Pierre & Piper UPDATE 9/15/10

I took Pierre and Piper back to see Drs. Speer and Fitzgerald at the Medical Center for Birds on Tuesday 9/7 to have Pierre's need for a second surgery evaluated. While Pierre has made great progress, it was decided that he would need to have his rotated tibia taursus surgically corrected if he was to live hobble-free.



While Piper's legs are also deformed, I had always assumed that, because she had good functionality (could walk, perch, launch and land), she was fine. But, at the suggestion of animal welfare journalist Mira Tweti and after further discussion and examination with the vets, it was decided that Piper's legs should also be corrected so as to preclude the likely degenerative (and untreatable) joint disease that she would eventually suffer. It appears that rather than being birth defects, her malformed legs resulted from being broken and untreated and then healing improperly. Before deciding on the surgery, the vets and I spoke at length abour risks versus return.



So little Pierre and Piper both had surgery and came home on Thursday with 3 surgically broken legs between them.



Pierre had a much easier time of it this go around and has done very well in his little tibia taursal cast (as opposed to his earlier surgery on the femur). He's made a quick recovery.



Piper though was initially in a lot of discomfort. I worked hard to tempt her to eat with millet and safflower seed and Pierre watched over her tenderly.




Piper has made good progress though and is now eating well. Pierre has been her constant and very gentle companion. Both have been on strict "cage rest" and I get the feeling they are missing their perches, nest and out of cage time.





I can hear Pierre cooing right now and I'm going to wheel their cage outside on the back deck for their daily sunshine and fresh air. Tomorrow we go back to the vet to get their "casts" removed.

Your help to pay their vet bill is much appreciated. Please click on this link to donate. Pierre and Piper and MickaCoo and I send you our thanks. Without your support, this would have been impossible.