Feathers Bird Clinic Question of the Day

Question:
What treatments are available for a feather picking umbrella cockatoo? The bird has been vet checked. I've tried about everything, except a collar, which I wouldn't do unless the bird was mutilating. Bach flower essences and aloe vera did not help.

Dr. Karen Becker's Answer:
Unfortunately, feather picking is one of the most frustrating syndromes for avian veterinarians and owners alike. You mentioned your bird was "vet checked", which is important. There are a variety of reasons birds feather pick and we can't always assume it's behavioral in origin. It's important you know your bird is free from diseases, including PBFD (psittacine beak and feather disease) and Chlamydia (psittacosis). It's also important your veterinarian does bloodwork to make sure internal organ funciton is normal. A Giardia parasite test should also be a part of the work-up. After this comprehensive vet check your veterinarian may conclude the picking is more of an emotional issue, which means there are no physical abnormalities causing the behavior
At this point it's important to evaluate the bird's environment and diet. Were there any abnormal circumstances surrounding the start of your bird's picking? A family member leaving for college, a divorce or death of another bird? Was the cage moved to a different spot in the home? A new baby? Many people don't realize that birds will pick up on the general stress level in the home. If you are stressed, angry or hostile your bird knows it.
Is the bird eating wholesome, living foods? Are fresh fruits and veggies a daily part of the diet? A pelleted (preferably organic, dye-free) diet is imperative. Is the bird allowed to eat junk food? Dairy and meats? A balanced diet is not only important to maintain normal physical well-being but very important when the body must repair itself or produce new plumage. Consider adding a source of essential fatty acids, such as red palm oil or coconut oil, if the bird has been consuming seeds. Also consider a full spectrum (UV) light.
Once the diet and environment has been evaluated (and all controllable factors corrected), it's time to consider all the treatment options. Traditionally, avian vets have used human psychotropic drugs, tricyclic anti-depressants, antihistamines or hormones to help alleviate the urge to chew. Depending on the reason and severity of the case these medications may be minimally to significantly effective. Downsides include drowsiness and lethargy as well as potential internal organ changes, including liver and kidney enzyme elevations. Sometimes owners don't see any side effects, but also don't see any improvement. Some owners and veterinarians are not willing to use these medications because of the potential side effects.
Some drug-free options we use at Natural Pet Animal Hospital include aquapuncture, herbal therapy, homeopathy and flower essence therapy. Aquapuncture involves injecting tiny blips of vitamin B12 at acupuncture points known to balance emotions and promote a sense of well-being...the Chinese call these "Shen" points. I used this technique on my own Timneh after I rescued her. She required 8 treatments one week apart. That was 4 years ago. She had been pick-free since then...until April 26th! That week she was in the middle of a moult. It must have itched something fierce. I awoke on the 26th to find a cage full of chewed new and covert feathers. I was shocked and quite dismayed. I gave her an aquapuncture treatment that day and included points for itchy skin. She has not picked since...but her tattered appearance is there until the next moult!
We also use calming herbs like St. Johns Wart, L-theanine, Passion Flower, Hops, and Valerian to take the edge off of stressed birds. Dosing is critical...so always consult an avian vet before supplying these herbs to your birds. Homeopathy is a wonderful, natural way of encouraging your bird to become more emotionally balanced. Homeopathic remedies are dispensed based on your bird's unique symptoms, so you need to work with a homeopathic practitioner..
You mentioned you tried Bach flower essences. I have had some good luck using flower essences, but they need to be selected and prepared correctly. Did you work with a Bach flower therapist? I have not heard many success stories about people adding Rescue Remedy to their bird's water and, in turn, improving their bird's feather picking condition. However, I have seen first hand the wonderful effects of accurately assessing a bird's condition according to Edward Bach's methods. Then blending, storing and dispensing essences correctly to achieve the desired effect.
The most difficult question: which therapy will work best in your bird's case? Would a combination of drugs and herbs be most beneficial? These are questions that are best addressed with the help of your vet. The most important thing is to be understanding about your bird's condition. Don't become irritated or upset. After all...our feathered friends never become frustrated with how we look!

Reference: Dr. Karen Becker runs Feathers Bird Clinic within Natural Pet Animal Hospital located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. She also happens to be SNOWBALL's avian veterinarian of several years.

"Rescue Me"

In one year's time, Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service Inc. had adopted out approximately 200 birds. We've had very sweet and tame birds relinquished here, but we've also had some hard luck cases which were here for quite some time before they were considered adoptable. There was a handful whose trust we had to earn and it wasn't easy. But each and every one of those hard luck cases were eventually adopted. And we thank the wonderful people who opened up their hearts and homes to them to continue where we left off.

This video is a tribute to those birds who are now in their wonderful new homes as well as the birds who are still waiting for the 'right family' to come along and love them unconditionally. Sometimes I wonder...did I rescue Snowball or did Snowball rescue me? Maybe it's a little of both.

Irena Schulz
Founder and President of Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service, Incorporated
Author of "Rescue Me"

Animal Planet

Animal Planet will be out to film at Bird Lovers Only Rescue Inc on Thursday, November 15th. We will keep you informed regarding the air date.

Respiratory Emergencies

DYSPNEA

1. Clinical signs: open-mouthed breathing, exaggerated respiratory effort, tail bobbing, change or loss of voice or song, wheezing.
2. Etiology includes the following: Primary respiratory diseases such as bacterial, fungal, parasitic, chlamydial, and mycoplasmal infections; toxins, foreign bodies, trauma, neoplasia; Extrarespiratory diseases such as organomegaly (thyroid, hepatic, renal, gonadal), oral masses, coelomic fluid, cardiovascular disease, neoplasia.
3. Diagnosis includes the following: Thorough history and observation of patient and; Minimum database which includes CBC, Chemistry panel, Radiographs, and Abdominocentesis (if fluid is present)
4. Therapy is based on the diagnosis; it may include oxygen therapy (oxygen case, intubation of air sacs) and fluid and nutritional support.

Reference: "Manual of Avian Medicine" by Glenn H. Olsen and Susan E. Orosz

New Snowball video on uTube

There has been a new video created by DBD International using footage of Snowball and the rescue.

Please check out this video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=sOuwqrt3nEU

Thank you to David Brier, President and Creative Director at DBD International for helping to further our efforts in making the public more aware of rescue birds and the increased need for experienced and educated bird owners to open up their hearts and homes to them.

David Letterman Show

Snowball and Irena will appear on the David Letterman Show on Thursday, November 1st. We are thrilled to have such exposure for our rescue and our efforts. If you enjoy the show, please send a thank you to Mr. Letterman.

A Message From Snowball's Mom

My name is Irena. I am the founder and president of Bird Lovers Only Rescue and, more recently, the new mom to Snowball. Snowball was relinquished to us in August of 2007 along with a CD of the Back Street Boys. His previous owner stood at the foot of the stairs and watched the reaction on our faces as we watched Snowball lift his legs in rhythm to "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and then proceed to slam those little parrot feet down on my arm with enthusiasm to the beat of the music. Snowball's previous owner told us he danced well, but we had no idea we were going to see this type of show. It's too bad we didn't have a video of him dancing on my arm that first day he was here because I know my jaw was dragging on the ground and my eyes were bulging out of my head in awe. It was a good thing I was sitting down.

We decided to place this video on our blog which we had just created. We wanted to provide educational material, interesting articles, and some fun to break up the monotony. Someone had taken the video from our blog and placed it on uTube and from there it spread like a virus to thousands of web sites and reached every internet connected continent on earth. TV and radio media from around the globe emailed and called us. Snowball had become the most popular rescue/sanctuary bird on earth. He was now the spokesbird for parrots around the world.

But there was more to Snowball's story than the natural gift to dance. He was a rescue bird, and not many had heard of a rescue bird before. I know he had at least two owners prior to coming here and he was only 11 years old. He used to belong to his previous owner's daughter, but she moved out for some time and then when she returned he bit her out of resentment for having left him. He had turned on her. In Snowball's eyes, she had been his mate. And his mate left and did not return for quite some time. Imagine your spouse leaving you without warning and then returning a year or two later. Wouldn't you want to swing a frying pan in your spouse's direction as a welcome home? Birds seem to exhibit many of the same emotions that we do...happiness, sadness, fear, resentment, anger, love, and so on. But instead of telling us that they're upset because we ignored them for five minutes, they'll bite to show us their disdain.

Ultimately, humans should never have taken such beautiful, intelligent, and sensitive creatures out of their natural habitat to live out their long lives in captivity. But as my dear friend has so eloquently put it, "You can't put the genie back in the bottle." There are over 400 known rescues and sanctuaries in the United States and they are all either filled to capacity or quickly nearing it.

Idealistically, these birds should be out in their native lands to forage and fly freely. Realistically, they're not. They're here in my home and yours. So then what are we to do with not only the parrots that are in rescues, but those that need to be relinquished due to their outliving the owner or that need to be relinquished due to health issues? We educate those who wish to continue to care for these displaced birds through adoption.

There are some who are strongly opposed to parrot ownership and feel that no one should purchase a parrot. Again, this is idealism versus realism. If someone loves birds and wants one to cherish, what is going to stop them? If your friend who has three children tells you not to have any children because they don't clean their rooms but still expect the keys to the car, are you going to be convinced to not have any if you would love nothing more than to have a child of your own? Human children go through the terrible twos. So do parrots. Human children go through adolescence and their personalities change. So do parrots. Children don't come with instruction manuals and neither do parrots. But that doesn't stop anyone from having either. So, again, education guides those that are less experienced. And for some issues where there aren't any black or white solutions, we offer support much like a group session at a therapist's office full of parents who have thrown their hands up in the air not knowing what to do. Sometimes it helps to know that you're not alone.

Parrots are the most difficult pet to have because they demand so much attention. They are needy and clingy. They are not going to be quiet when you are having a conversation on the phone. They want to join in. They are not going to be quiet while the baby is sleeping, they want to rejoice in being alive through loud and sometimes piercing vocalizations. The larger birds such as cockatoos and macaws are not going to be satisfied with your petting and playing with them after only one short hour. They want you to pet them and play with them from sunrise to sunset.

Yet as demanding, needy, temperamental, and sassy as they can be at times, I couldn't imagine life without them. I have had birds all my 47 years of life and my love and devotion to them only grows stronger.

I thank God for Snowball. Snowball opened the world's eyes to rescues, the plight of the parrot, and the increased need for more education. But most of all, Snowball has brought sunshine and laughter to a world clouded with negative news. Snowball, a dear rescue bird, has danced his way into my heart.

Irena