Licking

[Loko]

Ive noticed Loco doing this strange licking behavior off and on for a while and wonder if anyone with a conure, or any other bird has noticed the same.
He opens his beak and starts flicking his tongue, licking the top of his beak enough that you start to see saliva. Im not sure how to really explain it but its just continual licking and then saliva builds up and you can see it hanging from beak to tongue. Not a lot, and not like mucuous, looks more like hes trying to roll a spit ball if that were possible. He does it randomly, sometimes when hes on my shoulder and then tries to give me some extra wet licks and sonetimes as hes on his boing just hanging out. Doesnt seem like theres any rhyme or reason to when or where. Everything else is normal so Im not overly worried, just wondering if anyone has seen this or have any idea if its just a quirk or something I should be concerned about. Ive tried searching here and google but havent found much. Theres another thing he does with his beak, but Ive seen various conures doing it, but this I have not so thats why Im curious.

 

[SailBoat]

Ive noticed Loco doing this strange licking behavior off and on for a while and wonder if anyone with a conure, or any other bird has noticed the same.
He opens his beak and starts flicking his tongue, licking the top of his beak enough that you start to see saliva. Im not sure how to really explain it but its just continual licking and then saliva builds up and you can see it hanging from beak to tongue. Not a lot, and not like mucuous, looks more like hes trying to roll a spit ball if that were possible. He does it randomly, sometimes when hes on my shoulder and then tries to give me some extra wet licks and sonetimes as hes on his boing just hanging out. Doesnt seem like theres any rhyme or reason to when or where. Everything else is normal so Im not overly worried, just wondering if anyone has seen this or have any idea if its just a quirk or something I should be concerned about. Ive tried searching here and google but havent found much. Theres another thing he does with his beak, but Ive seen various conures doing it, but this I have not so thats why Im curious.

Not heard of it put that way before. You're right, there isn't much regarding that activity. The only thing that I have heard /seen was a version that involved the process of bring a mucusous like wetness from the Crop. Our Yellow-Winged Amazon would do that on very rare occasions.

As you know, Parrots, do not normally have a moist Bill structure, common is dry!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I've never seen any such thing...
Hmmm...
If I were a thoroughly paranoid owner, which I am, I guess I'd just be sure there's no beak injury or obstruction.
Probably absolutely fine!

 

[Loko]

Ive noticed Loco doing this strange licking behavior off and on for a while and wonder if anyone with a conure, or any other bird has noticed the same.
He opens his beak and starts flicking his tongue, licking the top of his beak enough that you start to see saliva. Im not sure how to really explain it but its just continual licking and then saliva builds up and you can see it hanging from beak to tongue. Not a lot, and not like mucuous, looks more like hes trying to roll a spit ball if that were possible. He does it randomly, sometimes when hes on my shoulder and then tries to give me some extra wet licks and sonetimes as hes on his boing just hanging out. Doesnt seem like theres any rhyme or reason to when or where. Everything else is normal so Im not overly worried, just wondering if anyone has seen this or have any idea if its just a quirk or something I should be concerned about. Ive tried searching here and google but havent found much. Theres another thing he does with his beak, but Ive seen various conures doing it, but this I have not so thats why Im curious.

Not heard of it put that way before. You're right, there isn't much regarding that activity. The only thing that I have heard /seen was a version that involved the process of bring a mucusous like wetness from the Crop. Our Yellow-Winged Amazon would do that on very rare occasions.

As you know, Parrots, do not normally have a moist Bill structure, common is dry!

Yeah Im kinda stumped. In regards to what youre talking about, is it a thick mucous, or more like kind of sticky saliva I guess for lack of a better description? And does he or she regurgitate it or just kind of play with his or her tongue? Ive noticed he likes to keep his tongue kind of wet for a parrot, so it might just be some weird thing he does, and he also loves to put the side of his beak up to a finger or something hard and do that rapid twitch as if hes being hand fed. This Ive seen, though I dont have any idea why. Im thinking the licking could be from eating pellets, since they are dry, but not sure. Hes been doing it a while, not really sure when it started so I dont think its anything but maybe I should take him for a check up soon to make sure theres no crop infection or anything else. I would imagine if that were the case Id notice other things though Ill try to get a video if he does it tomorrow.

I've never seen any such thing...
Hmmm...
If I were a thoroughly paranoid owner, which I am, I guess I'd just be sure there's no beak injury or obstruction.
Probably absolutely fine!

Definitely no obstruction or injury, at least visible one. His beak looks like a healthy beak so not sure, it doesnt seem like hes doing it because of something with his beak, its more of a tongue thing. Its like hes flipping his tongue to try to build up spit.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi, is it anything like this http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/53704-licking-inside-beak.html

I think I would consult your AV just to be sure.

 

[Loko]

Hi, is it anything like this http://www.parrotforums.com/eclectus/53704-licking-inside-beak.html

I think I would consult your AV just to be sure.

I came across that thread while trying to search but the video isnt the best quality, he definitely doesnt have near that much ..whatever that is, and since the video is kinda blurry I cant tell if that is a gooey substance or clear saliva.. its not all over his beak anything like that though, its normally semi dry, then only when he starts moving his tongue does it get a little wet. When it is wet its only his tongue and the top of his inside beak where sonetimes a strand of saliva or whatever stretches from his tongue, not whole beak like that. He often does it after tasting or eating something too but sometimes randomly as well. A checkup cant hurt though. Thank you!

 

[Loko]

Ive managed to get a video. If anyone now seeing the video has ever seen this or has any idea, let me know.
20161116 104842 - Sendvid

 

[snowflake311]

I do not think this is normal. I see the lets call it spit or slime in the video. He looks a bit uncomfortable too. I would talk to a vet if I were you. Just call the vet and see what they say.

 

[Loko]

Thanks, gonna give them a call tomorrow and see if I can send them the video. I know its impossible to judge from seeing it for 10 seconds but he doesnt seem uncomfortable or anything out of the ordinary from his usual self, he just has this obsession. If anyone else has input feel free but Im going to call in the morning.

 

[Loko]

Also sorry about the crappy upload site with the ad in the beginning. If anyone knows a better place to upload vids let me know.

 

[Quakerella]

I have never had any of my birds do that. Ramsay (IRN) sometimes sticks his tongue out (I think it is directed to me). Glad you are calling your vet, just to be sure.

 

[Loko]

I have an appointment for Tuesday. He needed a yearly check up anyway so it works out, hopefully its nothing and just him being a little goofball.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

You can upload video's for free on YouTube..a lot of us forum members do ( me being one ) works very well.

As far as the licking thing...I have never seen that also..glad to hear you are taking him to see his doctor.

I will also add that he is also very handsome!



Jim

 

[Loko]

You can upload video's for free on YouTube..a lot of us forum members do ( me being one ) works very well.

As far as the licking thing...I have never seen that also..glad to hear you are taking him to see his doctor.

I will also add that he is also very handsome!
Jim

Thanks, yeah I like youtube I just have forgotten my account info so many times. I think they merged it with Google + accounts so I probably couldve done that but whatever and thanks! He knows it too. Hopefully the visit goes well. I hate putting him through this but its best to be safe.

it is on my google docs now for easier viewing without an ad if anyone else has addtl input

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-kDaFebUofleVV6YTYxR19yVlE/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[snowflake311]

Should be all good maybe a Crop infection and that is easy enough to fix just a little bit of meds.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Loko]

Well I took him today and Loco was better than I thought. The vet took blood and shaved his beak down a little bit but said he really isnt sure what the licking is. He said that hes seen birds do that when they have a cracked beak, but thats not the case here. He said he sees no sign of infection and his airways looked good, and bloodwork came back perfect. He said if it persists or get worse, to come back and he would anesthisize him and inspect the crop more, but for right now not to worry and that everything seems fine. Well see how it goes.

 

[snowflake311]

Thats good to hear. My little bird was not showing any signs of being sick or doing anything weird. I felt I had to just get him looked at since he is young and I only had him 5 months. Well after the vet checked the stool sample she saw Sprinkles is sick. With a bacterial infection and Yeast.

It is always better to be safe than sorry with this little animals they don't like to let us know they are sick. Figures a bird that is acting a little weird is fine and my Sprinkles who seemed fine is in fact sick.

Did the vet check the poop?

 

[Loko]

Good thing you caught it now! Hes still doing the licking so were not sure what it is. It doesnt seem to be an issue so Id rather not have him put under but I will see how it goes. I have to check the paperwork, he took blood though so I would think a CBC would show if any infection was present or imminent.

 

[snowflake311]

Yeast and bacteria would not show in the blood. what they would see with blood work would be higher levels of white blood cells or platlets those high levels would let the dr know if the body was fighting something. So I would think blood work would be enough but I never worked with birds. I was a vet tech but never did much work with bird study sadly.

Is this an avian vet you are going to? I had to drive 1.5 hours to see a true Avain vet I dont trust my dogs vets with my bird. My birds vet did not take blood just checked the poop right away.

Yeah I would hate to have my bird put under. That seems a bit extream. I am glad i took Sprinkles to the vets and caught it now.

 

[Loko]

Yeast and bacteria would not show in the blood. what they would see with blood work would be higher levels of white blood cells or platlets those high levels would let the dr know if the body was fighting something. So I would think blood work would be enough but I never worked with birds. I was a vet tech but never did much work with bird study sadly.

Is this an avian vet you are going to? I had to drive 1.5 hours to see a true Avain vet I dont trust my dogs vets with my bird. My birds vet did not take blood just checked the poop right away.

Yeah I would hate to have my bird put under. That seems a bit extream. I am glad i took Sprinkles to the vets and caught it now.

Yes, just like in humans the WBC count would be elevated thus calling for further inspection but all levels were in target range so he said not to worry. Actually blood is a great indicator because WBC count would be elevated prior to clinical signs showing of any infection, so you essentially could catch it while it is still in the making. Now seeing the paper it does say fecal and gram stain though. All of that did command a heft $265 but it was worth it. And yes, not sure if you like to read any veterinary journals or related papers but the vet is Dr. Don Harris, he is pretty well known in the aviculture community. Luckily I also have Dr. Susan Clubb not too far away also, actually about 1.5hr away, who is internationally known in the community and an advocate for many related causes. She is much farther than Dr Harris, who is barely 30 mins away, but Im blessed to have two great vets right near me. My families dogs vet also offered to look at him but Id rather go to an avian specialist, and with two vets like that in my backyard, anyone in Miami with a bird has no reason to do anything other.
Yeah, the vet did not show much concern for what hes doing, a bit perplexed if anything, so Id rather not have to put him through that if it isnt necessary. If there was something going on in the crop I imagine it wouldve showed in the tests done, and he felt the same. For some reason these weird, unclear, confusing things always happen to me. As a kid, me and another kid came down with this weird virus where we had red dots all over our body besides face, and the doctors had no idea what it was.
Good thing you caught what you did now, as the little things like that are what we have to worry about most as parronts. Luckily they are easy to treat as well! I hope Sprinkles has a quick and comfortable recovery.