Loretta Home, Not Out Of The Woods (Warning: Graphic Photos)

[FoxersArtist]

We went to pick Loretta up from the vets this afternoon. They allowed us to bring her home because I know how to do some critical care for birds. It was sad to see how much more swollen she looks today but she looks a bit better after having been cleaned up. I set her up in our incubator when we got home but was delighted with news that someone (very, very special) is donating a new, digital, macaw sized brooder with humidity control so that Loretta will be more comfortable in days to follow. I think you can even hook those things up to oxygen so that will be helpful for the future. The vet made it clear that she is not yet stable enough to be certain that she will live and is most concerned about a patch on her face where a very large chunk is torn but still attached. He is hoping that it seals back together but is worried about what could happen if it does not. One of her front toes is broken but he decided to wrap it instead of having to put her under as we all agreed she would probably not live through being put under. One of Loretta's eyes is badly swollen shut and the Dr. says that it looks like there is further damage to both of her eyes. Her good eye is open all the way but a little swollen. It looks like there is a little bit of damage to the actual eye but not much more than was already there. I am surprised that Loretta is carrying on so well. She has been drinking and I have instructions to tube feed for several days at least. They also sent me home with a cocktail of drugs in an injection to administer twice a day. My poor girl. She is resting comfortably right now and I have her tucked away against the wall where she will feel more secure. Please continue to pray that Loretta makes it.

Here are some photos I took of Loretta when we first came home, and also once I got her into her ICU. Photos are graphic.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt001.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt002.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt004.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt006.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt007.jpg

Here are some photos of PJ:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt001-1.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt004-1.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Hurt005.jpg
-Anna

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

noooooooono not Loretta...say it ain't so..ohmygod I am praying the hardest I have ever prayed in my life....anna...if she passes, at least she was loved for a while...dear god please let her recover or go quick...and painless...

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

anna what happened to her?

[FoxersArtist]

The good news is that Loretta is on pain medication as well as anti inflamatory drugs and antibiotics. She does not act like she feels it much so that is a relief.
-Anna
noooooooono not Loretta...say it ain't so..ohmygod I am praying the hardest I have ever prayed in my life....anna...if she passes, at least she was loved for a while...dear god please let her recover or go quick...and painless...

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

ohmygod Anna I just readthe story....I feel sick about all of this...just sick inside...I cannot imagine how you must be feeling..the poor dear old girl...I am absolutely weeping my heart out for that girl....

[FoxersArtist]

Our other amazon, PJ attacked and tried to kill her....I explained in the thread just below this one. They had not been fighting long and I imagine if I had not gotten there the moment I did she would have been gone already. I'm just sorry I didn't hear the fight right away.
-Anna
anna what happened to her?

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Oh boy. That looks bad. You said you think this might have been over the highest perch? Thank God you were home.

[too&me]

She looks so much better than I had imagined, awful imagination I have. so glad she is home and a huge hug to the good soul who is donating the brooder. Pj the stinker looks worse off than I thought, but it looks most healable, the little vampire Zon.

[birdie]

Poor dear Loretta. I'm with Jill, she does look better than I was picturing. Will keep praying and sending healing thoughts for her & PJ. Bless the person who sent the brooder.

[FoxersArtist]

Loretta pulled through another night. I'll give her an injection of pain meds in about 30 minutes which may help her feel good enough to try a little food. When I talked to the vet, he had indicated that he thought she might have some brain damage. Indeed, I have observed her doing some interesting behavior like head jerking when she touches things with her beak and general confusion (She keeps trying to wander aimlessly, even in the tank, and will walk off the edge of something if given the chance. I know she can see some because she hollers as soon as she sees the towel coming.

Wow...so glad Loretta looks better than imagined. ;) I'm having a terrible time looking at her and not instantly seeing that first picture I got of her, flipped over on her back, bleeding profusely. Andy said he thought she looked better than he expected as well. I still think she looks like a horrible car accident victim. Last night when I tube fed her she watered blood out of her eyes and that bothered me a bit as it took me back to my experience with Michelle in the hospital. I am eagerly waiting for the new brooder so that Loretta can be more comfortable. We will have her back in to see the vet tomorrow sometime to evaluate her wounds.
-Anna

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Those pictures horrified me. It was certainly not better than I thought they might be.
For me, even though the two birds were equal in size, it is a shocking reminder of what Linus could do to Theo in an outburst. Or Theo to the teils and quaker. Loretta's suffering has not been in vain at my house. I am even more vigilant now.

[too&me]

Lets hope that as the swelling reduces her brain will clear as well. You are right Patty it a reminder of what happens when things go wrong and what can go wrong even with the birds we know so well.

[FoxersArtist]

Here is a picture of Loretta sleeping in her incubator this afternoon. I made blueberry pancakes for the kids a little while ago and I gave a bit to Loretta. She loves pancakes. She held it in her mouth forever as if to say "Oh! I want it, I want it!" but felt too sore to eat it. She did eventually eat a little bit of it, leaving a blob of blueberry at her feet. I was very proud of my girl.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Sleeping.jpg

Most of her superficial wounds are already starting to heal well as there are less raw spots on her face today. I am really feeling concerned over the wound closest to her beak though as is it deep and turning very black. I don't know if that is just scabbing or necrosis.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa154/Foxersartist/Brag%20Photos/Black.jpg
-Anna

[too&me]

I cannot tel from that photo can you email me a close up? I will ck my email this evening & call you or email back. From this I would summize it is deeply bruised and we are seeing dried blood beneath the skins surface I see no suppuration and the margins appear to be healing.

[Diane, Clouds assignment]

Does this give you a better look. I enlarged it and lightened it a little.

[too&me]

Thank you Diane, it looks like the skin maybe missing entirely there. Just dried muscle membrane or tissue should granulate (heal) over with luck. Watch for redness, oozing or swelling. Not a Vet but I have seen a lot of damaged critters.