My budgie was injured in a fight and won't eat. What should I do?

It sounds like he needs to be seen by a vet for treatment. The bite may have injured his neck/wing and/or he may have an infection secondary to the bite. A vet can take an xray to see if anything is fractured and prescribe an antibiotic, if needed to treat an infection. The fact that he is crawling around the cage and not eating is very concerning so please have a vet take a look at him as soon as possible. Also, keep him separated from the other bird so this doesn't happen again.

Potential causes include infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites), trauma/injury, toxicity or malnutrition. It is critical to have the underlying cause(s) diagnosed before an effective treatment can be administered. Until you do that, you're simply guessing and possibly wasting time. Millie needs to be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep her warm and as stress free as possible. Use a hand feeding formula and warm water to make a mash or paste that she may eat. You can also soak a pelleted diet in a small amount of apple juice to stimulate the appetite. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Ask friends and family to assist you financially if possible.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Bobo flew into a window. If you believe that he could be injured in any way, I recommend having him evaluated by your nearest veterinarian. Bird's may hide their clinical signs, so subtle signs such as a wing droop or fluffed feathers may indicate underlying disease/injuries. Your veterinarian may recommend x-rays to evaluate for any orthopedic (boney) injuries, which may require the placement of a splint or bandage. If he continues to act normally (eating, drinking, passing normal feces/urates) and perching normally, he will likely be OK. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she is not getting better by now, it is definitely recommended to have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. The main reason is that she may have suffered some trauma that will require further therapy. Often times there is much more trauma than what it appears in dog bite cases. Good luck!

Unfortunately, the best course of action when a bird is injured is to seek veterinary care ASAP. Even if you do not have a specific avian vet, it is best to see if there are any vets in your area that could take a look. Internal injuries could be present that could be affecing Indi's ability to eat or perform normal behaviors. Until you can get to the vet, or if you can't get to one, the best course of action is to keep Indi in a calm, quiet and warm hospital cage with low perches and easy access to food and water to minimize any further injury. However, if he doesn't perk back up, he needs to be seen in person by a professional as soon as possible.

It's possible there could be a lasting injury such as nerve or muscle damage that is making it hard for him to perch. I would have him checked out by a local vet to make sure there isn't an underlying problem that can still be treated to help make it easier for him. If the damage is permanent, adding in flat platform style perches can help make it easier for him to get around and rest, as well as adding in shallow dishes that are easy to climb out of for food and water.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that Sugar has not been doing well. I would recommend having Sugar seen by their veterinarian for a recheck. 30g is a very significant weight loss and I worry about the continued lack of nutrition and hydration worsening the original injury and delaying healing. It may be best to have Sugar hospitalized for regular feedings and medication administration until he is stronger. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.