upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and I'm wondering if anyone can advise me about a problem with my female cockatiel. We are the second owners and recently got her from an older gentleman that had her for several years. When we got her she had a bald spot on her back under her wings which is visible when she raises her wings.

I took her to the vet. He saw no particular health problem, but went ahead and gave her an antibiotic for 10 days. He thought, as I had suspected, that she was lonely and not getting enough sunlight and attention.

Now we have her in more sunlight and she is not lonely because her cage is next to our male cockatiel's cage. We get her out often. She seems happy, but her feathers are not coming in very quickly. I think she has plucked them out over the years because I was told her back has been like that.

Any suggestions on helping the feathers grow back?

Thank you in advance.

Loli

have you tried putting her in the same cage with the male? She may just be lonely for companionship and cuddling.

I would not put them together until you've had a better chance to rule out illness that might transmit to your other bird. Did the vet do bloodwork? If so, what did it show? An elevated white blood count might mean a systemic infection, which might be why the antibiotic was used. Which antibiotic was it?

Plucking under a wing is one of the patterns of giardia, a parasitic infection VERY common in tiels. An antibiotic would have no effect on giardia. Here's a recent thread in which I posted information on giardia by a nationally known vet:

viewtopic.php?t=24543&highlight=giardia

Often birds pluck long enough to damage the follicles too much for feather regrowth. But please don't assume that's your bird's case too soon. Until you've at least ruled out the most common problems, you don't want to ignore symptoms that might be telling you that this bird has an active illness.

To add to what Paca has stated, giardia also manifests itself with a dirty vent, vent feather plucking, and runny poops, as well as feather picking/plucking around the hocks, and near the shoulders. Giardia can be controlled with medication, but from what I've read, it is extremely hard to actually eliminate, even with drugs. Your vet should have performed a few tests before putting her on an antibiotic. If s(he) did not, you probably need to find an avian vet if yours is not. Your location would help us help you find one.

Feather plucking is also very hard to diagnose, and often times harder to cure, as some birds are just born to pluck, but good hygiene, sunlight and food are essential for a birds feather condition. I'm sorry if this sounds like you don't know anything as you have a 'tiel already. Do not mean for it to be critical sounding, but I do hope you discover the cause and can effect a remedy.

I think I probably told you wrong about the antibiotic, because the vet DID say he checked for parasites and although he didn't find anything he told me to give her this medication for 10 days just to rule out in case there were any. It wasn't my bird at the time, I was birdsitting for this gentleman, and it was a few months back so I don't remember the medication. It was in pill form, I had to dissolve one in a quart of water and then put some of the medicated water for her to drink. If you tell me the same of the medication that a vet might use for parasites, then I might recognize it.

Listen, you are not insulting me, because I'm not necessarily a bird hobbyist and don't know much about the details on medical conditions, etc. I have three dogs, a cat and two children still at home, so I need a little slack cut here for bird details, although we are good pet owners!

We only have one avian vet in our county. He seemed knowledgeable and has been around a while, too.

So, what you are telling me that there is a possibility that this has gone too long for her to have her feathers come back? I see where little feathers are starting to sprout but they don't seem to grow out any farther.

Someone said to put the two birds together. We have done that on a limited basis, and we also let them out in the house at the same time, too. I do think she is thriving from the new attention.

Oh, also, the gentleman that owned her sprayed her I think just about every day and we were wondering if that might have stressed her out trying to dry herself.

I surely appreciate all the advice. It is really nice.

~Loli

Loli wrote:I think I probably told you wrong about the antibiotic, because the vet DID say he checked for parasites and although he didn't find anything he told me to give her this medication for 10 days just to rule out in case there were any. It wasn't my bird at the time, I was birdsitting for this gentleman, and it was a few months back so I don't remember the medication. It was in pill form, I had to dissolve one in a quart of water and then put some of the medicated water for her to drink. If you tell me the same of the medication that a vet might use for parasites, then I might recognize it.

Listen, you are not insulting me... I need a little slack cut here for bird details, although we are good pet owners!

No intention of insulting you, Loli. Just want to answer your questions. Now that the bird is yours, you need to make yourself more familiar with her health history. Simply call the vet's office, explain that you're now the bird's owner, and ask that a copy of the record of the visit be mailed to you. Put it into a file with the bird's name on front and forevermore put all other records of hers in there too.

The link I posted for you earlier explains that giardia is VERY hard to diagnose and might be worth treating even without a diagnosis because it's so common in tiels. The drug Dr Wissman recommends is Roniadizole and it is put into drinking water. Let's hope that's what you've already given this bird, but if you didn't also sterilize her cage and everything she might have pooped on, she might have reinfected herself. Another treatment and careful cleaning might be a good way to solve her plucking problem.

So, what you are telling me that there is a possibility that this has gone too long for her to have her feathers come back? I see where little feathers are starting to sprout but they don't seem to grow out any farther.

If feathers are sprouting, then the follicles obviously are NOT too damaged to regrow. It sounds like giardia to me.

... the gentleman that owned her sprayed her I think just about every day and we were wondering if that might have stressed her out trying to dry herself...

Many birds LOVE being sprayed every day. Some prefer every week. How does this bird respond when you spray her at different intervals? Experiment and let her reaction be your guide. Inside our homes, birds can use as much spraying as they'll tolerate. Just spray her early enough in the day that she has time to fully dry before bedtime. And please do not use the hairdryer on her except possibly in a late-day emergency.

Good luck!

Ditto here Loli. I would venture to guess the vet prescribed some tetracycline, especially if mixed from a pill or tablet in water, then water fed to the bird. Tetracycylne is useless for treating giardia, and is a very old drug. It is useful for some things, but not giardia. May I refer you to a website that has more useful information about cockatiel problems and solutions than many?

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/index.html

Dr. Wissman is well known for her articles, her performance and breeding of many types of birds. She is a board certified avian vet, so we assume she knows what she's talking about. Click on the AVIAN link at the top of the page, and you can select from all the various topics. Be sure to read the section on giardia and feather plucking, as well as any other article that you might feel applies. There is a wealth of info there, and it will give you a good feel for 'tiels health issues, not to mention a lot of good information about birds in general.

There are a couple of other websites containing various topics, but I'd like to think you'd like to digest this first info before launching into other areas.

Sure hope birdy's feathers start growing longer, and she returns to good health.

You folks are really nice and helpful. I'm glad I found this.

~loli

I also will call the avian vet on Monday and get the name of the medication she was on and any other pertinent health information.

Thanks so much again