My injured Cockatiel

Question
My question is with regards to my year and a half old Cockatiel named Charlie. A few weeks ago, we noticed he was limping, on his one leg, still bearing weight on his left foot, but not much. Now, he is bearing no weight on his left foot, and I don't know what he did to it or how. We take him regularly to get his wings clipped and nails clipped, I have noticed that his left leg feels a bit colder than his right, I do not notice swelling. Charlie is a very sociable bird, normally, but now he will not come out of his cage, does not want to be handled, he is still eating a bit, and drinking water sometimes. He is having a terrible time getting around his cage. He is still looking bright and cheery, but he is just not his normal self. He usually sings show tunes, and has stopped. He is not talking much anymore. And is bearing no weight on his left foot/leg. What do I need to look for. I am so afraid to take him to a vet for fear I will have to put him down. My husband and I have raised him since he was a baby and he is like our child now. Great personality. Friendly. Just an all perfect cockatiel. What do I do from here? Charlie is so wonderful but I don't want him to suffer. Please help with any advise possible.
Thank you so much.

Leslie

Answer
Hello Leslie and thank you for your post.
I do believe that I have given advise to you in the past.  If not, I apalogize, if so, then I am glad that Charlie has been doing well up to this point.
Do take him to a Certified avian or Exotic Animal Vet to have his leg/foot cheked.  It is possible that it is just a bad sparin, but it could be something more.
It doesn't sound like anything that he's have to be euthanized over, but there again, I am not a vet.
One of my teils, a couple of year back, had sparined her foot horribly, and she couldn't put any weight on it for two weeks, but she is perfectly fine now (I actually though she'd broken a toe).
It is possible that Charlie's nails got clipped too short and became infected, in which case, Charlie will need some antibiodics.
Please keep me updated.

Good luck and God Bless.
Dianna