Pepi's Close Call

A Serious Leg Band Injury

By Lelly Menendez

A few months after our male Grand Eclectus, Pepino (Pepi) turned five he had a serious accident. I had gone out to dinner with my parents after work to celebrate my father’s birthday. As a result, I came home around 9pm. As I always do, I went straight to Pepi’s cage when I got home. I walked in quietly so as not to startle him and just turned on a night-light figuring that he was asleep. I softly spoke to him as I searched for his little silhouette. He wasn’t on his usual sleeping perch. I then noticed he was on the back wall of the cage. It wasn’t normal for him not to answer me if he was awake. It looked like he was stuck and I then noticed his tail feathers were twisted all over the place and he wasn’t moving. I dropped all of my things to the floor and turned on the lights. It was my worst fear. Pepi was caught on a toy and there was blood everywhere. When I looked closely, I saw that he was missing at least two toes. His leg band was caught on the S hook of a toy and he apparently bit his toes off in a desperate attempt to free himself. His beak and chest were soiled with blood and his leg looked pretty bad. With Pepi in one hand, I grabbed the phone and called two avian vets that had been recommended. I had to leave messages with their emergency service lines due to the time. The minutes felt like hours and I wasn’t getting any responses. I thought I would lose my baby. I tried to get a hold of his breeders but they were not available. I phoned my parents and even tried the two friends that I know with parrots. Pepi was so exhausted that he could barely stand on one leg. He would try to put down the injured leg but I was terrified of letting him in fear that the bleeding would get worse. By now I was hysterical. I tried my husband although he wasn’t due home from school for another hour and he answered his phone. I remember barely being able to say more than “it’s Pepi” and “come home” through the tears. Suddenly, I heard the front door open. It was him! My husband had left school early and was in the driveway when he received my call. He took Pepi and we both continued to call every animal hospital, pet store even the local zoo. Everyone was closed. I just wanted someone to tell me what immediate action we should take in case a vet didn’t call back soon enough. I ran to our computer and made a desperate post on Land Of Vos. When I got back to Pepi, my husband was on the phone with one of the avian vets. We rushed to the clinic with Pepi. For all of the 30-minute drive to the clinic, I had Pepi wrapped in a towel, lying on his back. I softly petted his head and sang him “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. He was learning to sing this and loves the song. As we rushed to the clinic Pepi kept closing his eyes and lying motionless. I feared the worst and my husband would tell me to move him to make sure he was still “with us”.

As soon as we arrived at the medical center, Pepi’s vitals were checked and he was given some injections to stabilize him. The leg and foot were bandaged. I was a nervous wreck. The vet assured me that birds don’t normally bleed to death. He explained that his fear was how long Pepi may have been hanging and how much stress he was under. Pepi had lost both inner toes on his foot. The vet also explained that the rear outer toe might be lost as well. We left Pepi in the center’s intensive care area overnight. If Pepi made it through the night OK, he would undergo surgery the next afternoon in order to avoid further stress too soon.

Once home, I couldn’t sleep. All I could think about was if Pepi would make it through the night. I kept seeing him, as he was when I found him. I could not stop thinking of how scared he must have been to bite his own toes off and kept wondering how long he may have been there. I prayed for him all night.

When morning finally came, I was counting the minutes until 9am when the medical center opened. My husband called the vet at 9am sharp and got the best news we could expect. Pepi was doing well. He had eaten and was even whistling and laughing. We went to see him immediately. The vet brought Pepi into the waiting room with a mouth full of pellet mush. I couldn’t hold back the tears. My baby was OK. We were asked not to stay long so that Pepi could get his rest. The surgery was scheduled around noon. At 2pm, my husband called the vet. I was sitting next to him when he smiled and gave me a “thumbs up”. Pepi’s surgery was a success! A small part of his foot and bone were removed but the two remaining toes were saved. He was awake and eating. We brought Pepi home that night. He was kept in a bathtub in order to avoid further injury. To everyone’s surprise, Pepi loved the tub and discovered that the drain cover under the waterspout made a great friend. He would talk and sing to his reflection in the drain cover non-stop. I stayed home with him for an entire week. He was so good and even took all of his medications happily. The vet couldn’t even believe that Pepi actually enjoyed the medicine. I think it reminded him of when I would hand feed him with a syringe before he was weaned.

After two weeks and a lot of medications, we went back to the vet for our second checkup. Pepi’s infection was not going away and his white blood cells were climbing significantly. He also got a yeast infection as a result of all the antibiotics. The vet explained that the best form of antibiotic to cure the infection in his foot would be via injection, three times a day to his chest muscles. He told us that since Pepi was so good with us, we should be able to administer the injections ourselves. Although apprehensive, we agreed since it was the best for Pepi and took home a bag full of syringes and the medications.

The first day of the injections was a nightmare. A couple of times we ended up pricking Pepi more than once. By the second day, we had it down. I would hold Pepi and keep his head away from his chest. My husband would administer the injections. Pepi would not even scream nor struggle. After about a week, Pepi’s chest was pretty bruised and he was really starting to object to the injections. We managed to get through the second week and it was time for another check up. Thankfully, the infection was finally under control and even the yeast infection was almost gone. We now only needed to continue with the oral medications for the yeast infection. Exactly six weeks after the accident, Pepi was done with all of his medications. The scab and stitches on his foot had come off and he has healed incredibly.

I always keep business cards for two recommended vets and Pepi’s breeders in a drawer next to his cage. If we ever leave Pepi at anyone's house, the business cards go with him. As I found out the hard way, if you need a vet after-hours they can be difficult to get a hold of. Keeping information for ALL local vets can speed up the time it takes to contact one until you can get to your usual vet. Time is a big factor in emergencies. Maybe I'm just being paranoid but I'd rather not take any chances. The following sites can be used for finding all vets nearest you:

Hopefully our experience teaches others of the dangers that may lie in birds’ cages as well as the dangers of leg bands. Check all toys constantly and if at all possible, have leg bands removed. I couldn’t begin to explain how horrible and nerve wrecking this ordeal has been.

I want to thank everyone at “Land Of Vos” for the prayers and support. When we returned home the night of the accident, our answering machine had several messages from LOV members. Everyone was extremely supportive and followed the story throughout Pepi’s recovery.

Lastly, a special than you goes to Dr. Don Harris and his staff at Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center for their exceptional service and care. Thanks to them Pepi’s story is one with a happy ending.