Quail swallowed screw, can i use a magnet to remove it

[JulienH]

One of my quail swallowed a screw. The screw is blocking one of its nerves which means she cant stand up properly, and might cause permanent damage. She also hasnt excreted any blood so i think her insides are not that damaged. My father told me that using a magnet to put the screw closer to the cloaca might get the screw out faster. Is this a good idea?
I've added an x-ray of her

in the post

 

[chrissynemetz]

Oh my goodness!! The idea of trying to do that myself would terrify me! Is there no way you could have a vet remove it?

 

[danalovesdogs]

I think that would be incredibly dangerous. You would risk further nerve damage or could cause the screw to puncture pathways important to both digestion and reproduction. I see you have an x-ray, does that mean you have already seen a vet? What was their recommendation?

 

[BReeder!]

I second the very idea.
Another option is to cull the bird. If you raise your birds for meat it may be fine of is just a steal screw. If it's coated, I wouldn't consume the meat.

 

[JulienH]

I think that would be incredibly dangerous. You would risk further nerve damage or could cause the screw to puncture pathways important to both digestion and reproduction. I see you have an x-ray, does that mean you have already seen a vet? What was their recommendation?

The vet recommended to put her under anesthesia and try to remove the screw by using tweezers, which the vet tried but it was to no avail

 

[Nabiki]

I really don't think a magnet will do the job. Intestines don't go in straight lines, and as @danalovesdogs said, I think it would be very dangerous and more likely to give your bird a painful death.

Edit: I should say that I am not a vet and I don't have any expertise in this area, so I might be wrong.

 

[Kiki]

The vet recommended to put her under anesthesia and try to remove the screw by using tweezers, which the vet tried but it was to no avail

If the vet couldn't get the screw out a magnet isn't going to work.

 

[Tesumph]

Magnet definitely wouldn’t work, I’m sorry. Although the digestive system is essentially one long “tube,” there are too many twists and turns to navigate a screw out that way.

Do you have any other X-ray angles? Did the vet say where the is screw located (crop, proventriculus, gizzard, intestines)?
Did the vet make any incision? Or were they using tweezers through the mouth or cloaca?

 

[Fishkeeper]

The magnet is a VERY bad plan.
If surgery isn't an option, keep an eye on the bird for signs of distress. Either it'll pass the screw and be fine, or the screw will puncture its intestine, in which case you need to humanely euthanize it. You can't do anything to help the situation along except making sure the bird has plenty of food and water.

 

[Kale the Quail]

poor bird! hope she gets better