Ask Lafeber

African grey broken neck

My 8 years old African grey got his neck broken after got trapped between the closing door and falling down to the ground one his head. The x-ray showed broken neck where the vet rapped it and after a week removed that bond. It has been more than 20 days and my bird can’t walk, stand, fly or even to eat or drink and I have been hand feeding him since then. After three visits to the vet, he advised to do physical therapy and he thinks the spinal cord might be impacted and only the time can tell. Any advise you can give me?

Hi,

I am very sorry for your bird’s injury. I would agree with the Vet and just give him time. I’m not sure if the Vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory medicine, but something like that can help. It would have been most effective at the beginning. Birds have an amazing ability to heal, so you never know. If he is eating for you and seems content, then just keep him clean and comfortable and do physical therapy as advised by the vet. I got an African Grey once that flew head first into a brick wall and was in the same condition as your bird when he came to me. It took months, but he started to vocalize, then eat on his own and eventually he fully recovered physically and could walk and fly. I had completely paralyzed budgie, who also flew into something, and it took a year but he recovered. So give your guy some time, and look for small improvements. Talk to him and give him a lot of attention to keep his spirits up. If he is depressed, he will not heal as well. Good luck with him and I hope he recovers from his injury.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda