Horrible experience

[tab_xo]

Here is what the vet replied:
I won't even attempt a leg band removal in a conscious bird i.e. anaesthetised, not sedated. It is safer to do that under GA than it is to try and remove while conscious or sedated. Anaesthesia in birds is as safe as it is in any other species, including people.

:/

 

[gemini84]

oxy was put asleep to have his removed, he had squashed it on his leg quite tightly. vet tried pliers but was no room so had to cut off with drenel. within minutes of turning th gas off oxy was fine
im glad u and fargo are ok, but them some nasty bites. although i guess considering the circumstances and fargo's true power you were lucky

 

[plax]

Wow Tab! What an ordeal you and Fargo had . It's great news that Fargo is showing no negative after effects and that you're both feeling settled after all that.

Those nips he gave you were just panic bites. Nearly all parrots will do that when they're terrified and confused. I feel bad for both of you that it happened, but Macaws are fairly resilient... you'll both be fine, Tab . Your hand just needs to heal a bit is all

Take care and give Fargo some extra scritches from me

 

[BeakersBro]

he didn't know what he was doing when he was freaked out. don't worry he still loves u

 

[Fargosmeema]

Hearing Fargo screaming thinking oh he is just having a play and shouting, then hearing Tab screaming MUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, I knew something was definetly very wrong. As I ran to her room I entered just as he got unstuck from his little foot hold, and a very very upset Tabitha.
I would like to see his foot ring off as well as it worries Tabitha, however I would be very worried about Fargo going under anethestic for something so trifle.
I will make sure Tab's hand is looked after as it does look rather nasty, poor Fargo he was in shock for a little while as well.

 

[MonicaMc]

Glad all is well that ends well! Poor Fargo, sounds like he was terrified! Hope your hand heals quickly!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh yikes, Tab! I'm SO sorry you and Fargo had that traumatic experience. I'm sure by the time I'm writing this you WILL be feeling your hand.

I would definitely have Fargo's band removed. I do NOT agree with your vet about fully putting him under for it though. When Hunter's band was removed she was simply restrained, and it came off quite easily.

But then again, she's an Amazon, and I'm sure a Mac's band is MUCH MUCH harder to cut off. Ripley, Niko AND Sam will get theirs removed this spring.

I hope you heal quickly!!

 

[Narkissios]

Tab, check a different vet.

Tabs mum, as a dad i know that screem, it goes right to the core.

Given fargo is so well trained i dont see why the band cant be taken off at home, you have bolt cutters fargo will behave wrapped in a towel. Have a chat and see if the band is loose enough to do it.

Midnight has aband but it is round open not flat so if i wanted i could deband her in a moment.

And tab keep an eye on your hand if it goes puffy get to the docs

 

[kendrafitz]

Poor Fargo and your poor hand!! I'm so happy you are both ok.

Rosie had her enclosed band removed while awake. I was there and Dr. Doolan just used what almost looked like bolt cutters. He cut it in half and it was done in about 30 seconds. I think I would follow others advice and get a second opinion if you have another avian vet in your area.

Love the pics of his scritches. ��

 

[JerseyWendy]

Poor Fargo and your poor hand!! I'm so happy you are both ok.

Rosie had her enclosed band removed while awake. I was there and Dr. Doolan just used what almost looked like bolt cutters. He cut it in half and it was done in about 30 seconds. I think I would follow others advice and get a second opinion if you have another avian vet in your area.

Love the pics of his scritches. ��

I love that Doctor!!! With a passion!

Tab, either phone or email the other avian vet, the one Fargo saw as a baby, and see how he would do this.

 

[OOwl]

Noblemacaw, I had one of my bird's leg bands removed by my vet. The bird is microchipped, as well, and the vet wrote me a letter that "band #XXXX was removed by her on this date, to bird identified as microchip #XXXXX due to safety concerns and for the bird's health." I keep that and the removed band with her paperwork. That would probably be enough for any regulation enacted or existing to prove the bird is who you say it is and was bred domestically. I do understand your concern, though.

 

[ConureCrazy]

ouch! Sorry Tab! That must have been so scary for the both of you!! Glad everything (besides yourhand) is perfectly fine!

 

[JJones1719]

Sorry you and your B&G went through this. These things to happen from time to time.

When they do and I know your were thinking of your B&G first at the time but when things like this happen, you have to place your safty first, sure they will flap around, sceam their heads off.
The first thing you should have done was grap a towel blanket to cover your B&G head, then from behind the head and below the beak hold your Macaw still and wrap the remaining towel or blanket around and over the wings, then you can work to release them safely and without damage to you or your B&G.

Luckly Humans cannot catch a disease from a Macaw bite. Rather then placing anti-biotic creams, you should use Vaseline it is way better and prevents scares. My Friend had cancer spots removed from his skin and Vaseline was advised rather then anti-biotic creams. From what I was told, creams dry out the skin to fast and this is what leaves the scares, you want to keep the skin wet and moist until the wound heals. this is also true for bad burns. Best of luck Joe

 

[Cami]

Holy Crap! I am so glad you guys are alright, this is gonna affect you Tab more than Fargo. Lots of great advice here already.

Spencer's band was removed the same time I got him microchipped. Very quick and easy procedure, the microchip was inserted in a hypodermic needle and inserted. It is so worth it just for your stress factor if he takes flight let alone the safety factor. Scratch his head for me.

 

[tab_xo]

Joe, i know my safety should always be first, but when it comes to my animals i honestly don't care, i'm fearless around horses especially

If i would of left Fargo and gone to get a towel, that would of taken me about 20 seconds, without me there he probably would of panicked even more, and who knows what he would of done, possibly major damage!

So although its not good that i got a few nips, my choice ended up with him having no injuries, because i stuck my hand in there and released it, and i would make that decision again in a heart beat

And!

It doesn't hurt!

There was one nip which was between my fingers, and so that one is just annoying, but it just feels like when you fall over and graze your knees and hands, and i do that.. alot...

 

[WharfRat]

I agree with Tab, Their safety and well being comes first, I don't care what happens to me. Toweling would be an absolute last resort with my birds........ I've told this story before on here, once at my breeders house the door was open and a scarlet was heading for the door and I reached down and grabbed him and in the process got both my arms shredded to bits and there was blood everywhere. I didn't care, I healed but I dang sure didn't let that bird get out either!

Sorry you went thru that buddy, I know how bad things like that can make you feel. So far Lani (Hahn's) is the only one that's happened to that I can remember.

 

[Akraya]

She was sick at the time so it's hard to tell for certain, but she was a little dopey, they monitored her for a couple of hours after it was done to make sure she was all good.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Argh... your poor hand!! Look at fargo... loving those scratches... with is cheeky face you would never think he had been through a traumatic event LOL

Definitely look into a different vet, or have a think about getting the stuff together to do it yourself. You'll need someone who is strong and has excellent muscle control to do the clipping

I always think carefully about saying this because I don't want to scare anyone unnecessarily... but having worked as a vet nurse in a few surgeries, I have seen many mistakes happen in the administration of anaesthetic in all species, but especially birds (though to be fair, they were mostly wild natives which the vets had no liability if something did go wrong). I am surprised that a responsible vet would insist on general anaethetic for such a simple procedure! To my mind, GA is something to use only when necessary. Cutting a leg band off does not warrant it

I've been planning to remove Sheldons (the corella) band as well, it hasn't been closed properly and it pinches him, Im afraid it will get caught on the bars while I am away. Its almost wide enough to pull off as is, I just need some spare time, some good pliers and a couple of volunteers and I will bend it out and take it off.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Argh... your poor hand!! Look at fargo... loving those scratches... with is cheeky face you would never think he had been through a traumatic event LOL

Definitely look into a different vet, or have a think about getting the stuff together to do it yourself. You'll need someone who is strong and has excellent muscle control to do the clipping

I always think carefully about saying this because I don't want to scare anyone unnecessarily... but having worked as a vet nurse in a few surgeries, I have seen many mistakes happen in the administration of anaesthetic in all species, but especially birds (though to be fair, they were mostly wild natives which the vets had no liability if something did go wrong). I am surprised that a responsible vet would insist on general anaethetic for such a simple procedure! To my mind, GA is something to use only when necessary. Cutting a leg band off does not warrant it

I've been planning to remove Sheldons (the corella) band as well, it hasn't been closed properly and it pinches him, Im afraid it will get caught on the bars while I am away. Its almost wide enough to pull off as is, I just need some spare time, some good pliers and a couple of volunteers and I will bend it out and take it off.

GA may just be a excuse to charge more, it sounds shady but it could be true. I would think any component bird vet would be capable of removing a band without GA.

 

[plax]

IMO, vets who want to anesthetize birds for mere optional procedures (such as removing a leg band) are either lacking confidence in the abilities of themselves (or their assistants) as far as application of restraint techniques, or they're viewing anesthetization as an extra item with which to inflate their bills. Perhaps both in some cases. The bottom line is that anesthetization for an optional procedure is simply NOT worth the risk! Find a vet who will remove the band without anesthetization, Tab