upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

I have a 6 year old precious Parrotlet named Zoe. She was my constant companion while I was on bedrest with my first pregnancy and while often out of her cage and on my shoulder, always very healthy. About 5 months ago before I went to bed for the night I looked in on her & noticed she was clinging to the front of her cage. She has only done this while I vacuum as the noise makes her nervous. I immediately tried taking her out and realized she was unable to perch. I panicked. Zoe didn't have the use of her legs at all.
My sister helped me locate a 24 hour emergency vet hospital that would take birds. I rushed her to the hospital with her nestled on my chest underneath my chin. They put her in an incubator and watched her for the next 48 hours. After monitoring her progress & a blood test, they determined it was metal poisoning. At 29 grams it would take such a small amount of metal to poison her little body. I was given calcium shots to give her every 12 hours, made an at home incubator with a heating pad and took my baby home.
Zoe has improved and although she lost a gram, she can use her toes kind of like claws although she can not curl her toes to perch. She is healthy, her lead levels are normal, she loves to have her head and chin rubbed, and she loves giving kisses. Zoe may never have 100% use of her toes again. She pulls herself along with her beak and she still can fly normally. The vet said she has better use of her toes than many of the birds she has seen come through the clinic. We are trying to vary her diet and I watch her EVERY second she is out of her cage. PLEASE please please be conscious of where your bird is when he/she is out of their safe home. Make sure they do not pick up a chip of paint, or a child's toy that could fleck off paint, or a craft supply, or a zipper on your sweatshirt...really common everyday items that may be deadly to your beloved parrotlet. Luckily I caught this in time although I could have very easily (much too close) been too latew to save her. My sassy, spunky, beautiful bird is still here with me today!