- Jan 19, 2014
- 14,247
- 221
- Parrots
- Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Some of you remember that my boy Raven was getting treated for a fungal infection in his air sacs. The treatment involved oral medication over a period of months, and periodic x-rays to show progress. Today it was all clear 
!
A little back info for those who don't know my Raven, he was injured at his breeder's house, I was told it was by his sibling. The breeder took him to the vet, medicated him for a bacterial infection that this caused, and shipped him to me after he seemed fine. His nares and sinus cavity are misshaped from the accident, and cause him problems at times. The operculum (flap of skin right behind the nostril hole that keeps debris out), is damaged and missing in Raven's right nostril, and pushed back on the left side as well. This makes it easier for Raven to pick up bacteria and fungal spores (which are actually everywhere in the air). He actually only had a mild infection which the vet suspected was there for some time, while his immune system kept it from getting 'bad'. He is on a good diet and is otherwise healthy. BUT.... The vet tells me that since fungal spores are present in the air 'everywhere', that means that fungal infections are always "secondary".
Secondary to what? One 'abnormal' thing he saw on the periodic x-rays over the course of several months, was that Raven has enlarged testicles. Go ahead and laugh, but they're of course on the inside of the body. So you're wondering what a secondary fungal infection has to do with testicles? I was wondering too! My vet gave an interesting explanation. Apparently, the long term enlargement of the organs means that they are working excessively, and overtime. RAGING HORMONES!! The constant stress of being extremely sexually frustrated long term (on top of his damaged nares) could have been a factor in the infection. Raven is 2, not old enough to reproduce, but he said he is definitely old enough to have these hormonal issues. Apparently too, from what I read and hear, Pionus go through puberty earlier than most other parrots of their size.
Now looking at it this way, sure enough, Raven has been flaring up with his territorial threat posture and trying to bite me often times when I'm near his cage (for many months now), he tries to mate with Griffin, his smaller male friend of a different species (I guess it's not quite so funny anymore after hearing this from the vet), and feeds Griffin like a mate.
So, he advises trying Lupron to calm those hormones. I've never heard of it being used for males, but apparently so. I'm taking some time to think about it. As far as the stimulus goes, there is no way at this time to move Raven or Griffin. Besides, if there was, how sad since they are bonded. I had so much info to take in, I forgot to ask whether Lupron would still be effective without removing the stimulus.
The vet said again (he told me before) that out of the Pionus group, he doesn't recommend Bronze Winged as pets because the species typically gets so extremely hormonal, as they are "highly sex motivated" he said! Poor Raven.
! A little back info for those who don't know my Raven
, he was injured at his breeder's house, I was told it was by his sibling. The breeder took him to the vet, medicated him for a bacterial infection that this caused, and shipped him to me after he seemed fine. His nares and sinus cavity are misshaped from the accident, and cause him problems at times. The operculum (flap of skin right behind the nostril hole that keeps debris out), is damaged and missing in Raven's right nostril, and pushed back on the left side as well. This makes it easier for Raven to pick up bacteria and fungal spores (which are actually everywhere in the air). He actually only had a mild infection which the vet suspected was there for some time, while his immune system kept it from getting 'bad'. He is on a good diet and is otherwise healthy. BUT.... The vet tells me that since fungal spores are present in the air 'everywhere', that means that fungal infections are always "secondary". Secondary to what? One 'abnormal' thing he saw on the periodic x-rays over the course of several months, was that Raven has enlarged testicles. Go ahead and laugh, but they're of course on the inside of the body. So you're wondering what a secondary fungal infection has to do with testicles? I was wondering too! My vet gave an interesting explanation. Apparently, the long term enlargement of the organs means that they are working excessively, and overtime. RAGING HORMONES!! The constant stress of being extremely sexually frustrated long term (on top of his damaged nares) could have been a factor in the infection. Raven is 2, not old enough to reproduce, but he said he is definitely old enough to have these hormonal issues. Apparently too, from what I read and hear, Pionus go through puberty earlier than most other parrots of their size.
Now looking at it this way, sure enough, Raven has been flaring up with his territorial threat posture and trying to bite me often times when I'm near his cage (for many months now), he tries to mate with Griffin, his smaller male friend of a different species (I guess it's not quite so funny anymore after hearing this from the vet), and feeds Griffin like a mate.
So, he advises trying Lupron to calm those hormones. I've never heard of it being used for males, but apparently so. I'm taking some time to think about it. As far as the stimulus goes, there is no way at this time to move Raven or Griffin. Besides, if there was, how sad since they are bonded. I had so much info to take in, I forgot to ask whether Lupron would still be effective without removing the stimulus.
The vet said again (he told me before) that out of the Pionus group, he doesn't recommend Bronze Winged as pets because the species typically gets so extremely hormonal, as they are "highly sex motivated" he said!
Poor Raven.
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