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Mutilating Congo, need help

Sock

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I acquired a 27 year old Congo African Grey from the back of a vets office. She had been abandoned by her owner and stayed there for like 5 years. I was told she had severe arthritis and in turn mutilates her right foot. She is on Metacam and Gabapentin for many years. She has been kept in a collar constantly to keep her from her foot. I took her to a different avian vet and was told the xrays showed no calcification in her joints but possibly a large blockage in the main artery on top of heart. That Dr stated she could be experiencing neuropathy due to low blood pressure. Nothing was done or medication changes there and I will be taking her to an avian hospital on Wednesday. .... Her foot has now began to change color and the mutilation is at a peak. She has become very aggressive the past couple days and torn a chunk out of her thigh. I am contemplating amputation if I can't find relief. I have pics I can send, but didn't want to gross anyone out. Thanks for any advice and help.
 

Danita

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Hi Everyone,
I have been trying to help this grey for months now. I feel like every time she goes to the vet with Molly, the vets just take her money with no resolution.
The grey is really bad off. She takes the Metacam, but it makes her aggressive. She has been on Gabapentin, but it makes her something else.
She can't use her leg. She drags it, so sad!!
I'll post pics here, let me get them.
I asked Sock to join here so she can guidance.
 

Danita

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Sock lives far from Avian Specialists but she will drive Molly for hours for help. I think she has been to one University hospital and another specialist that she drives for hours. She has spent 1000's. Molly is not happy, she is really having trouble.
The next vet she is going to, she has to overnight.
It is a specialist that Lafaeber recommends um, I'll find it.
 

Danita

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The foot is a constant and she doesn't sleep at night due to the discomfort :(
She attacks it.
I thought that maybe it is a heart issue like the one vet did say eventually but they didn't put her on any meds? Coco is on heart meds and so is my Amazon Coojo. I just don't get it :( It's like they just take her money, no plan, no follow up, nothing. Oh yeah, she tried acupuncture too. Molly drags her foot!!! :sad1:
 

Danita

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Oh and she did the laser too, that made it worse. :(
 

Danita

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I'll check
 

Danita

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She isn't online right now.
I will let you know.
I feel so bad for them, they are trying.
 

enigma731

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Honestly it sounds to me like amputation is about the only option left. If other systemic issues like asper get ruled out, that's probably what I would do.
 

Hankmacaw

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Sounds like my Jasper a many years ago. First, did the vets give a reason for not giving her a medication for her heart issue? Jasper's arterial chambers and ascending and descending aortas are all occluded and she has been on heart medications for 21 years. First Enalipril then Benazipril now with sildenafil (to help lower blood pressure). all of the medications did a good job for her condition at the time. If she has occlusions in her arterial chambers I can't imagine LOW blood pressure. At her age I would also suspect atherosclerosis whitch contributes to high blood pressure. Were any of the chambers of her heart enlarged? IMO she needs a heart medication now. Think of your little cockatoo, @Danita .

Her toes look swollen, as well, and she could very well be retaining fluids due to her lack of circulation (different than high blood pressure). She may need flourosamide (lasix) to reduce fluids throughout her body. With lack of circulation the blood does not pump fast enough nor reach all of the appendages nor organs and fluid builds up due to this inefficient circulation. The flouosamide and heart medication should decrease her pain to some extent.

For pain, if she has pain - you said no indication o f arthritis on the xrays - Gabapentin is probably the best and combining. Gabapentin is not an opioid, but there are warnings of respiratory suppression when using it with opioids, so that eliminates Tramadol. Jasper has been on a combination of gabapentin and celebres for several years and it has done a good job of suppressing her arthritis pain.

Jasper has had two toes amputated on her left foot (the worst arthritis and the joints had deteriorated into mush ) and that has helped her immensely. And she gets around as well as before. BUT is there is no arthritis in this bird???? Perhaps the irritation is a result of poor circulation and her muscles are atrophying. Her pain and her foot need a deeper investigation including a blood pressure test on the bad one and the good one.

I hope she can find help for this poor darned bird and Dr. Lafeber should know one.
 

Danita

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It is Dr Hoppes, anyone know anything about her? It was a big wait for her to be seen.
 

Danita

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I am still waiting for her to log on to FB so she can see/answer some of this stuff.
 

Danita

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ML, I don't understand why she isn't getting any Heart Meds either, Molly went for all the heart tests, I don't know exactly, but that was a long expensive trip for Molly.
When I first started talking to Sock, she just got Molly. I showed my vet the foot problem etc. She thought perhaps it feels like it is fuzzy, you know, like no circulation? Anyway, I still think that is the problem.
 

enigma731

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If it's neuropathy and none of the neuropathy treatments are viable, then amputation is the only option. It's better to have no foot than a non-functional painful foot. But I agree it warrants another review because neuropathy in birds is a diagnosis of exclusion.
 

Hankmacaw

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@Danita Do you have first name for Dr. Hoppe or a location. I'm finding too many Dr. Hoppes on the internet.
 
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