Nail cut too short: So you set out to cut your parrot nails, and so far so good. You managed to catch it and put it in a safe position so you could cut those little greenhouses.
There is one less! Armed with a little more confidence, you prepare to cut the next one. The clamps being perfectly positioned on this second nail, you begin to press on the handles. … and COUP. It kicks just as you cut it. It appears to you immediately, when a small drop of blood comes out of the tip of his little nail, you have cut it too short and you have cut the vein.
I hope you read this before it happens to you. This article will help you prepare in case this happens to you. But if you haven’t been so lucky, and you’re currently experiencing a crisis that needs instruction and guidance, take a breath. Everything will be fine!
How to treat the cut nail of your parrot: A quick reference
Don’t forget to read these steps in more detail below!
Keep holding your budgie and try to keep it calm.
Clean the nail with warm water.
Put cornstarch in your hand or bowl and dip the bird’s nail into it to clot the blood. You may need to soak the nail several times before it stops bleeding.
Make sure that cornstarch does not get into your budgie’s eyes, and make sure it does not inhale it!
Put your budgie back in its cage, and keep an eye on it. Don’t let him bite his nails.
Clean the budgie’s perches and toys as soon as possible to prevent the nail from becoming infected while it heals.
Do not hesitate to call a veterinarian if you are worried.
The “rapid” is the red line that is visible in the upper half of the nail.
How do I know if a document is too short?
Before we get into the details, let me explain what it means to cut your budgie’s nail too short.
Each budgie has a small vein in the nail called a “rapid”. It passes through the upper part of the nail and usually ends about halfway. Since most budgies have lightly colored nails, you can see the fast one if you look very closely. It looks like a little red line. If you cut the nail too short, the fast is also cut, leaving this vein open and exposed.
Remember that if you cut the nails of your budgie yourself, it will happen to you once or twice. Even if you are very careful, accidents can happen.
Here’s what you should do if you accidentally cut your budgie’s nail too short.
What must I do?
Trust me, I know it’s scary. You are holding a little bird whose nail you have just cut and it is now bleeding at a rate that seems very fast. But no matter how frightened you may be about this situation, it’s important that you stay calm.
I know you’re worried, but your budgie will make it. Despite what it seems, he will not bleed and he will not die. The situation will be much easier if you take a few deep breaths before continuing and if you keep your cool from now on.
Don’t panic!
Consider this: What happens to birds that break their nails that are too short in the wild? Do they suffer incessantly? No. Do they bleed and die? Absolutely not. Do they develop a debilitating infection? It’s unlikely. This happens to birds, whether wild or domesticated. There is no reason to panic in these two environments.
Step-by-step instructions
All this can be done by holding your budgie. I strongly advise you not to let it go, at least not until the bleeding has stopped. He’s stressed, and if you let him go, he probably won’t let you catch up with him anytime soon.
1. Clean the broken nail
Rinse the nail with warm water. Don’t try to use rubbing alcohol on an open wound! It will burn and make your poor budgie have a bad time! Hot water will do.
Tip: Clean your nails beforehand
When I cut my budgie’s nails, I always clean them first, just in case. In this way, if one cuts too short and there is an open wound, the area has already been disinfected, so there is very little chance of bacteria entering the wound. I do this by soaking a clean cotton pad in a little diluted rubbing alcohol (I dilute it with hot water so it’s not so hard and smelly) and wiping the nails. Then I run his little feet under warm water so that all traces of rubbing alcohol are removed.
Keep your budgie quiet
Do everything you can to keep your budgie as calm as possible. If he is stressed, his heart rate will be elevated, allowing him to pump blood through his veins faster. By calming it, we slow down the blood flow to the nail.
2. Stop bleeding
Don’t bother trying to put pressure on the area. It will not work. The vein is inside a solid nail, and any pressure on the area won’t even affect the bleeding vein.
Using corn starch to clot blood
Instead, use a little cornstarch, which is basically baby powder. Make sure it is not scented or medicated. You can also use flour, but it may not work as well as cornstarch.
Pour a little cornstarch into the palm of your hand or into a small cup or bowl, and dip the bird’s nail into it. It will act as an agglomeration agent and coagulate the area, blocking blood flow. You may need to soak the nail more than once before it effectively stops the bleeding.
Don’t blame your bird!
It is very important that you dip the nail in cornstarch, instead of pouring it over the nail. Powdery substances are messy, and if poured, they can end up on the face of the budgie. If it gets into his eyes or inhales it, it can be very dangerous.
If you absolutely must pour it, do it very slowly so that it does not blur in the air that your budgie uses to breathe. And be very careful not to let him get in his face.
3. Keep an eye on him
Once the bleeding stops, you can put the budgie back in its cage. Try to monitor him closely for a while, and don’t let him bite his nails.
Clean your bird’s cage to prevent infection
As soon as possible, wash his perches thoroughly and any toys or other gadgets he is likely to climb on. By keeping its cage clean, you reduce the chances of infection of the nail before it has had time to heal.
Don’t be afraid to call a veterinarian
If you still have concerns about your budgie’s nails, contact a veterinarian. There’s no harm in having your budgie’s nail examined by a professional, just in case. Your veterinarian can answer any questions you may have or give you advice and guidance. Never hesitate to talk to a veterinarian if in doubt.
Also, feel free to ask any additional questions you may have in the comments. And if this has already happened to you, do not hesitate to let us know your advice!
It happens to everyone, including me
This happened to me twice in seven years, when I cut the nails of my budgie. The first time, I absolutely panicked. My first instinct was to apply pressure to stop the bleeding, so I used the cloth I was holding my budgie with to pinch her nail for a little while. But when I removed the fabric, small drops of blood kept coming out of his nail. The pressure hadn’t helped at all! My panic at that time made things worse. I managed to stress myself and my budgie much more than necessary.
Did this happen to you?
Need instructions on how to properly trim your budgie’s nails?
Read: How to cut your budgie’s nails
Over-clipped parrots nails, bleeding nail
SOURCE:Milos Adventure
