Henry

[bekah]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum but I've had my GCC for a little over a year now. He is a great little bird, but recently we've run into an issue and I need some support (mental support), so reach out to a community of people that also have a passion for birds.

All of a sudden I came home last week (Thursday) from work and Henry had a bald spot on his back. We rushed to the emergency vet at night and was there until about 1 am. They gave me some antibiotics and a spray. I went home. Friday morning, I took him to his vet, because I was concerned since the emergency vet wasn't avian speciality.

My normal vet gave him a shot of antibiotic, checked him over, and gave me Tresaderm with Heparin. He was fine on the weekend, seemed to lose a few more feathers on his back, but not badly.

Then yesterday, I came home from work and all the feathers around his face (both ears) are gone! I didn't take him back to emergency and I'm now waiting for the vet to open so I can make an appointment (they were already closed when I got home last night).

He is still eating, seems happy, looks AWFUL. His poop is "normal" (darker than usual but I think that is because he was eating dried organic blueberries).

I check his cage for mites and don't see any. What else should I check for environment-wise? I haven't changed his food, he eats a healthy assortment of fruit and vegetables, Harrison's fine, and supreem medium.

It does seem like he is uncomfortable and he has a lot of scabs now on his back. I'm afraid to go to work today, because I don't him to be bald when I get home!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi bekah, welcome to the forums.

I would assume he is rubbing the feathers on his face?

Has you CAV done a blood test? Did you ask what they are treating Henry for?

Be interesting to see a pic if you can manage to put one up? http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

Tresaderm®
Steroidal topical antibiotic.
Contains thiabendazole, dexamethasone and neomycin sulfate.

 

[plumsmum2005]

bekah this will interest you http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/19683-excessive-urination.html

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Henry!

Sudden loss of feathering is surprising and calls for careful analysis. Definitely a case for a certified avian vet. The cause may be simple but something to catch and treat early. Please let us know the results after the vet visit!

 

[bekah]

bekah this will interest you http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/19683-excessive-urination.html

Wow...that is VERY interesting.

Lots of similarities...maybe I should quit using that stuff!

Anyway, the vet practice I go to is about the only vet around that can handle birds.
While this vet is rather young and new, she gets guidance from the vet that has owned the practice for as long as I've lived around here (over 20 years)...

What really made me worry (besides the additional feather loss) was that he was just a little bit too chill. He doesn't really like a lot of cuddling. Not since he hit adulthood. He likes to hang out with me and follow me around, but on his terms. He is super sweet and even steps up when he doesn't want to (it's a reflex now), but he doesn't cuddle with me like I see a lot of birds do with their owners.

He was so chill he even stepped up for the vet. VERY unusual. He doesn't really trust anyone but me. He won't even step-up for my husband.

He hadn't lost any weight. Not really surprised there, because he has been eating fine. And that is the first thing I do when his disposition changes. He has been stable 64 gms for awhile now. Today he was 68.

However, his poop was a little too "runny"...more than normal. He usually has a water in his poop, but that's because he really enjoys fruit. It has been a little off the past few days.

He pooped right after he was weighed (what can I say...no manners). The vet agreed that it was a lot and too watery. (He may have had a lot because he was holding out... he was on my shoulders hiding in my hair awhile before they came in- so...maybe some manners.)

She checked his poop (gram stain) and that came back "abnormal" and it made her worry a little bit.

Then they did a blood profile stat. His results all came back in the normal range, so she was relieved.

She suggested to give jim "depo provera" to help boost his mood.

And she prescribed a different antibiotic to add to water.

I stayed home all day in the room where he lives (it doubles as my office away from the office). He did fine all day.

It is possibly boredom. My husband works from home but never visits other than to feed him. And lately my work schedule has been ridiculous, but I spend a good 2+ hours with him in the evening. It just may be too long in between.

I'll try to get a photo and post it.

I feel a bit better about it now. This morning I was a basket case.
But I have to go to work tomorrow. I know I'll be worried all day, because my husband leaves for a trip. I will skirt out early!

 

[bekah]

This is a picture of him on Thursday when I took him to the emergency vet....it wasn't a very good picture, but there is a spot and it was VERY red...

This was a picture just a few minutes ago...his back is not red anymore but more feathers gone:

This is a picture of one side of his face. The other cheek is similar.

This is what he looked like on last Wednesday!

Why are these picture rotated?

 

[Kentuckienne]

I'm so sorry your bird is unwell. It seems serious to me from your description. A normally active and feisty bird should not be calmly stepping up for a strange vet in a strange office. This "excess chill" is a classic sign of illness in birds. They are very good at concealing illness, so sometimes this unusual calm or fatigue is the only sign that a bird is sick. Loss of feathers is serious - could be allergy, skin disease, feather disease, irritation, mites...any number of things. And I'm shocked to hear the vet gave you depo-perova which is a form of progestin found in birth control pills. Has anybody else ever heard of this being prescribed for a bird?!?

There is an association of avian vets with a website search tool that will find the closest qualified avian vet for you. If there is none, there are some excellent ones - a very good clinic in Oakley, CA for one - that might be willing to consult by skype or phone with whatever best vet you can find.

Again...I'm not a vet...but lost a lovely parrot companion to a very resistant infection so I learned how to google up symptoms, drug names, and the like. In the meantime, until you can get to a real avian vet, do a quick inventory for anything toxic in his environment. Galvanized metal, nickel, any non- stainless steel metal can cause heavy metal poisoning or irritation. If anything has some kind of coating or treatment on it, like a treated plastic or fabric...be sure all the toys, cage, perches, food bowls are scrupulously clean and disinfected.

As Scott says, it could be something minor ... and I hope it is. Will you keep us updated on the progress?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi here is the AV list on here http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/9841-vets-your-area.html

This is also worth considering but in conjunction with your AV running a complete blood work up.

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/featherpickingdiet.html
This is for you to bear in mind.

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/giardia.html

Henry is on a pellet which can help with any nutritional deficiencies.

Go through everything in your home to access if anything could have a contribution to this. This may be useful to run through.

http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...friendly-warnings-keep-your-parrots-safe.html

"She suggested to give jim "depo provera" to help boost his mood." If she makes him better his mood will increase! Goodness me! Really need to know what her thinking is? Or even better ask for an appointment with the vet with 20+ years experience.

"And she prescribed a different antibiotic to add to water." This is the weakest method of getting an antibiotic into a bird, you are at the mercy of them drinking and they choose how much.

A collar although not liked by birds will help stop further mutilation and opening the skin up further.