These are pics of JaJaBinks right leg. Some how she injured it & then chewed it. This all happened in a matter of a few days. The vet plucked her feathers to expose the injury. She had not plucked any, so it remained hidden from me until it was bad.
Click on pics for full size image:
The "Bubble Collar". It's shaped like a bead cut in half. It's hard plastic. They had to tape it shut, as she got it off the first time. She has to wear the collar for a month. If the injury doesn't heal we may be looking at surgery.
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On February 16th she ripped it open again...so back to the vet for a different collar. This collar is "T" shaped. 7 days later & Her leg was healing nicely.
Then she figured out how to manuver around the collar & ripped her leg open more. So we modified her collar, which didn't stop her. Again she managed to get around this collar too.
As you can see in the next pic she ripped a big section of skin off this time. So now she's wearing a "Towel/sock" collar. So far she hasn't tried to reach her leg. Only time will tell if this collar will keep her from the wound. The vet said we had to let it on until the injury was healed & the feathers had gronwn back. She also can't have any showers or mistings, as she can't preen.
As you can see her leg is finally healing.
The towl/sock collar is working.
The scabs have fallen off.
She's desperate for a shower.
Most of her leg feathers
have grown back in.
Look NO COLLAR!!
I'm finally FREE of that thing.
The purpose of me posting all these pics was to let others know how to deal with this type of injury/wound. The E-Collars will NOT work for a leg injury. The only collar we found that would work & that was comfortable & still allowed her to move about pretty normal was the towel/sock collar. The only thing she couldn't do normal was eat with her feet & preen normal. She was able to preen some, but not allot. She could climb about normal & also fly with the collar on.
I will try to get pics posted of how the collar is made & explain how to put it on in case anyone needs this info.
Thru this whole ordeal she took it like a trooper. 2 over night stays at the vet, 4 trips to the vet, 2 different vets 70 miles apart, x-rays, blood tests, putting collars on then removing them & trying different ones, etc. Once the towel/sock collar was on she had to be feed mostly soft mashed foods, as she couldn't eat with her feet & we also had to crack nuts for her daily. She ate with us at the table every night. She allowed me to do daily leg checks, preen her feathers as best I could & put her thru 2 rounds of antibiotics. Each day I'd get her meds ready & she'd turn her head/beak sideways for me to grasp & give her the meds. She was so good about taking them. We feared this whole ordeal would stress her too much & break her spirit. She has a super silly personality & goes looking for FUN. She behaves extremely well, talks allot & is not a screamer. She is very bonded to me. Both vets started out trying to tell me, via first phone call, that once they mutilate it keeps up. I explained to them she has NEVER damaged a feather in her 7 years. Once they saw her they agreed she was not a feather mutilator, but had some how injured her leg & then chewed it. She has always been in perfect feather & her colors are very vibrant. So now we'll see if this has finally come to end & she will not revert to chewing her leg again.
Hey Mom where are
my Veggies?? The collar didn't slow her down much.
This page last modified on Monday, April 17, 2006
