Urgent Wound on wing worsening- has anyone used "Lick Guard" ointment before?

[RedFoxBlackSox]

Here are a couple photos of him- not sure if you can see but the wound is no longer gaping open. I was also worried he wouldn’t trust me anymore (he kept away for a few days after the ointment incident) but he let me take him out/put him back in peacefully to get a closer look at his wings :3

 

[iamwhoiam]

Great that the wound is healing! He is a handsome 'tiel. Who is the other 'tiel in the background?

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

That is his bro Lychee (possibly his biological brother as well! Not sure.) I got them both from the Fine Feathered Friends foundation :3

Here is a funny photo of Lychee mid yawn while Peaches stretches in the background: :

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

Update:

It’s been about a week and a half of giving him the treatments recommended by the avian vet, and I feel like it in fact looks even worse? (The surrounding feathers are wet because the area was flushed with water)

After some research I found some soft collars to purchase and I’ll be trying that soon as well- unfortunately those won’t arrive for another week.

 

[janicedyh]

Handsome guys. Did you say the vet was an avian vet? I'm sure there is one in your area. Vets that mainly see cats and dogs seem sorely lacking in bird expertise.

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

The vet I took him to a week and a half ago is an avian specialist with 15 plus years experience. But the wound is looking pretty gnarly. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s picking but :/ I’ll keep doing he treatments she recommended and hopefully the soft collar arrives soon.

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

Definitely seems worse to me :/ this was him earlier. He doesn’t seem like he’s suffering? But it really has me worried

 

[CeciliaZ]

Maybe email your vet that pic and ask her about it. Watch his behavior and note any changes. Is he still picking at it?

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

I haven’t actually witnessed him picking it- I see him groom himself but he probably does so more when I’m not looking.

 

[enigma731]

Definitely picking. In my experience they are very subtle about it. What treatments are you using currently?

 

[enigma731]

P.S. I know it looks gnarly but I still don't think it's emergent or life-threatening.

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

So these are the two things he was prescribed. Cream and antibiotics. A couple people already advised me on here that silver sulfadiazine cream didn’t work for them, but since Dr. Wheelbarger is the expert I figured I’d give it a go. Broke the bank by the way- Charged more than i was expecting D: and I didn’t get the collars that were recommended right away because I was left with 9 dollars in the bank until recently AHAHAHAHHAHAA *cries. (I feel so foolish, but I’ve gotten so much bird stuff but didn’t exactly estimate for trips to the vet- I’ve learned my lesson and will save more money for future. When I got these birds I was totally prepared with the toys and the living space and the time I give to clean/feed/etc, but this is the first time I’ve been fully responsible for another living being and I’m pretty ashamed right now ) but yeah, that’s why I didn’t end up buying the soft collars people recommended until today when I had the money. Those will arrive in a week.

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

I purchased the soft collars from this person on Facebook. She said all proceeds go toward her bird sanctuary, and reviewers said it helped them/their birds didn’t hate it!

As an aside, tonight I still gave Peaches his antibiotics, but decided to stop with the cream for now since it might be causing him to pick more...

I have been looking for the vet’s email but I can’t find it and it looks like I’d have to contact the office... As terrible as it sounds (and I know I’ve fricked up by not making sure I had more saved first...) I’m afraid of going back and being in a situation where she gives him more treatments that aren’t necessarily helpful and that are unaffordable :/

 

[enigma731]

Silvadene is generally good for wounds like that but I have one girl who's allergic to it just like some humans are to some meds. I think stopping it to see what happens is reasonable.

Have you looked into Care Credit for the short term? Unfortunately a lot of dealing with wounds is trial and error, and meds are expensive because in many cases they're human prescription drugs with none of the insurance coverage we get.

Take some more deep breaths though. You're learning and you're doing a good job. You will figure this out. It's basically like a skinned knee that a kid keeps reopening. It's not more serious than that.

 

[RedFoxBlackSox]

It’s reassuring that it’s not too serious right now.

I haven’t really heard of that until now. I’m the kind of person that hasn’t really used credit cards (except to get the 100 bucks or something and then pay it off right away because “free money”!!) but I’m googling it right now. The thought of debt (on top d student loans) scares me but if it ends up being necessary I’ll get an account.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and use plastic. Just try to pay everything off ASAP. With Care Credit you do get a few months of interest free payments based on what I've read. I've never used Care Credit, though.
I hope that the wound will heal. The collar should help.

 

[enigma731]

Care Credit is a year interest free as far as I know.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Care Credit is a year interest free as far as I know.

At one of my vet's I was told it is 6 mos. interest free, but it might vary with the vet. At another vet have to have a minimum of $200 bill to use Care Credit.

 

[enigma731]

At one of my vet's I was told it is 6 mos. interest free, but it might it vary with the vet. At another vet have to have a minimum of $200 bill to use Care Credit.

Interesting. I guess it must vary. I've never personally used it but a friend did for her bird's surgery bill and she had a year to pay it off. But that was a couple years ago.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Interesting. I guess it must vary. I've never personally used it but a friend did for her bird's surgery bill and she had a year to pay it off. But that was a couple years ago.

I believe there are different plans but maybe what is offered varies with the vet.