My old cockatiel is on the cage floor and can't hold on. Help!

Question

My male cockatiel is 15 yrs old and has started spending more and more time on the floor of his cage. He occasionally sits in his food bowl to eat, but now he’s spending a lot of time in the bowl and not on his perches. He’s even sleeping there. I wasn’t sure if something was wrong, so I brought him out and he couldn’t curl his talons to hold onto my finger. Is there anything I can do to help him?

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

You really should get him to your vet for an exam. Gout is a very strong possibility. Gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in body tissues, especially the joints. Gout can cause difficulty perching due to painful swollen joints. It is a common problem in pet birds, although it is different than the disease in people. In birds, gout is often associated with kidney failure and treatment aims to address both the painful joints and the underlying disease. Other conditions can also cause a bird to have a weakened grip. Arthritis can affect the toes. Many birds develop a foot infection called pododermatitis or “bumble foot”. Nutritional deficiencies will play a role in the development of many of these conditions. Make sure your bird has no exposure to lead or zinc. Some neurologic problems cause similar signs and should be ruled out. In addition, older birds may develop tumors that will impact the ability to walk or stand. As you can see, any number of conditions can result in his difficulty with his feet. I would recommend that you start by having a physical examination performed by a veterinarian experienced with treating birds. Your veterinarian will evaluate him and make treatment recommendations based on the diagnosis.

My old cockatiel is on the cage floor and can't hold on. Help!

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