Curled Up Foot

User Question
My 14 year old keet,Sunny has a curled up left foot I thought it was her nails , so I trimmed them, it seemed a little better. A few days have passed and she doesn't seem to want to stay on any of her perches. she sits on the bottom of the cage , I let her out every day for atleast 4 hours so she can play with her buddy Woody our Parrot. They have been getting along like this for atleast 7 years. So I know he has nothing to do with what's wrong with her I find no bumps I have checked her. Her foot is still curled up it looks sort of like paralysis, when I try to change her seed cup she bites real hard, but then she let's me hold her in the palm of my hand. I would appreciate any advice considering the weather is 20 degrees i am not sure whether its safe to take her outside to a vet.

Lisa's Answer
Wow, congratulations on taking such good care of your keet that she made it to 14 year!! Most keets only make it to age 5-7 because humans are not great at feeding them well and caring for them well. Your keet is already double that age, it really shows how wonderfully you've been watching over her.

It could be that the foot has a tumor in it, or mites, or that it got twisted somehow and is sprained. I know it's freezing out, but I would take her to a vet, if only to help make her life easier if she is indeed on her last days. The vet can give you medicine and suggestions for doing that.

I would heat up the car first, and then get a small travelling cage that just has one perch in it to sit on, and nothing else. Cover the travelling cage well with a towel or blanket and go quickly but smoothly from the house to the warm car. The small risk of cold in that transfer time is far outweighed by the need to handle the injured foot.

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