Mental medicine for feather picking

[samansad]

Hi guys,

 

I brought Alex to vet because he is picking his white feathers under his wings and on his back. The vet gave me mental medicine and he said it will make him be more relax. I am wondering if I should trust this vet or I should use soothing spray instead or maybe I should consider visiting new vet?

The other reason that I am doubting this vet is that he said Alex should be 2 pounds (1,000 grams) while Alex is 1 pounds and 2 ounces (500 grams). He said Alex is under weight, which sounds so weird.

 

Thank you,

[Timbersmom]

If it were me, I'd see another vet. A sedative for plucking is not the route I would go. I would be spraying him with 100% aloe juice.

[SRSeedBurners]

What do you mean by "picking his white feathers"? Does he have bare patches? I'm sitting here right now with Greycie and she's lost probably 4-5 white down feathers just in the process of normal preening. This is an everyday occurrence. During a molt they'll even lose a lot of the regular feathers. I chase her down feathers all over the dang living room daily just cleaning them up - it's very normal.

 

I'm not liking what this vet is recommending but it could clearly be a communications gap between us and what you're describing.

[katana600]

While I am not ready for a jump to a new vet today because I am not sure what he prescribed for Alex and what he is thinking, I have reservations about giving him drugs at this time if that is the case. My vet recommended Rescue Remedy for Miss Gilbert after we had her for a little while and she was chewing her chest feathers out of anxiety. Alex is still very new to your home, it is hard to say if his feather barbering is due to the change or if it was an already established habit. Use your own judgment regarding your instincts with this vet. If there is another avian vet close to your home and you wish for a second opinion, what would it hurt to watch Alex, give him the best foods you can, let him relax a little more in his new home and see the other vet in a few months or sooner if you suspect a problem? Since I am not a vet, and don't know the type of medication prescribed or the reasons behind it, I really can't say too much. Miss Gilbert was in a bad way for the first year in our lives, but with gentle encouragement and a routine she could predict we were able to avoid putting her on any sedatives etc. and our vet never suggested them.

[samansad]

Thank you guys again.

 

Well, he actually has some bare spots under his wings. But I can say Alex is much better compare to the time I got him. Alex did not have any tail feathers on day one, but now they are growing.

So I will give him a few more months to see if he will let his tail feathers grow well or he will chew them again.

 

Thanks you guys for all your help! This forum is really best help for me.

[Dave007]

Hi guys,

 

I brought Alex to vet because he is picking his white feathers under his wings and on his back. The vet gave me mental medicine and he said it will make him be more relax. I am wondering if I should trust this vet or I should use soothing spray instead or maybe I should consider visiting new vet?

The other reason that I am doubting this vet is that he said Alex should be 2 pounds (1,000 grams) while Alex is 1 pounds and 2 ounces (500 grams). He said Alex is under weight, which sounds so weird.

 

Thank you,

 

1000gms???????? Listen, you shouldn't even think about going back to that vet. Greys have weight classifications!!

A grey who's 575 to 611 gms is considered to be the largest size a grey can be. It all has to do with bone/body structure.

A grey who's 465 to 500gms is considered a large sized grey. It all has to do with bone/body structure.

A grey who's 400 to 430 grms is considered an average sized grey. It all has to do with bone/body struccture

A grey who's 410 to 425 gms is considered to be a slightly large averaged sized grey.

A grey who's about 380 gms is considered to be a small sized grey. It all has to do with bone/ body structure

 

I have breeder greys and all between 575 to 606 gms. All the chicks are larged sized greys.

 

Magic medicine??? Listen, the vet is taking drugs and is pretty messed up. There's no mental medicine for molting. I also think you haven't actually seen a bird in full molt. There's hundreds of dead white fluffy feathers in the cage all at the same time. They come from the breast,upper and lower breast areas and under the wings. It's a messy time of the year.

 

Mental medicine????????

You know that I when just about seen or heard everything about greys, someone comes up with insane statements ( your vet)

Edited August 28, 2015 by Dave007

[birdhouse]

It's important to say that we're none of us vets or qualified as professionals. We're basing our *opinions* on your small amount of info & our own personal experiences & views. Since you haven't told us what exactly your vet's rationale was, or what he's given you for medicine, or spray, we're not qualified to weigh in on how good, bad or replaceable your vet is.

 

What I've learned from my own past experience is that it's a very tricky combination of chemicals & medications w/fids. It's really easy to make bad matters worse or more complicated.

 

If Alex shows other symptoms besides plucking, that's one thing. Otherwise, jmho, there's a raft of other options to try first. If Alex were to need something calming, then it seems to me like changing his environment should come first. Some fids like a place to hide & do better if there cage is up against a wall, away from direct sight out any busy window & even partially covered. A little soothing music can be surprisingly effective. And a more pro active solution could include some chamomile buds which seems to have a similar effect to us having a single relaxing glass of wine. You can give buds directly, just in his bowl. They can be used in a tea which you can both let him have the thrill off drinking hot or cold from a cup &/or put into a bottle for a soothing spray.

 

Also, these are a few threads about Elvenking's issues w/Issac. Lots of parronts contributed & covered pretty near everything. So I thought they might make a good crash course.

 

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/sho...ight=elvenking

 

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/sho...ight=elvenking

 

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/sho...ight=elvenking

Edited August 26, 2015 by birdhouse

[judygram]

I think 1000 grams weight for a grey is way too high and giving "mental medicine" which is drugs is highly questionable, if I were you I would find myself a new avian vet.

[BaileysPapa]

Just to throw in my opinion, I agree with my colleagues. We are not vets, and do not have all of your information. But, this vet seems to not really know about Greys. Is he an Avian vet? And even if so, I'd want another opinion.

[murfchck]

Maybe this "vet" stayed at a holiday inn and now thinks he knows everything. No i am not a vet but 1000g? He must be a whack job. My biggest grey is 480g and he is a big boy! Maybe he mistook yours for a macaw? If so run as fast as you can away from this person. My first thought was that he doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. Get some aloe as suggested and give your baby time to find his place and comfort in your home. Unless your bird has a REAL medical issue that only an AVIAN vet can know for sure, trash that crap he gave you. Sorry, i don't think i care to much for the moron you called a vet so please don't take my comments personally, just relax and give your baby time and pure love!

[samansad]

Thank you so much guys. Just for your info I checked Alex prescription and he prescribed "Fluoxetine (Prozac)". I might not be a vet but as a person whose parents are both psychologist I know this medicine effect brains chemical. And I can say something clearly: Alex might be stress because of all his past life, and how he was treated, and rehoming, but I can say Alex is happy boy, and he enjoys playing with all his toys.

I think for now I wanna let Alex enjoy his life, be relax and try to build trust with him. It was actually good for me that I brought him to this vet. Even if this vet didn't know well, I learned so much(mostly from you guys).

Alex is 500 grams that means he is a big boy.

 

Again thank you so much for all your help and always being here to help one another.

 

I know you guys might not be a vet but you know greys better than so many vets out there, since you lived with greys for several years.

[katana600]

You clearly have good instincts and Alex is lucky to be in your care. We have waited a long time while Miss Gilbert overcomes her past and have not medicated her because a little tattering of feathers and nervousness were not urgent enough to medicate her. It is time and trust that is helping her find her way. Of course if you were seeing extreme growling/screaming or severe self mutilation it would be a different matter. The first weeks and months with a rehomed or baby grey even leaves us with great self doubts if we are going to rise to the honor bestowed upon us to live with such a magnificent individual. Alex is studying you to determine if you can be trusted. It is already evident that you have his best interest at heart and will be successful in understanding his needs. Thanks for joining us and adding to the collective knowledge of our forum. Your work with Alex will teach us something too.