Dry Skin HELP!!!

[Jordensgirl13]

I noticed today that Chances feet and skin was pretty dry. What can I do to help with this?
The vet said put a little fish oil in his food but what kind and how much?
Ive heard to put aloe in his food or water.
What do you all think?
Thanks

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh please do not use human vitamins. They can be deadly if given in the wrong doses.

Aloe will help, but I would not put it into the drinking water. You could try applying a bit of aloe directly onto the feet, but what might work even better than aloe is PALM OIL.

 

[SandyBee]

yes red palm oil should help, still need to ne careful of doses. the amount to give is on the bottle and it goes by weight.

 

[Jordensgirl13]

Where do you get your palm oil from?

 

[MeganMango]

Mango had dry skin, and the vet just said to bath him more-up to every day. Mango showers with me every day, and he chooses whether to go into the water stream or not. He often does, but he also likes to just sit on his shower perch with his eyes closed all fluffed up. The humidity and mist makes him damp, and all our problems are gone. This is a great bonding opportunity, and the vet said that I cant really over-shower provided I dont force him under the water. His shower perch is a big U and I just put one side in the stream. Now I cant shower without him or he gets all upset.

 

[MonicaMc]

Recommendations I've heard are usually a healthy diet (vets typically recommend Harrison's), more frequent bathing, increase humidity with a humidifier, Vitamin E (Coconut Oil or Red Palm Oil) or Vitamin A (Red Palm Oil or Fish Oil)

Harrison's has Red Palm Oil Products
HEALx and AVIx Animal Wellness Products-harrisonbirdfoods.com

Avitech sells both Red Palm Oil and Coconut Oil
Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!
Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!


Likewise, if you have a Whole Foods Market or similar type of Health/Organic Food Store near you, you can find the coconut and red palm oil in the cooking section and fish oil in another department.



With anything, you always want to be careful of not over-supplementing. I have heard many grey owners say great things about the use of RPO and very few say no difference in the use of it.

HolisticBird and HolisticBirds

 

[lene1949]

I noticed today that Chances feet and skin was pretty dry. What can I do to help with this?
The vet said put a little fish oil in his food but what kind and how much?
Ive heard to put aloe in his food or water.
What do you all think?
Thanks

If the vet diagnosed dry skin, he should have prescribed something to help...

If you, yourself, diagnosed it I would recommend more baths/showers...

 

[Jordensgirl13]

The vet did and she said to give him fish oil. When I asked how much she said just put a capsule on his food everyday. Now that seems like a lot because I get them for my dogs and they get a capsule a day. She claims to be a avian vet but im not sure I really trust her because she said as long as Chance is on pellets he doesnt need fruits and veggies and that she does not give them to her parrots.

 

[MeganMango]

The vet did and she said to give him fish oil. When I asked how much she said just put a capsule on his food everyday. Now that seems like a lot because I get them for my dogs and they get a capsule a day. She claims to be a avian vet but im not sure I really trust her because she said as long as Chance is on pellets he doesnt need fruits and veggies and that she does not give them to her parrots.

Some people dont feed fruits and veg if their birds is eating pellets well. Realistically this is perfectly fine, if on the right pellets. The pellets theoretically have everything the bird needs. I feed about 50% fruits and veg while staying away from the sugary stuff, and my vet is ok with this but also indicated that its not necessary to feed that much. Unless you have an ekkie which requires a very specially diet, you can get away without the veg. I would be worried about adding that much fish oil though. Maybe try adding baths first before you supplement. If you already bath daily, then you can also add the bird rain, which is water with aloe in it. I bought it because Mango had dry skin, but he hated it. I sprayed him any way the first few days because he hated bathing. Now he loves to shower with me so its no big deal. If I dont shower, or Im in a hurry and I dont bring him I just give him a light misting with it. Its not too pricy, and completely safe. Ive attached a site with a picture of the product. Dry skin is not an immediate emergency, so if it doesnt work you can always try some fish oil (although Id be more inclined to go with palm oil as people here have suggested) and start with a very tiny amount, and work your way up as needed if necessary.

AVIx Bird Rain Topical Spray at World Of Birds

 

[SandyBee]

The info from my vet says diet should consist of 30-50% pellets, the rest should be made up from fresh foods such as grains vegetable and fruit. Most of that should be grain and vegetable and a little seed, no more than 10% fruit.

The biggest problem if you try to use all fresh food and no pellets is getting them to eat the variety necessary. If they will eat and you can supply enough of a varied diet than pellets are not necessary. My Amazon is too picky for me to get away with that, he won't eat all the vegetable groups nor will he eat fruit, so I keep him on some pellets.

My vet also likes the red palm oil for many reasons and it will help with dry skin as well, you could also just add cooked fish to the diet too.