by pchela » Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:09 pm
So, Rupert had to take a trip to the emergency vet tonight. Nicholas got on top of his cage and they got into a squabble. When I went to break it up I noticed that Rupert was bleeding. A lot. Nicholas sliced open Ruperts tongue. Poor little guy. He was bleeding all over the place, flinging his head around and getting blood all over us, the kitchen, the walls. There is no emergency vet that knows anything about birds but I thought they might at least be able to get the bleeding under control. So, we went. The vet was very upfront and told me he did not know much about birds. I had to towel and hold Rupert down for the exam because they thought I'd know how to do it better than they would. I hope he doesn't hold that against me. They ended up cutting a flap of skin off of his tongue and giving him some pain medication. The bleeding eventually stopped on its own and the vet told me that tongue wounds typically bleed a lot. The pain med they gave me is called Metacam. Does anybody know anything about it? I don't want to give it to him unless I know for sure it is safe and since the vet didn't know much about birds I'm wary. I did a search online for it but couldn't find much information. The vet did say that it was absolutely safe for birds but I guess I'm a worrier. I also am hoping that he will be able to eat tomorrow. I guess I will only offer soft foods for a few days so it doesn't hurt him when he eats. So, anyway, that was our evening. It was all I could do not to cry when they were holding open Ruperts beak and prodding his tongue while he struggled. I could feel his heart racing through the towel. I do not ever want to have to hold him down again in a situation like that. I felt so guilty.
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts