was hoping the leg would heal on its own but so far it hasn't. Are there any vitamins/electrolytes I could give him that would help?
