When I uncovered Danny's cage this morning I noticed right away that he was acting strange. Usually he is at the front of his cage just waiting to leap out. But he was on the floor of his cage just standing there. He was moving his head around but not really looking at anything. He saw me and tried to climb up the cage bars to get out and it took him like 5 minutes to get out of his cage. He was having trouble with his foot not gripping properly and he kept falling. And his personality seems weird. He usually hates me and he let me touch his foot and his feathers. VERY odd. He ate normally and happily rode on my husband's arm all over the house.

My husband thinks he has arthritis because his lack of perches (he is approximatley 4 years old and for the first 3 years of his life he lived in a dog kennel with no perches) in his old home. He has always had trouble with his feet and earlier this year he injured his ankle. The vet told us that his foot may never work correctly again but he seemed to be doing okay with it. But the foot that is acting weird now is the other foot. It just sort of shakes and doesn't latch onto things correctly, he also acts like he has a hard time opening it. I checked and I can't see any swelling. It may be a few days before I can get him to the vet. Does this sound like arthritis to you? Is there anything they can do for arthritis? Or does it sound like another problem all together?

Sorry for the long post.

I have no idea about the arthritis possibility (but it does sound like a possibility), but it does sound like a vet visit is in order - there are enough noticeable changes in his behavior that would have raised my red flags as well.

I hope everything is ok, let us know.

Boy, it's hard to say, and I hate to sound alarmist, but.... Taken along with the unusual behavior it would be tempting to suspect something along the lines of a stroke/seizure, or something neurological, but I'm certainly no expert. Certainly sounds possible from what you've described, though. I hope he comes out of it all right.

Nate that is exactly what I was scared of! It was like he was looking around but not at anything. He wasn't reacting to my touches at all. Now I am really super scared.

I was also thinking along the lines of possible seizure - but I don't have any experience with that.

Try not to be too alarmed right off the bat - I know that's super hard not to do. Call the vet, at least describe what you've stated here over the phone, and go from there. Breathe.

This was my first thought also when I read the post. With seizure activity though, the not focusing and not being able to grip or climb properly will usually only be like that while they're seizing. Has he been tested for lead and zinc levels?

^ No. I think I am going to try and get an appointment for tomorrow. It will be a new vet though, his vet is too far away for me to go on short notice with work.

It may ease your mind to get some blood work. I had an episode with seizure activity with one of mine about a year ago. It was almost identical to what you described, but he was only incapacitated for the duration of the seizure and then he returned to normal. We ran every test possible and everything came back in normal ranges. The only thing I could chalk it up too was possible low blood sugar. He had been stressed out the night before and hadn't eaten a good dinner.

Sending healing prayers that it's nothing serious and he regains full use of the leg.

Tiffany, I don't have anything to add on top of what has already been said. I am praying so hard that this is nothing serious. Please keep us updated on Danny.

He has an appointment at 8:30 tonight! I can't believe they are open so late, but I am so happy they are. But my husband works until 9 so hopefully Danny cooperates and gets in his carrier. lol That could be quite the struggle.