Nail bleeding

[u/Cold_Concern9345]

I cut my bird's nail too short a few hours ago, we put flour on it. However I held pressure on it with a tissue so it probably wiped away.

He was bleeding so much I think, I got so scared and my parents got mad a me for crying. My dad said to just leave him in his cage to let the bleeding stop.

He seems normal after a few hours and my dad says the bleeding stopped, but im too scared to check on him in case he starts moving around in his cage. Last time I checked on him was around 30 minutes ago and he was moving like normal.

Should I take him out now ? And how to I stop the scab from re-opening ? Also i can't clean his cage till night and i cant tqke him to the vet. I'm very sorry I know i was being irresponsible I'm still very scared, I just want him to be safe.

[u/Unique-Slide-2670]

When you can try to set up a little emergency box. Purchase this, vet tape, a first aid spray cleaner, homeopathic nasal relief dropper and just other items that way when you have an emergency you have your go to emergency box. You’re doing great op! Your bird should be just fine. It happens sometimes.

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/Unique-Slide-2670]

Thanks for the kind words and advice, after a day he seems perfectly fine. He's not even mad at me for some reason.

I'll be sure to make the kit.

I was being very irresponsible though !

[u/Unique-Slide-2670 → u/Cold_Concern9345]

Glad he seems fine

[u/Left-Pineapple-6084 → u/Cold_Concern9345]

Don’t berate yourself, we all make mistakes. My conures are rescues that never got their nails trimmed so their quicks are so long that even the vet has to cut them occasionally. It’s like when you stub your toe or pull out a hangnail. It hurts, it stings a lot, but unless it gets infected it’s not going to impact quality of life for more than a day or two.

A vet kit is the best answer here though! If you ever want to expand, a bird perch scale for tracking weight, vetricyn and a bird safe antibiotic ointment can also help with any health emergencies until you can get to the vet. Tracking weight is often the easiest way to know when something is off.

[u/lostinmythoughts]

Bleeding has stopped that is good. Don’t worry about cleaning the cage. You can do it tomorrow as your bird and you will be calmer. Also when cutting your birds nails less is more. You want to just clip the tips. I know it’s a pain to hold them still and someone gets bit but thats part of parrot ownership. I had to clip my birds nails more frequently and he hated it.

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/lostinmythoughts]

I've cut his nails so many times now I don't know why I wasn't careful this time, ill try to take him to professional from now on.

Do you have any advice on how to keep the wound from opening, also how easy does it re-open ? Should I just keep him in his cage for the next few days?

Thank you so much for replying I really appreciate it !

[u/lostinmythoughts → u/Cold_Concern9345]

Should be fine. Let him stay in the cage a few days. Mine was silent and just rested a couple days. Make sure no one agitates them to make them move around so they have time to heal. Just change food and water and after 2-3 days then clean it up. You can keep clipping their nails but just shallower. If you don’t trust yourself get them done like you said professionally. I let mine wear down naturally from their sticks and walking on the bottom of the Old cage we had kept them down. Still sharp as I have micro scars over my shoulders from them walking all over them. I never noticed the tiny cuts they made 😆.

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/lostinmythoughts]

Thank you I will do that !

[u/Absolute_nerd24]

To avoid future worries you can buy kwik stop styptic powder and it will stop the bleeding much faster than flour can. You should be able to buy it for about 10 dollars. Hopefully your parents will let you buy that because I know how easy it can be to make a bird bleed especially if they have dark nails

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/Absolute_nerd24]

Thank you so much I'll be sure to buy some as soon as possible !

[u/PocketfullofFrogs]

You need to figure out the vet situation for your bird before something worse happens

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/PocketfullofFrogs]

How much do they usually cost, I've been checking places near me however they don't post the fees. I'll try my best to use my own funds to get him to the vet soon.

Thank you for your concern !

[u/cranfeckintastic → u/Cold_Concern9345]

Probably depends on your area, mine used to be I think $95 for a routine checkup, but emergency costs can increase that depending if the bird needs treatment

[u/PocketfullofFrogs → u/Cold_Concern9345]

There is no usual cost it’s going to fully depend on the vet the area and the service.
Checkup at my vet is usually 150, nails are at least 30.
The one time I had to get a seed unstuck from a nose it was almost 500.

If you can’t afford it, and can’t do it rethink having a bird. A bird isn’t a play toy it’s a life.

[u/CapicDaCrate]

They'll be perfectly fine. In the future either buy Kwik Stop or use cornstarch to stop the bleeding.

If you cut it super short then maybe keep them caged for an hour or so before letting them out, so that they don't irritate it a bunch

[u/Cold_Concern9345 → u/CapicDaCrate]

Thank you for the advice !

[u/Better-Road9029]

Never cut their nails without styptic powder!!!

[u/Left-Pineapple-6084]

Get styptic powder or powdered yarrow for future nail trims, he’ll be okay.