Budgie feather loss

Re: Budgie feather loss

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 22:14:20 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]What? No! Exotics are always cared for under absolutely perfect conditions based precisely on the conditions to which their wild counterparts have evolved to live in.[/quote]

Oh, right, sorry, don't know what came over me!

Niall

[/quote]

It's a common mistake, you never see African Greys ill in Kent because keeping them at room temperature in January is just fine! (Ok, I'll stop flogging the dead horse now!)

Re: Budgie feather loss

Niall Taylor — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 21:53:01 GMT

Oh, right, sorry, don't know what came over me!

Niall

Re: Budgie feather loss

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:26:54 GMT

Generalised but especially the wings, thighs and sometimes the back, It isnt known fully what causes the pruritis but certainly should be checked in a budgie or cockatiel with feather or skin lesions especially under the wings. I have diagnosed and treated it on several occassions. It is hard to completely eliminate the parasite so relapses can occur.

Re: Budgie feather loss

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:43:45 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

Chcking a feacal for giardia is also a cheap thing to do. Giardia is quite common in budgies and a known cause of feather picking.

[/quote] I'm familiar with all Maria suggested Mark but this is a new one for me. Are you talking about feather picking just around the vent because of diarrhoea or generalised?

Re: Budgie feather loss

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:07:39 GMT

Chcking a feacal for giardia is also a cheap thing to do. Giardia is quite common in budgies and a known cause of feather picking.

Re: Budgie feather loss

Marie Kubiak — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:01:35 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

.. and then address the management issues which are always present

Niall

[/quote]

What? No! Exotics are always cared for under absolutely perfect conditions based precisely on the conditions to which their wild counterparts have evolved to live in. I only spend 90% of my time explaining to owners exactly how they have broken their animals in a hundred different ways to improve my own self-worth

Re: Budgie feather loss

Niall Taylor — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:55:42 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]Hi,

For feather loss I would be considering viral follicular pathology (Polyoma/PBFD), nutritional deficiency (Iodine, Vit A, energy deficit), hepatopathy and hyperoestrogenism (possible in female laying birds but also males with testicular neoplasms). As Mark has mentioned I would not be concerned about pigment alteration alone given the diet change.

For vocal changes thyroidal hyperplasia (again iodine deficiency) and tracheitis/syringeal aspergilloma would be on the differential list.

Ideally radiographs, biochemistry and blood smear evaluation plus viral PCR of feather plucks would help massively but if finances/owner enthusiasm are finite then viral tests on conscious plucked samples and a diet overhaul (Harrisons plus veg and fruit) and iodine supplementation (3 drops per 100ml drinking water) would be a good start.

Marie[/quote]

...

... and then address the management issues which are always present

Niall

Re: Budgie feather loss

Marie Kubiak — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:16:54 GMT

Hi,

For vocal changes thyroidal hyperplasia (again iodine deficiency) and tracheitis/syringeal aspergilloma would be on the differential list.

Marie

Re: Budgie feather loss

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:31:22 GMT

The dye in the food can change bird color - bit like pink flamingoes. Red and yellow mixed together make....orange? ;)

Re: Budgie feather loss

bob lehner — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:06:47 GMT

Book it in next week for a re-check - but making sure it's on your day off....