Test Results and Beak/Feather Disease

[BarkleyLoves]

I should preface this by saying I did volunteer at a bird sanctuary a few months ago, just once. I came home and changed clothes, left the shoes outside the door and took a shower.

I noticed this week that poor Barkley (Eclectus) has missing feathers at the base of his neck. So I took him to the vet today. She said he had feathers growing back unusually and would test for Beak and feather disease. She also said it could be his hormones and plucking from sexual frustration. He has been more amorous than usual (he usually does these things with my mom but now he's moved on to me too). She gave him a shot to shut his hormones down to see if that helps and the feathers start growing back.

Now I'm stuck here fretting and worrying my bird has a fatal disease...and it was probably something I or my dad did to give it to him since Barkley hasn't been out of our house since we moved in 6 years ago except for routine veterinary visits.

All I can think about is that if he does have it, it's my darn fault. Has anyone had a bird with this disease? I'm not sure what I should be looking for other than that his feathers seem to be growing back funny (what the vet said). He's eating and playing normally. In fact he has an insatiable appetite at times. (He's on "the high side of normal" according to the vet, 384g). Also, when I first noticed the feather loss at the beginning of this week, I was touching the area to see what was going on and noticed his feathers were sticky?

I don't know how to post pictures. I'm really worried. I'm hoping it's just feather plucking gone wrong from sexual frustration or stress, which are things that can be fixed. Could I really have gotten my bird sick? I didn't handle him at all the day I came back or even the next day.

This is going to be the longest 7-10 days of my life waiting on the blood test.

 

[weco]

I'm sorry you are in this situation, but without having set up your own environmental security area, you did what you should have.....

PBFD can lay dormant for long periods and then become active for some unknown reason, Barkley may well have come to you with the infection in a dormant state.....beating yourself up for something that cannot be proven is not going to help anyone.....

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I hope very thing turns out ok, it's so scary waiting for test results. I hope he ends up being fine

 

[Pajarita]

Don't drive yourself crazy thinking all kinds of bad scenarios. I know it's easier said than done but do try.

As to the shot he got, it must be Lupron and I think you should have done more research instead of taking the vet's word for its efficacy because there is a lot of controversy about it.

 

[MikeyTN]

Just like its been mentioned don't over think cause you would drive yourself crazy thinking of all kinds of stuff. A few members on here before had birds with PBFD but haven't seen them around lately. It progresses quickly once it starts until your bird is practically naked. But don't worry about that until you get the results back.

 

[BarkleyLoves]

Thank you. I'm just hoping for the best. I looked at his feathers and some of them looked overpreened. I'm not a vet so I don't really know what she saw.

As to the Lupron, I didn't know much about it. Pajarita, I thought it was safe...what is the controversy about Lupron?

 

[brianlinkles]

Barkleyloves, try and relax. First off your bird could have come to you with as Mikey said a disease that lays dormant. Borna virus (which affects about 20% of all birds) Is often the virus that birds that have pbfd have. It doesn't mean that all borna virus positive birds will develop pbfd but I believe if I am correct all pbfd birds test positive for borna. Ok after that long explanation, borna can be transmitted from the hen through the egg to the baby and lay dormant for many years. Many people if not most don't even know their birds have it until they develop symptoms. If you used precaution then you did everything you were supposed to do. In fact most people don't even do what you did after attending bird fairs. I attend often since I sell my shirts, jewelry etc. there. I also change clothes etc. before going near my birds. Please don't beat your self up over this, as far as the Lupron I wouldn't worry about this either. You can find negative info on just about anything. If you went to a reputable avian vet then I would work with them on your birds issues. I love forums but there are times where there is so many different opinions that it gets overwhelming. I would feel good that you were proactive in getting your Barkley to the vet as soon as you noticed a change. Keep us posted!