Leg plucking issue solved

Hi Guys,

For a while now bandit has been plucking her legs, and we tried severel types of medicine, and occupational therapies to get her to stop doing it.

A blood test revealed that it is in fact her liver that is infected. It causes her lower body to become very itchy at times which is why she's at it as much as she is.

The liver infection itself is caused by a very poor diet she had with her last owner (sunflower seed only).

Monday the 3rd she has to go in to the vet's where she will be treated with anti-biotics to fight the infection, and she will be kept overnight to fit a medical collar to help her stop the habbit of biting and plucking at her legs.
I'm allready dreading to leave her as she has been left so many times by previous owners, but luckily she gets to come back hom the next day. And after taking care of the overgrown beak and nails, behavioral issues, lack of calcium, malnutrition - her liver is hopefully the last thing on the list and she will finally be a happy healthy minnie macaw.

Glad the issue was figured out and she's on her way to better health!

Since she has an infection, is there milk thistle being supplements to help support her liver functions?

That's awesome you found out why she was doing that

My galah plucks her legs, and under her wings & back. I was secretly hoping I'd find some break through info on this thread lol.

Copperarabian said:

My galah plucks her legs, and under her wings & back. I was secretly hoping I'd find some break through info on this thread lol.

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Oh i'd deffinately recommend having her checked for any intestine issues, liver kidneys etc, it might well be there. Apparently older birds are especially susceptable to it (your rosie is 20+?)
And once that's treated it will probably be easier to get the plucking habbit under control. if the itching is less, they will be less likely to be at it. I tried some soothing sprays as well but bandit hates them. and i'm glad we found the route cause anyway.
The vet explained to me that "stress plucking" is generally at the chest or wherever is closest for them to reach, when legs are involved it's very likely to be a liver or kidney related issue.

MonicaMc said:

Since she has an infection, is there milk thistle being supplements to help support her liver functions?

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Thanks Monica! i'm not quite sure yet, i only got the test results back over teh phone, she was tested for kidney and liver issues (kidneys are fine) and booked in teh appointment for monday so i'll get the full briefing on meds etc. for now i'm just not feeding her any treats or anything i know is fatty or heavy on her liver.
is thistle a comon used herb to treat liver related issues? maybe it's a supplement i can use every now and again when she comes off the anti biotics?

It's an herbal treatment, and one that is even recommended by non-herbal vets. It's just that good. It can be purchased through your a-vet or OTC. If you do get it, you want the non-alcoholic version, and it can be given straight into the mouth (most effective) or via the water by adding 1 drop per Oz and changing it twice a day. I've seen amazing results using it on my own birds, even without liver problems.

I don't know how available it may be in Ireland, but it comes in liquid and powder form. I haven't used the powder form so I don't know how effective it is. I would suggest to make sure you speak to your a-vet about it and do some research!

Rana said:

Copperarabian said:

My galah plucks her legs, and under her wings & back. I was secretly hoping I'd find some break through info on this thread lol.

Click to expand...

Oh i'd deffinately recommend having her checked for any intestine issues, liver kidneys etc, it might well be there. Apparently older birds are especially susceptable to it (your rosie is 20+?)
And once that's treated it will probably be easier to get the plucking habbit under control. if the itching is less, they will be less likely to be at it. I tried some soothing sprays as well but bandit hates them. and i'm glad we found the route cause anyway.
The vet explained to me that "stress plucking" is generally at the chest or wherever is closest for them to reach, when legs are involved it's very likely to be a liver or kidney related issue.

Click to expand...

She's been checked out already and her organs are all 100%. She'd been neglected and abused then lived with my friends who couldn't give her much physical attention, no toys and was on a staple of sun flower seeds. She plucks less, when she's not molting it's easier because she only plucks blood feathers.

yea it becomes a habbit for them alright, like a human biting nails... I get what you mean... Bandit was the same, badly neglected and no interaction at all untill she came to us... once she did start trusting us though, it was sooo rewarding... I'm sure you had the same with Rosie