Beak Trauma
November 5th, 2009Patty
Fights, falls and flight injuries can bring about beak injuries that can come in the form of fractures, punctures, breakage or crushing. The part of the beak nearest the head contains a blood supply that may require cauterization. Nerve endings in a damaged beak can cause eating to be painful. Since a parrot uses its beak in everything it does this must be considered a very serious injury and requires the immediate attention of your avian veterinarian.
BUT…
The good news is that beaks are repairable. The use of acrylics and dental bonding reform and replace broken, cracked or missing beak parts and can give the injured bird every opportunity to carry on with a normal life until the beak tissue grows back.
One of these cockatiels had its upper beak nearly ripped off by a congo african grey. Can you tell which one?
This one…
Photo by Anna Sloan
… Or this one?
This post made me sob! Our beautiful Green Conure, Gizmo, took on our Congo African Grey, Georgie, when Georgie landed on her cage. Gizmo bit Georgies foot, and Georgie retaliated. Tragically Gizmo’s lowwer beak was ripped almost off, and was hanging by a thread of skin. We immediately rushed her to the nearest vet (not Avian), 50kms away, as we live in the middle of nowhere on a farm. The nearest Avian Vet is 200kms away!
He said we had to euthanase Gizzie as there was nothing he could do. Now I wonder.
I’m heartbroken all over again. She was my baby.
Charlene,
I’m so sorry that my post made you upset all over again. There are so many places that don’t have avian veterinary services available to them. Being the third most popular pet, that doesn’t make any sense to me. I know how much the loss of a beloved bird hurts, but try to remember that there may have been more to her injury than just the beak trauma, like excessive loss of blood etc. Feel better, Charlene, and try to remember the happy times.
Patty