Self Mutilation in Conures?

[Glory563]

Hello, I have a 1 1/2 yr old fancy Green Cheek, he has recently started self mutilating his right leg. I've not seen any cases of this in conures before, most cases seem to be with African greys or cockatoos. My little Gino was a happy healthy bird with a large cage, plenty of toys, varied diet, talkative, friendly little bird, and now he seems to be trying to chew off his leg. The wound is very bad looking and we have put a cone on him and moved him into a hospital tank, so he cant climb around and injure himself more. any suggestions?

 

[Kalidasa]

So sorry to hear that! The poor little guy. Is he banded?

 

[Glory563]

Yes, but he is not bothering the banded leg, its the other leg, on the upper leg and under his wing. He also pulled all the feathers from his leg, all the way up under his wing. I had him in the collar/cone for about 3 days and every time i attempt to take it off he rips the wound open again. Yesterday he managed to get the cone off himself and had it opened up even more when I got home from work.

 

[angiern]

Has he seen a vet?

 

[Glory563]

Yes we had him to a vet.....he was on anti-biotics and pain meds for awhile, I was not overly impressed with what the vet had to say, and she did not seem to know much about conures, and she charged me a ridiculous amount of money and she confessed that she did not even look at the wound on his leg. (It was the emergency kind of vet that takes your animals away at the door) No other vet in my area will see birds, so I really want to avoid going back to that lady, not opposed to getting him more care, just not sure if we are in need of the vet just yet.

 

[BoomBoom]

Did your conure experience any major changes lately? Diet, new family member, pet, cage location, absence of a family member?

To me it sounds like he is irritated of itchy. It could be dry skin, a reaction to food, mites or maybe even something on a bacterial level? Do you notice him itching himself on that area or any other part of his body? If he shows itchyness, woukd you consider a natural aloe Vera spray?

Try the process of elimination and at least narrow down on possible reasons. A second opinion from a qualified avian vet might be needed sooner rather than later in my opinion. You might even want to yelp a review of the other doctor for the benefit of future birdie patients. Time and money is a factor here and you just lost a chunk of both to a vet who could not deliver.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

I recommend going to another Avian Vet ASAP! If you were going to see a doctor for yourself and did not like the doctor would you continue to see him if you had another option? The same goes for our birds. Please see another Avian Vet!

 

[94lt1]

This is tough...it sounds like my situation when we first moved here....no real avian vets ..at least with a practice open to the public.


I had to network to find my now usual vet...who is an avian vet and even has birds....a big plus....

Vs the vets down here who "can see birds". But aren't avian vets....we had a vet give us emavectin for a parakeet...that's for mammals only from whit I've been told.....

Your doing all you can, but remember your bird is counting on you...

 

[MonicaMc]

The term "fancy" is not a mutation, but a lazy way of saying the bird isn't a normal color.

I agree though, you need a second opinion.

Have you tried these places?
The Association of Avian Veterinarians | Association
Find an Avian Vet | Lafeber Cares - Pet Bird FoodLafeber Cares ? Pet Bird Food
Bird Vet - Veterinarian Hospitals and Clinics for Aviary Bird Medicine
ABVP ? American Board of Veterinary Practitioners / Birdsnways - Board Certified Avian Veterinarians

 

[Kalidasa]

That stupid vet sounds like a real piece of work. How awful, I hope your able to find the help you need! I hope he recovers on his own, but any open wounds as we all know are very dangerous to parrots, and can end up quickly as a fatality. I'm not trying to scare you, but this is something to get on top of.

 

[weco]

Where do you get your water from ? ? ? City water, spring water, well water?

We have recently been discussing giardia infestation and self-mutilation is a symptom of the disease.....there has not been anything in the local media about giardia has there ? ? ?

You need to keep the cone on your bird or you might be taking it in for an amputation...and...still not have found a solution for the mutilation.....if it is in fact giardia, it is a parasite often ingested from contaminated water...one test may not show the disease...tests are run on the bird's feces and the disease does not always shed in every presentation a bird makes...so...your vet may well have to take 1-3 or even more samples before it is pinned down.....

You need to ask your vet if they are familiar with both the testing and dealing with giardia in birds.....if it is found to be giardia and the ER vet did not check for it, I would ask for my $$$ back.....even to ask which TV station they prefer investigating their practice.....

With giardia, a bird may start itching in a particular area and/or feel like something is crawling under their skin...which it may well be.....

Even going to a different vet may be necessary, but you really want to know...BEFORE...you take your bird there, if the vet has experience testing for, dealing with & treating giardia.....if they do not, you really don't want them learning on your bird & your $$$.....

If there is no vet in your area with experience, call the U of Penn. Vet. Med, School Clinic & ask them for their advice: 215.746.8387 between 8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

They may even know of vets in your area who might treat a bird via telephone consultation with the school.....

Good luck.....