My lovebird's leg is hurt. Is it broken or dislocated? What to do?

It depends on any secondary problems and if the trauma was only isolated to the leg. If his leg is the only thing that is broken and there are no other problems, he would likely be fine until seeing the vet. However, if there is any infection or anything else going on that might put his life at risk then he may not make it. If possible, I would get him in to be seen sooner so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps!

Breaks are usually fixable in birds, either by applying a splint or surgically, it depends how bad it is basically. this will need to be assess and done by an avian vet specialist, if the leg and not the wing is broken then her chances are generally better.

If the leg is currently broken, it needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away as breaks in bird bones can lead to serious infection. If it was broken or deformed in the past but now healed, there may not be much that can be done for it, but a vet can still take a look. Otherwise, changing Parrot's environment so it is easier for him to perch, get around, get into and out of food and water dishes, etc may help.

Hi, It sounds like Elliot most likely did have a fall or get his leg stuck in cage bars. A dislocation or fracture sounds possible based on what you have described, and unfortunately this is somewhat common in birds, especially young birds as the supporting structures of he developing bones are still soft. Even though he is still eating well, Elliot is most likely in significant pain from his injury and should have some pain medication prescribed. Also, his best chance at having the injury corrected so it can heal in proper alignment will be in the hands of a veterinarian. So a visit to your veterinarian is the best thing for Elliot right now. Make sure he keeps eating and is maintaining weight, as good nutrition will be the foundation of his ability to heal. Good luck!

I am so sorry that this happened to you and Pluto! From the photos, Pluto appears to be putting weight on both of the legs, which is good news. Also, the toes are all about the same size from what I can see, which is good as well, as hopefully that means there is not too much swelling. Pluto may be painful on the toes, and that could be why he is holding them away from the other toes. You can do one of two things - you can monitor for the next 24 hours or so, and if there is any worsening of the signs (limping, not putting weight on the leg, or if the toes turn red or are bigger than the other toes), you can take Pluto to a veterinarian for evaluation. The second option is taking him to a veterinarian sooner to get him looked at, if you are concerned right now. At the veterinarian, they can take a feel of the legs and ensure there are no broken bones. If needed, they may recommend performing radiographs (x-rays) to evaluate this as well. They may prescribe pain medications as well, depending on what they find. Please do not give Pluto any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope Pluto feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Cutie and including photos. This condition often arises from improper substrate that allows the legs to slip outward. During the developmental phases of grown, bones are soft and bend easily. You can attempt to "hobble" the legs underneath her in an attempt to correct things but prognosis is not good. A veterinary visit can improve odds, especially if avian experienced. Good luck.

Hello! If your female bird is trying to escape your male bird, I would recommend keeping them separated. Frustrated and scared birds often hurt themselves attempting to escape situations. When a bird holds up their leg, it is the equivalent of a human limping and is a sign of pain. I would recommend taking her into be seen by an avian vet. They will likely recommend x-rays. The x-rays will ensure that she has no broken bones, as well as looking at her abdominal organs. Abdominal problems are a common cause of leg issues in birds because their abdominal organs are on top of their sciatic (leg) nerve. They will likely recommend an anti-inflammatory to help with her pain and make other treatment recommendations based off of x-rays and physical exam. I hope this helps! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!