Budgie Tongue Bleeding?

[kaylayuh]

Hi all,

I'm new here -- found this forum googling advice on how to tell if a bird's tongue is, in fact, bleeding.

I figured I'd start with a quick introduction. My name is Kaela. I'm a 22 year old from Pennsylvania, USA. I've had birds for most of my life. My parents had a Molucan cockatoo before I was born until I was about 14. My grandfather stole my parakeets after they decided to like him more than they liked me; they kept him a lot of company and he secretly loved him. I now own two parakeets -- a lutino parakeet named Pigpen, fitting because she's a huge mess; and a slate parakeet known as the Bird with No Name.

Now for my question. It appears that Bird with No Name may have a bloody tongue, though I'm not sure if it is blood or if he decided to try the new, very red, cuttle bone in his cage. He appears fine. He's interacting with his cagemate, is in and out of his cage and on and off of his playgym. He doesn't appear to be stressed or in pain.

When I check his mouth, however, it appears to be very red. Much more red than what Pigpen's beak looks like after she gnaws on the bone. I've checked his tongue and beak, and he doesn't appear to have any cuts. There is no avian vet in the area (or vet at all) and I'm worried that he may be injured.

Is there any advice that may help me determine whether or not this is a cut? And if it is, what can I do about it?

[Michael]

Pchela?

[patdbunny]

You can try blotting his mouth with toilet paper and see if it's blood. Or stick a Q-tip in his mouth and see if it's blood. Take out the red cuttlebone for a week and see if his tongue lightens up.

[patdbunny]

Are any of these vets near you: http://www.aav.org/search/results.php?f ... mit=Search

Maybe there's someone near you: http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/Search.aspx

[kaylayuh]

Thanks for the replies, guys! While none of the avian vets are super close to me, there is one close enough in case of an absolute emergency.

It appears my little guy scratched his tongue which resulted in some bleeding. He's fine now, though, and back chewing on everything he can get his little beak on.

Again, thanks!