Re: Red backed shrike skin problem - advice please

Marie Kubiak — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:05:32 GMT

Hi,

the hyperkeratosis seen on this bird may be down to a primary skin complaint (bacterial/fungal dermatitis, nutritional deficiencies, mites less likely in this species), or could be down to self trauma due to a sinusitis as the affected area is consistent with the periorbital sinus. Any signs in other birds? What is the bird fed?

Ideally diagnosis would be based on a skin biopsy and sinus flush - this is not as scary as it sounds!

Iso mask induction, intubation with fine rubber ET tube to protect the airway and ventilate if needed and take a couple of crusts plus a couple of full thickness biopsies to send off. Close with monofilament absorbable sutures. Then for the sinus flush place a 1ml syringe of sterile saline against the nostril on the affected side, gentle push in a few drops and rotate the bird slightly before aspirating the fluid back as it tried to escape. Have a quick look at the fluid for motile flagellates and send some off for culture. It will only take a few minutes to get all your samples and you'll have a much better idea of cause.

If you or the owner aren't keen to pursue this, then perhaps just collect superficial samples of crusts for culture and cytology but this is less likely to give a firm diagnosis as you may just get contaminant growth. Failing that you may have to just try empirical therapy if they won't go ahead with diagnostics. Nystatin doesn't get absorbed from the GIT so won't have reached the affected tissue so you could still have fungal/parasitic/bacterial causes. Antifungals have most potential for side effects so antibiotics and ivermectin would be a starting point but as above, would be better to know exactly what you're treating to be making the best choices,

Marie