My 12-year-old lovebird is limping, weak, and sleeping. What's wrong?

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.

He should be examined by your veterinarian or by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds. Lethargy, chronic regurgitation and loss of balance would be serious symptoms in a young bird. Given Tweety's age, he should be seen as soon as you can get an appointment. Birds are very good at hiding illness or injury until it is quite serious. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the vet. Do not allow him to fly and remove or lower perches to prevent injury from falls. Consider feeding a commercial handfeeding formula temporarily or soaked commercial pellets to get some food into him.

Bumblefoot is very common in these little guys unfortunately, and there is no way to know for sure without seeing Puff. This would be my first guess. He really needs to be examined by a veterinarian, and likely needs to be on antibiotics and potentially a pain medication like Metacam. Hope that helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Columbo. It is unlikely that a nail trim problem would manifest two weeks later. Trauma to the foot/toe is possible from simple falls. If limping a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Fractures need to be stabilized in order the heal. if a sprain/strain, analgesia can help recovery. Good luck.

You really should get him to your vet for an exam. Gout is a very strong possibility. Gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in body tissues, especially the joints. Gout can cause difficulty perching due to painful swollen joints. It is a common problem in pet birds, although it is different than the disease in people. In birds, gout is often associated with kidney failure and treatment aims to address both the painful joints and the underlying disease. Other conditions can also cause a bird to have a weakened grip. Arthritis can affect the toes. Many birds develop a foot infection called pododermatitis or “bumble foot”. Nutritional deficiencies will play a role in the development of many of these conditions. Make sure your bird has no exposure to lead or zinc. Some neurologic problems cause similar signs and should be ruled out. In addition, older birds may develop tumors that will impact the ability to walk or stand. As you can see, any number of conditions can result in his difficulty with his feet. I would recommend that you start by having a physical examination performed by a veterinarian experienced with treating birds. Your veterinarian will evaluate him and make treatment recommendations based on the diagnosis.

Since it is progressing, he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating birds. Injury, nutritional deficiency and infection (bacterial, fungal or viral) are all possibilities. A complete physical exam and diagnostics may result in a diagnosis. Supportive care may also be indicated.

Unfortunately, the symptoms you described are very vague signs of illness, so it would be hard to say what is going on without an exam in person. It's good that you're keeping her separated, and I would do so by keeping her in a warm hospital cage to see if that helps her improve. It's possible the diarrhea could be due to a diet change and the stress of coming to a new home, so giving her a day or two to see if she improves may help. Checking for parasites, and making sure she's on a balanced diet (removing any snacks or fruits and veggies for a few days if she has GI upset) may also help. As for the toe, that is very common in commercially bred birds. If it is causing trouble I would have it examined when you are able, but provide low, flat perches and platforms for her to hang out on in the meantime. This can help her stretch the toe and have a place to relax without losing balance. If she doesn't improve in a day or so, or seems to get worse, it is best to try and find a bird vet in your area that can see her right away.