Conure is plucking

[mariconure]

Hello everyone

I have a 4 year old GCC named Kiwi. She is a treasure. She had a little friend who we had for about 8 months but then he had an accident and passed away this winter. She seemed to be adjusting well but for the past couple of months, she has been rubbing the back of her head, neck and plucking the feathers from under her right wing.

I brought her to the only avian vet we have about an hour away but she is more a vet for cats and dogs and does exams some birds on occasion. She said the feathers would probably not grow back behind her head and said she didn't have any lice or anything like that. She did give a treatment and then again at the end of two weeks in case there were parasites. Now to me how could she give a treatment for parasites not knowing if and what kind the bird had? Also, she said it wasn't bad under the wing but it's been getting worse and the neck too and I'm worried.

I started searching the internet and went to the pet shop and they said they have this stuff called Zanimo ultra omega. It has essential oils and linseed and wheat germ oil as well as omega 3-6-9. The manager at the pet shop where I go said that I can give it to her through her mouth and also put a bit on the affected areas and that they have gotten very good results.

Now my little girl has never plucked feathers before. I don't know if it's hormones, vitamin A deficiency or her missing her friend. She has a big cage, out of her cage most of the time and has a play gym near the window. When we are here which is most of the time, she is with us. Her flight wings are trimmed so we can take her outside. She can still fly but she can't gain altitude. Since she is a nervous GCC if she gets scared and flies away, we can catch her right away.

We were thinking of getting another little friend so that she would have another bird to preen with. She always wants us to preen her and cuddle and we love her dearly but we don't always feel like cuddling with her. I thought that maybe a little friend might fix that for her. I'm just wondering also what kind of bird can go well with a GCC other than another GCC.

Also if you have any comments or suggestions about plucking, I would deeply appreciate it. If I have posted this in the wrong area, please transfer it to the proper place and let me know where you have placed it.

Thank you kindly for your help.

Marie

 

[weco]

Welcome to the forum.....

What medication was given for the potential parasites?

What parasite was she treating for?

I would not give any type of over the counter preparation to a bird that has not had a verified diagnosis and a valid treatment determined.....many times OTC medications interfere with diagnosis and/or treatment.....AND.....some OTC products are simply a waste of $$$ to begin with.....

If you don't have the answer to my questions, give the vet a call & inquire, then post the answers to this thread.....while we're not qualified to dispense care, we may know what to suggest and/or where you might find suitable answers, but what you've posted could be any of several things.....

Since your local vet is of the cat & dog variety & you are satisfied with her so far, you might inquire if she would be willing to work with an avian vet on a telephone consulting basis.....that way you would have the avian expertise available...

In the mean time, you might want to give the clinic a call & discuss the possibility of phone consultation with them, or they might direct you elsewhere.....

Outpatient clinic
Phone: (450) 778-8123 or 778-8121
or the Island of Montreal: (514) 345-8521, ext 8123 or 8121
Fax: (450) 778-8120

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal

Best suggestion I can offer with the info you've provided.....

ps...It's not hormones.....

 

[mariconure]

Hello Weco:

I'm going to quote to you this part of my above message: ***I brought her to the only avian vet we have about an hour away but she is more a vet for cats and dogs and does exams some birds on occasion. She said the feathers would probably not grow back behind her head and said she didn't have any lice or anything like that. She did give a treatment and then again at the end of two weeks in case there were parasites. Now to me how could she give a treatment for parasites not knowing if and what kind the bird had? Also, she said it wasn't bad under the wing but it's been getting worse and the neck too and I'm worried.***

As you can see from the quote in my post, I did bring her to the vet and it was the vet who gave her the parasite treatment not knowing if or what parasites were present. I don't remember the name of what she gave Kiwi but it was a little drop around the neck and then two weeks later, she repeated the treatment. It is a kind of treatment where she mixes two ingredients together. I'm not crazy about her but the closest vet after her is 2 hours away. Kiwi gets very car sick and throws up almost the whole way. I have to hold her against me the whole time and it takes everything to keep her still. A four hour drive on the same day would really hurt her allot.

I would never give a parasite medicine without proper medical advice. What I am giving her myself is a mixture for birds with Omega 3-6-9 and wheat germ oil and linseed oil. The name of that company is Zanimo Ultra Omega. I will check out the numbers you have supplied. Thank you.

EDIT: I have just called the number you suggested and they gave me another number which is 1.5 hours away but maybe I can get some kind of phone consultation too. They are presently closed but I will call again tomorrow. This is the number for the University of Montreal (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) Small Animals clinic in St-Hyacinthe, QC. I am posting the number here in case you need to give it to someone else. 450-778-8111. They can also see an animal in an emergency in the evening if the animal's life is in danger, however, emergency charges will be added to the bill. Thank you again.

Marie