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Post by julianna on Dec 6, 2017 13:47:47 GMT -5
As you can see above Oscar is over preening himself under his left wing. I sent this image to the avian vet and she said it could be a variety of things but suggested that I give him a bath daily to encourage proper preening. He eats well, sleeps well, poop is good... I was hoping to get advice so that I could put something under his wing like a cream or vasoline. Anyone on here have any suggestions?
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Post by easttex on Dec 6, 2017 16:25:54 GMT -5
I wouldn't put anything on there that you don't want him ingesting.  You could try aloe vera, but watch the ingredients. The gel versions have something added as a thickening agent, and it might be perfectly safe, but I just don't know. |
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 6, 2017 21:11:47 GMT -5
Maybe try some pure aloe juice in Oscar's bath water (1 part aloe to 4 parts water, or even more diluted to start).
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Post by julianna on Dec 31, 2017 15:43:56 GMT -5
Well.... Oscars' wing problem is now worse. His little bald spots are totally bald and yesterday when I checked under his left wing there was fresh blood. Man... that made me so scared. Yesterday being Saturday... no vets are available and none until Tuesday because of the holiday.
I watched him closely all day and he acted completely normal.. eat, sleeping... driving me crazy.. lol.
Tuesday morning I will phone the vet asap and try to get in on her first day back to work which will be the following Thursday. I don't care if it costs me double... she needs to see him and help me out. Personally I think something is really irritating him under his wings. Have no idea what it could be as nothing has changed here except it is winter time.
So hopefully I will be on my way to the Vet soon... 3.5 hours to drive but I might stay over night if the vet wants to see him in the morning.
Wish me luck.
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Post by Rambosmother on Dec 31, 2017 20:02:31 GMT -5
My bird had the same issue. Eventually he had bald spots under both wings in same spot as yours. I purchased AviVera soothing aloe spray for birds. It is from avitec bird supplies. My bird was healed. I call it the miracle spray. It saved me hundreds in vet bill.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 31, 2017 22:11:23 GMT -5
Sorry that Oscar's problem has worsened. Hope that the vet visit will get it taken care of for you.
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Post by biteybird on Jan 1, 2018 1:44:50 GMT -5
Oh, no!
Maybe try what easttex, cnyguy & rambosmother suggested (aloe vera)? ...although you probably already have.
Hmm, the Vet is probably the go.
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Post by Caseysmom on Jan 1, 2018 21:24:07 GMT -5
Good luck! It has been so cold our houses are probably very dry, my hands are getting sore already from winter.. I keep putting on lotion. The aloe is a good idea if it helps moisturize.
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Post by thorolf on Jan 2, 2018 20:54:13 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about Oscars troubles. Definitely give the "Vetman" another try .Meanwhile I have a couple of ideas that might be worth exploring.
Bearing in mind that sometimes the ailment is simply never diagnosed, have you tried medicated chick starter? you can find it in any farm supplies store where is bought to give a helping hand to hatchling chickens.it is mild enough to be safe for any bird, and Oscar cannot overdose on the medication simply because he cannot eat enough of it to overdose! Most farmers give it to all their birds, and it can help with many problems. I would think that it could not hurt, and you could ask the Vet about it when you call if you are uncertain.
Also have you considered that this might be "feather plucking?" This strange condition often hits all kinds of parrots, and is not caused by any sort of disease. Many times the cause is never discovered, but it has been found that some birds will pluck themselves if they get stressed out. Are things stressful in your home? Arguments, sickness in the family, loud noises , etc. ? Maybe Oscar just is getting upset, so perhaps soothing music might help. Or perhaps he is feeling neglected and is plucking himself when he cannot be with you, which would explain why you don't see him plucking himself. Spending more time with him might help. You could even try playing games with him or singing to him.
Well I hope that Oscar feels better soon, and if anything I have suggested is of help then I was pleased to be of service .
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Post by thorolf on Jan 2, 2018 20:57:24 GMT -5
OOPS ! Sorry about that. I forgot to tell you that the medicated chick starter is a complete food already prepared, so there is nothing to mix, add or prepare. You just add the little crumbles to Oscars food. Easiest thing in the world !!...
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Post by julianna on Jan 9, 2018 14:01:05 GMT -5
Well.... I finally made it to the Vet's office and home safe and sound. Thank goodness we had a little break in the weather and the road conditions were tolerable. We drove like the old folks... lol... 5 miles per hour less than the speed limit. But in the north... better to be safe than sorry. We spent the night there so it was not too stressful for us or Oscar.
Oscar travelled quite well. He preferred to sit on top of the cage that is between the driver and me. It was a bit of a bouncy ride but I kept asking him to sit with me and he preferred not. A little shake of the head ... says no thanks.
So... the vet feels that Oscar is in overall good condition. His wing issue is probably because he is trying to build a soft nest in his large cage where he sleeps. I was advised not to remove the feathers as this might get him to pluck more. The blood ... she said... is probably due to him pulling a blood feather but I should not worry about it. She said she has never heard of a bird bleeding to death due to a blood feather being plucked or damaged. If I notice it happens again... to apply pressure and it should all be well.
She told me about various products to purchase to assist with his nest building but for those of you who are familiar with Oscar know... that I do not need anymore of nest building material. I am not sure she understood how obsessed Oscar is with building a nest. This has been going on for years.
I am going to actually cut back on his nesting material. No more tie wraps in his condo (bathroom drawer) and I am not giving him anymore for his large bedroom cage. He can keep what he has but that is it.
All other parts of his body are healthy and in good condition.
The vet took a blood sample to check for a feather disease (I don't remember the name of it) but if the test is positive, there is nothing that they can do and eventually he will go totally bald and be in distress. At the same time, I asked for a DNA test to be done. I am pretty sure he is male but hey.... only the DNA knows for sure. I believe that by 9 years old he should have laid an egg by now if he was female. But I could be wrong.
So now I wait for a week or so to find out the outcome. Got my fingers crossed...and eyes... and toes... lol. Oh yes... and by the way Oscar has lost about 13 grams... he is now a more healthy 124 Grams.... hoorayyy... but he still looks like a little fatso... lol
I will keep you posted on the outcome.
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Post by cnyguy on Jan 9, 2018 21:25:01 GMT -5
It sounds like Oscar is in pretty good shape overall. Hope the test results turn out well. Scooter the CAG is 13 years old, supposedly DNA tested female (her former owner said she had the DNA certificate when she first got Scooter), and as far as I know, she's never laid any eggs. That's based on second-hand information and I can only state with certainty that she hasn't laid eggs since she's been here.
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Post by biteybird on Jan 9, 2018 22:37:50 GMT -5
I'm glad you got to and from the Vet OK and that Oscar was a good, little fat boy. It'll be interesting to see what the DNA comes back as. Hope the blood test comes back all right. Did the Vet advise putting anything on his feathers while you're waiting for the results? |
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Post by thorolf on Jan 10, 2018 8:59:15 GMT -5
We are glad that Oscar seems to be in no serious trouble. It also sounds as if he does not freak out much when taken to the Vet. Beowulf Hates the "Vetman" with a passion, so visits are usually traumatic! You are lucky!
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Post by PaScuba on Jan 10, 2018 22:29:16 GMT -5
If you want to catch Oscar in the act - putting a camera with time-lapse ability to record all of the behaviors while you are not there.
The aloe vera is good to help the wounds to heal. I just wouldn't use bottled though - If you don't have a plant, I'd get one. Look up what it can do. I just can't drink the stuff. I'v never see the avivera spray, I wonder what is in it besides the aloe.
You could just put a small stem inside the cage and let Oscar comp on it at will. I had an Umbrella Cockatoo that would apply the sap to his foot which had a sore on it from something he did. Nature does seem to know how to deal with these things, after all - birds in the wild don't make visits to the vet. Does Oscar ever get to nibble on/eat dirt and grass from the yard? Every QP I've had loved to go rumage through the grass, eating stuff, including some dirt and very small rocks.
If you haven't added any foot toys recently - you might give one or two. That could occupy "lonely" time.
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You could try aloe vera, but watch the ingredients. The gel versions have something added as a thickening agent, and it might be perfectly safe, but I just don't know.
