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My budgie's toe is injured and she's limping. What to do before vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Parakeet | Female | unspayed

I think that my budgie broke her back toe. The other day, Lupita's toe snagged on a cage bar and she started to limp. Along with this, the toe was bent forward for the first day, but now it isn't. Lupita has been keeping her foot up, and she has been a bit more aggressive than usual. Lastly, she appears to lose balance when extending her wings and she leans forward when standing. I have been feeding her with a scoop. What can I do to help Lupita before I choose to take her to the vet?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Jessica Desrosiers

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on March 24th, 2019

Ouch! That does sound like she's injured her foot. Until you can get to the vet, providing some low, flat perches that are easier to stand on (like a platform rather than having to curl her toes around it) and food and water dishes she can easily climb in and out of may help her relax the foot a bit and maintain her balance easier. Keeping her warm and preventing her from picking at or chewing on the foot can also help. If she's housed with other birds, moving her to a hospital cage to avoid being picked on is also a good idea.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on September 7th, 2017

    Making sure Cookie is on a proper diet formulated for budgies is a good start, as poor nutrition can cause dry skin on the feet and legs. Some parasites such as mites may also cause scaling on the feet as well as some infections of the skin. If she is having trouble gripping, placing some large perches in the cage may help her relax a bit easier and stay on the perch without slipping off. If she seems at all disoriented or can't stand on a perch at all, it would be best to bring her into a vet for an exam to rule out issues such as illness, injury or neurologic disease causing it.

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 30th, 2019

    Hopefully your bird just injured her toe nail and is a little sore. However, she may have fractured a bone in her foot when she became stuck. I would recommend taking her to the veterinarian to be checked out. She may just need some pain medication to get through the next couple of days.

    I hope this helps. Thanks reason Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 30th, 2019

    She would need an exam and diagnosis of the underlying condition in order to say how long healing will require. If she will allow, check her leg and foot on that side for any signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding. See your veterinarian of you notice anything suspicious. Make sure the nails are trimmed. Offer different size perches as well as textured perches to promote foot health.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Poor Turri! It sounds as if the injured toe/foot is causing him some distress and pain which could be why he is showing other symptoms of illness. If he is limping and also acting ill, it would be best to bring him to a vet ASAP so that the foot can be examined and treated, and any other underlying conditions ruled out to help get him feeling better. Until you can get to your vet, keeping him warm, with low, flat perches that are easy to stand on and food and water dishes that can easily be climbed in and out of may help make him more comfortable.
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