Bird Fractures
- The wing, leg and beak of the bird are the most common fracture sites. The more obvious types of
fracture are:
- Clean break. A bone is broken in a simple, clean-cut break.
- Multiple. A bone is broken in two or more places.
- Compound. The broken end of a bone protrudes through the skin. This is a serious fracture because of the danger of infection.
Successful mending of a broken bone depends on:
- The two broken ends being correctly opposed against one another.
- Immobilization of the fractured bone until healing has taken place.
- The bones of small birds take about 2 to 3 weeks to heal; bones of larger birds take longer.
- If a bird is pecking at the bandage that immobilizes fracture, you may have to fit the bird with an Elizabethan collar.
- Position all perches down near the bottom of the cage to keep the overall movement of the bird to a minimum.
- If in any doubt, confine the bird, treat for shock and transport to a veterinarian.
Bird Leg Fracture Signs
- Leg misshapen.
- Leg held off the ground or perch.
- Difficulty in perching.
- When fractured, the whole leg or most of it is often drawn up under the feathers. For examination, the leg has to be extended and exposed. The procedure involves two people, one to hold the bird, the other to locate position and bandage the fracture.
Bird Upper Leg Fracture
- The upper leg is usually not visible as it is covered by feathers. The bones in the upper leg are the femur and tibiotarsus.
- Treatment should be left to the veterinarian, who can-ray the leg, determine the nature of the fracture and decide on the best method of immobilization, for example, a plaster cast or pinning. The bird is an aesthetised for treatment.
- An alternative method of immobilization is to use a sling.
- Vet wrap, approximately 1cm (3/8 in) wide, is a suitable bandage for a sling as it is self-adhesive.
With the leg extended, wrap the lower leg, known as the tars metatarsus bone, in wadding (soft, spongy material) to protect the skin against chafe and pressure. - Pass the sling around the wadding two or three times, then around the body to draw the lower leg up into natural flexed position firmly against the body.
- Pass the sling under the wings to allow the bird to maintain balance and fly.
- Check daily to see that the sling is keeping the leg in the flexed position.
- The sling is left on for 2 to 3 weeks, or longer if necessary.
- If the bird pecks and loosens the sling, apply an Elizabethan collar.
Bird Lower Leg Fracture
- The lower leg (tars metatarsus bone) is visible unrecognizable by its scaly appearance. If the tars metatarsus bone is fractured, several methods for immobilization are outlined below.
Bird Lower Leg Fracture Treatment
Vet wrap bandage
- Vet wrap is easy to apply and readily adjusted and removed because of its self-adhesive characteristic.
- Extend the fractured leg. Firmly wrap a 1 cm (3/8 in) wide bandage around the full length of the tarsometatarsus bone several times. To secure good immobilisation, the fracture site should be in the middle of the bandage. If the fracture is towards one end of the tarsometatarsusbone, it will be necessary to extend the bandage.
- Leave the bandage in place for 2 to 3 weeks or longer if necessary.
Adhesive bandage
- Cut two to four pieces of adhesive bandage 2.5cm (line) wide and 5cm (2in) in length to surround the leg. Lay one piece on top of the other so that they stick together and leave the top one with its sticky surface uncovered.
- Extend the fractured leg, place the middle of the sticky surface on the spot where the leg is fractured and fold the bandage around the leg so that the sticky surfaces meet together on the other side to form a firm-fitting, adhesive bandage cast around the leg (see diagram above). Trim off any unnecessary length of adhesive bandage.
- Leave in place for 2 to 3 weeks or longer if necessary. If the skin is broken, see the veterinarian who will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Splint
- First extend the leg and wrap the lower leg in wadding to protect the skin from pressure.
- Cut a drinking straw to a length that is shorter than the wadding so that the sharp ends do not cut into the skin.
- Slit the drinking straw lengthwise, fit it over the wadding then bandage over the straw with Vet wrap or adhesive bandage. Leave in place for 2 to 3 weeks or longer if necessary. (See diagram above.)
- Without removing the splint, check regularly to see that no pressure sores are developing at either end of the splint and there is no swelling of the foot.
Bird Wing Fracture
- Wing fractures within 0.5cm (1/4 in) of the joints do not heal well; that is, the fractured bone ends do not unite or the joint becomes stiff, making flight impossible.
- Vet wrap bandage is recommended for use as it conforms to the shape of the body, is easy to adjust, does not stick and therefore does not damage the feathers when being removed.
- Do not apply the Vet wrap bandage too tightly as it may restrict the bird’s breathing, nor too loosely as the bird will move the wing, thus preventing the fracture healing.
- Treatment involves two people, one to hold the bird, and the other to examine and locate the site of the fracture.
Bird Wing Fracture Signs
- A drooping wing.
- The bird stays on the ground or floor of the cage.
- If disturbed, the bird attempts to fly and is unsuccessful.
For a Small Bird
- Fold the fractured wing into its natural position. Wrap the bandage (about 2.5cm/ 1 in wide) firmly over the wing and around the body but under the sound wing.
- Leave the bandage in place for 2 to 3 weeks or longer if necessary.
- Alternatively, after folding the fractured wing into its natural position, wrap a bandage over both wings just behind where they are attached to the body, and continue the bandage under, up and around the body several times. Wrap another bandage around the body to secure the tips of the flight feathers. Prevent this bandage from slipping by joining it to the other bandage with strips of Vet wrap. Leave in place for 2 to 3 weeks.
For a Large Bird
- Fold the fractured wing into its natural position. In order to keep the damaged wing firmly against the body, wrap a figure-of-eight bandage around the wing, then apply another bandage over the damaged wing to pass under the sound wing and around the body several times.
Bird Beak Fracture Signs
- Tip of beak broken off.
- Beak split or cracked.
- Degree of difficulty in eating, which may eventually
- Lead to starvation.
- Fractures of the upper beak usually involve the end of the beak being broken. Fractures of the lower beak are usually down the midline.
Bird Beak Fracture Treatment
- Take the bird to the veterinarian, who may anaesthetize
- The bird, drill a hole in each fractured section and compress them together using nylon or wire threaded through the holes.
- If confident and dexterous, you can use superglue if the fractured ends of the beak can be very closely opposed. The difficulty of using this method is in holding the fractured ends together while the glue dries. Ensure the bird does not inhale glue fumes as they are toxic and, if excessive, may prove fatal. To avoid toxic inhalations, do not use excess glue and do not hold the glue near the bird’s nostrils or beak.
Follow Up
- Once the fracture is immobilized, take the bird to the veterinarian to confirm:
- The fracture is correctly immobilized.
- There is no impairment to circulation.
- The skin is not broken at the fracture site. If the skins broken, your veterinarian will prescribe a course of antibiotics.