My zebra finch has a grey, swollen toe. Should I see a vet?

I am concerned that your lovebird has an infection in the foot or in the joints of the foot. Sometimes if the infection becomes severe can spread into the bone which makes it very painful and more difficult heal. I would recommend taking your bird to be examined by your veterinarian. She may need to do x-rays to determine the extent of the infection and see if it has traveled into the bone. Your bird will likely need to be put on an antibiotic for a while to help clear up the infection as well. Your veterinarian can also prescribe pain medication so your lovebird can be more comfortable while the infection is healing. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.

Based on the one picture and the age of the bird, it looks like hyperkeratosis of the feet potentially from vitamin a deficiency. I would have the bird looked at by an avian veterinarian. Bring in a fresh fecal sample and expect to have some blood drawn and sent out for analysis. This would be a good place to start.

Poor Abood! You didn't mention if you received these medications from a vet, but if they were home remedies and haven't helped, it's time to visit one. It's possible there is an infection in the foot that needs to be drained, or a break or sprain of the foot itself that requires treatment. In the meantime, if you suspect an infection, Epsom salt soaks can help, as can removing all perches (to prevent a fall) and making food/water dishes easy to get in and out of so Abood isn't trying to use the foot to get around which may cause more injury. Soft bedding at the bottom of the cage can help keep him comfortable. However, seeking out a vet in person that can examine the foot, X-ray if needed, and provide additional treatment is best.

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Poor Greenna! I can definitely see how her foot is bent inwards, with the claw somewhat contracted. This can be caused by many conditions, but unfortunately, she needs to be seen by vet to figure out what is going on and get some treatment options. This can be caused by nerve damage, a fracture, or a systemic infection, among several other conditions. I hope this helps!

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.

It is possible she injured it in transit to the store or at the store. If there is no active bleeding, you can keep an eye on it. If she appears sensitive or painful, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet. You can also return her to the Petco for treatment or exchange.

Thanks for reaching out about Bran and including photos. The toe also seems to be luxated and deviated medially (twisted). This could be primary swelling and inflammation from that trauma or a secondary infection. Infections can be bacterial or viral (pox). Pox viruses are generally self limiting but secondary infections need to be controlled. A topical antibiotic can be applied in a thin layer. Keep environment clean. If lesion worsens, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It sounds like your bird may have bumblefoot, or an infection of the foot which can cause oozing of debris, pus, blood, etc. Other possible causes can include a sprain or break to the foot. If you see a visible wound, you can try soaking the foot in epsom salts and then using an antiseptic like blu-kote, however if it is badly infected or broken this is something that needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately as severe infections can make a bird ill very quickly and potentially lead to death. Until you can get to your vet, keeping Sunapana warm and in a hospital cage without perches and with food and water dishes that are easy to is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Violet. Black spots under the nail (sub-keratin) can often result from bleeding (hemorrhage) with the possibility of liver disease resulting in blood clotting problems. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Liver disease can be serious and manifest in other problems. Veterinary treatment early in the disease process has an improved prognosis. Causes can be bacterial, viral, dietary and other. Good luck.

Hi and thanks for using Boop by Petco! Sorry to hear about Pika. I would advise taking her to the local avian vet near you. Looks like she needs some soaking solution for her feet, some antibiotics, and some pain/anti-inflammatory meds. Not sure what they can do if the toes are broken. Good luck