It’s been about 2 weeks since Ella’s first vet appointment and I’m happy to report that she is recovering well!  Although she is still unable to grip and has trouble balancing, her toes have gone back to their proper positions and she is able to walk fairly well.  She can even perch on larger perches but right now prefers to play on solid surfaces like the ground or our bed.

Ella has had a second x-ray which determined the metal flakes were still in her body but were definitely breaking down.  This means the injections are working but slowly.  Our vet recommended we do another 5 days of injections and then switch to an oral medication.  Apparently sometimes you have to treat birds with lead poisoning for up to 6 weeks!  We weren’t too concerned since Hubby is a pro at the shots and Ella doesn’t seem to mind them at all.

A few days ago we started a 10 day round of oral medication which we’re hoping will be the last of the treatment.  We have a follow-up appointment in a week which will hopefully be our final x-ray and check-up!  In the meantime we still have her in the makeshift cage with blankets on the bottom to keep her comfortable but we did add a few toys for fun.  Now that she’s also walking I’ve started letting her out for a few hours daily in our room.  The bed makes the perfect cushy landing pad for her.  I leaned one side of her cage against our dresser with a few toys and perches on it so she can practice climbing, perching and playing.  Sometimes it’s painful to watch her struggle or slip but we’re hoping it will help her strengthen her feet.

We continue to hope for the best but so far her progress has exceeded our expectations and we are just thrilled that she is on the mend!