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My cockatiel has a sore foot and missing nail. Should I see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male

Hello, I bought a 7 year old cockatiel not too long ago, and I noticed he had a small,what looks like a sore, on his foot; also he is missing one of his nails. Of course I'm really concerned for him because it seems to hurt when he applies pressure to it. Is there anything I can do, or should I bring him in?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 6th, 2017

I am sorry to hear about Leroy! I would recommend an examination by a veterinarian to try to figure out why Leroy is having pain in his foot. There are many possible causes including trauma, bacterial infection, arthritis, and bumblefoot (pododermatitis). The vet may recommend an x-ray of the foot or may be able to determine what is going on based on the appearance and then recommend appropriate treatment. I wouldn't take a "wait and see" approach to this issue as these problems can worsen and cause long term complications that are more difficult to treat.

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