reaccuring bacterial infection

[Owlet]

So, I've had Lincoln for ~3 years now and ever single year he has gotten a bacterial infection on the back of his neck. I don't know why. I keep his environment as clean as I can and his chop only stays in the cage for a couple hours before being removed. He's showing signs of having another infection right now, I will hopefully be bringing him into the vet soon but I'm a little short on funds so I will have to wait for my next pay day. But I have no idea what's causing these infections and I have no idea how to prevent them. It's in the same place every year and I am just so stumped. Some of you I am sure saw my post about the scare with him and increased monocyte wbcs but we did all kinds of testing (bacterial infection, fungal infection, PBFD, psiticosis, etc etc) and everything came back a big fat negative. Anyone have any idea at all what it could be?? He is touch phobic also so there's no way it's me transferring anything. If that was the case Apollo would also be getting them but she's as healthy as can be. I'm so confused..

 

[Laurasea]

Can you post a picture?
Something there is a foreign body, or an cyst or abcrss that leads to this..

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4552962/

 

[Scott]

When you state the testing comes back negative, are you also referring to a sampling from his infection on the neck? Assume the vets have tested the infected area?

 

[Owlet]

When you state the testing comes back negative, are you also referring to a sampling from his infection on the neck? Assume the vets have tested the infected area?

The test was for bacteria/fungas was a crop swab as well as a fecal test (took samples twice a day for a week if I remember correctly) so no it wasn't specifically the skin but at the time he wasn't showing any of the normal behaviors when he does have a bacterial infection there (extensive itching, sparse feathers)

 

[Owlet]

Can you post a picture?
Something there is a foreign body, or an cyst or abcrss that leads to this..

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4552962/

I cant visibly see anything but ad I said he's pretty touch phobic so I wouldn't be able to feel.

 

[noodles123]

How did you verify it was a bacterial infection? Could it be something like eczema or an allergy- or that he is picking at an area due to humidity or hormones?

 

[Owlet]

How did you verify it was a bacterial infection? Could it be something like eczema or an allergy- or that he is picking at an area due to humidity or hormones?

when he starts to show itching I take him in and they do a culture which shows an excess amount if bacteria and they put him on some antibiotics and he's not itching anymore by the end of the course.

 

[noodles123]

could it be something resistant to whatever they are using to medicate him? Or something odd like an STD that has flare-ups? Still thinking allergies of some sort..

Honestly--my thought is that something seasonal irritates him, and then his itching introduces bacteria. i am not convinced that he is itching because of bacteria---rather, bacterial because of itching.

 

[Owlet]

could it be something resistant to whatever they are using to medicate him? Or something odd like an STD that has flare-ups? Still thinking allergies of some sort..

Honestly--my thought is that something seasonal irritates him, and then his itching introduces bacteria. i am not convinced that he is itching because of bacteria---rather, bacterial because of itching.

It's possible. I'll have to see the dates of the other flare ups to see if there's any consistency but if my memory serves the other times were later in the year more around August. I'm not entirely sure what the allergy could be. Is that something my vet could help me with, determining a possible allergy or is that something ilk have to do on my own via documenting when the itching happens and what he's eating at that time?

 

[noodles123]

It just depends-- It would be a bit of both (including knowing the plants around your home, humidity,etc). I would suggest monitoring humility if you don't already (and keeping it closer to whatever it was before)...And then knowing that a hormonal bird may be more prone to pluck (depending on mating season---e.g., introducing bacteria etc).
I really would suggest a solid (true hepa filter) with decent micron/VOC filtration and with a non-ionize/ no ozone producing feature (you should leave them OFF if they can be turned off---it's no good for birds)--but if it is in the air (pollen or dust) it should catch a lot of it, so long as it is a decent filter/purifier.

 

[Owlet]

It just depends-- It would be a bit of both (including knowing the plants around your home, humidity,etc). I would suggest monitoring humility if you don't already (and keeping it closer to whatever it was before)...And then knowing that a hormonal bird may be more prone to pluck (depending on mating season---e.g., introducing bacteria etc).
I really would suggest a solid (true hepa filter) with decent micron/VOC filtration and with a non-ionize/ no ozone producing feature (you should leave them OFF if they can be turned off---it's no good for birds)--but if it is in the air (pollen or dust) it should catch a lot of it, so long as it is a decent filter/purifier.

I do have a air purifier but I think I need to get new filters for it as it's been a hot second since I did. I live in Colorado so the general humidity is pretty low but he's been getting regular showers and my house does have a built in humidity system, I will have to ask my parents what it's set to or get something to read the humidity. However I myself have felt very dried out lately so maybe he's feeling a bit of the same.
We have no (real) house plants.

 

[SailBoat]

Thinking way out of the box here...

With a built in humidity system as part of your heating /cooling system, they require at a minimum of a seasonal change or deep clean of their filter /transfer surface. This surfaces can easily support bacterial blooms and mold blooms.

If you are not comfortable with a DYI project, you can schedule this as part of your heating /cooling system's yearly or semi yearly check-up.

Hormonal Season can include some feather plucking and as stated above, the neck could be an access point.

 

[SailBoat]

Hmmm, an other source is the water dishes...

They are commonly heavy breeding grounds for bacterial and can be demanding items to keep spotlessly clean. We rotate ours running them in the very hot water temperature and high drying temperature of the dish washer.

 

[Owlet]

Thinking way out of the box here...

With a built in humidity system as part of your heating /cooling system, they require at a minimum of a seasonal change or deep clean of their filter /transfer surface. This surfaces can easily support bacterial blooms and mold blooms.

If you are not comfortable with a DYI project, you can schedule this as part of your heating /cooling system's yearly or semi yearly check-up.

Hormonal Season can include some feather plucking and as stated above, the neck could be an access point.

I'll ask my dad about cleaning them and when they were last cleaned and how to go about doing it myself.

 

[Owlet]

Hmmm, an other source is the water dishes...

They are commonly heavy breeding grounds for bacterial and can be demanding items to keep spotlessly clean. We rotate ours running them in the very hot water temperature and high drying temperature of the dish washer.

water dishes are dumped and scrubbed with hot water and soap every morning. Hmm I can try running them through the dish washer but I don't have a spare bowl for Apollo, I will need to figure that out.

 

[SailBoat]

Hmmm, an other source is the water dishes...

They are commonly heavy breeding grounds for bacterial and can be demanding items to keep spotlessly clean. We rotate ours running them in the very hot water temperature and high drying temperature of the dish washer.

water dishes are dumped and scrubbed with hot water and soap every morning. Hmm I can try running them through the dish washer but I don't have a spare bowl for Apollo, I will need to figure that out.

Once you Parrot is sleeping, try washing them at that time. Common dish washer run time is inside of two hours.