Veterinarian OnLine

PANCREATITIS DEFINITION: Non-infectious diseases that results in a chronic pancreatic atrophy. CLINICAL SIGNS: • Progressive weight loss • Increased fecal volume (Diarrhea) • Altered coloration of feces • Regurgitation Acute general illness, diarrhea, regurgitation or sudden may be observed in acute pancreatitis causes. POTENTIAL CAUSES: • Causes of these pancreatic lesions are poorly understood but up to now the excess of fat and calories in the diet are the most common explanation. TREATMENT: • Change from a seed diet to one much lower in fat. • Supportive care through reduction of dietary fat intake an addition of pancreatic enzymes to the soft food. FREUD Hello!!, Everybody call’s me Freud, I do not why ??, maybe I am crazy, or it may be I go for genius. I am an African parrot, a Grey, one of the of Red tailed, of course !, If I have been a Timneh Grey, You know the brown tailed one’s, I don't think I ended up in this situation. I will explain you my history, you will see: I arrived two months ago with my companions in an expedition from my first house to Spain. My new home was going to be called “Cokotua”, very pretty for sure!, but what I did not know is that once there, they were going to put me in a center that they call quarantine, where I would have to support a long wait together with all my companions before I could enjoy the marvels of the environment that I had been able to see for a second on my arrival. This waiting was unbearable for me!!!, days and days without I could go out, honestly, I was so bored !!! So, I decided to begin to entertain me, and the best idea I had, was to start feather picking, It don’t hurt, you know!!! For passing the time it’s perfect. I started whit my tail “so beautiful red“ it was the more attractive part that I had, ”good it disappeared“ and then… next, what about my wings?, they were very accessible, not so pretty as my great red tail, but I didn't have to turn my head so much! In a question of few days I already seemed a little monster . Fast, my owners realized that something was going wrong with me, they decided to adopt me for a while, and moved me,” only me “ to live with them in their home. Now I am very happy, they have television, You know??, ”I don't miss one program“, a lot of child, with a lot of noise ,(I don't succeed in understanding them!), and thousand of other attentions and details towards me. No more time to be bored, therefore: I have decided to stop the feather picking and I’ve began to take notes in order to try to understand the humans behavior. If you think about, they are really strange, but I believe they deserve all my attention. If after reading my history you still have a bit of time left, have a look at what serious human “birds” say’s about my problem:	Association of Avians Veterinarians
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FEATHER PICKING

• DESCRIPTION:

A self-mutilation when a bird damages its feathers or skin .

• CAUSES:

Up to now there is no clear accepted concept about the reason why it happen.

Different theories conclude in the following causes:

- Malnutrition.
- Lacking in ultraviolet radiations
- Nervous Disorders
- Toxins
- Lack of sleep
- Boredom
- Stress factors
- Reproductive frustration
- Solitude
- Parasites
- Undesired contact with strangers

• TREATMENT

An universal cure doesn't exist.
The solution to the problem begins whit a physical examination by Your Vet complete blood count, cytology, skin lesion culture etc. A adapted treatment can follow according to the case.
A diagnosis of psychologically self-mutilation have to be stopped with behavior modifications, if not drugs may be necessary.

• RECOMMENDATIONS:

When we are confronted with a feather picking parrot :

1. History:

How long is our parrot in this situation?
Recent changes in his surroundings have existed that could they affect him?
Change in his diet?

2. Physical Exam: to carry out for Your Veterinarian.

3. List causes, form mayor to minor.

4. Set –up a plan of action in accordance with You Pet.

5. Pursuit of the established plan, analyzing the outputs carefully and establishing corrective actions in function of the observed deviations.

6. IMPORTANT: To face the problem you have to be aware it is not an easy fight and perseverance is a very important weapon to succeed.