Sohie update

[smile_n_cuddle]

Went to the vet. Sophia loves everyone, of course. She jumped from person to person as if to say, "And I like YOU! And I like YOU! And I like YOU!" Then they toweled her and she didn't like anyone anymore. ;)

It sounds like hormones might be her problem. I listed every parrot-mommy sin I've ever committed. ("And once, she got into the soil in the bougainvillea planter... ok it was three times...") The big parrot-mommy sin seems to be tablefood. She's on pellets, but she pretty much eats whatever I'm eating as well. The vet said that when they have access to foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar, mother nature kicks in to say, "Lots of food! Time to breed!"

I asked the vet to go ahead and test for zinc poisoning--she didn't have any of the symptoms, but I'm going to be nervous until I know it's not that. That's another parrot-mommy sin: chains holding her toys. I'm damned, I know it. *sigh*

Sophie's doing better today, in general. I switched her food from color pellets to the organic Zupreem, and she hasn't even batted an eye. I also threw out all the odds and ends that cause her to feel upset (she hates driftwood and the birdfeeder on the patio). Someone suggested cockatoo phobias, and I read last night that insecurity can cause plucking. I'd left them out so she'd get used to them--and she's still petrified after two months. That could definitely be one of the problems. She hasn't been hyper-preening today (day four of daily showers/no sunflower seeds), so that's good.

In a proud parrot-mommy moment, the vet was pleased and impressed I'd brought Soph in. "Plucking?! Where? She has so many feathers!" I showed her the six scabbed feathers and the patches on her legs. She said, "It's so good you brought her. There's a good chance that you can beat it if it's caught early." Oooh! Who's a responsible parrot mommy?? :D

The vet suggested separating Soph and Ath a bit--the sharing the yellow pellets yesterday might have been indicative of hormones. Poor Athie! She follows Soph everywhere...

Anyway, that's my update.

Comments

[jourdannex.livejournal.com]

That was the cutest little story about her bringing Athena the pellets she likes best...really sweet :) So smart.

The vet is right, get it soon enough and you can reverse it. And you watch her and are very observant so it's a good thing.

But here is something I thought of. Sooky (my Goffin) picks one area every year on his chest..it's like it gets a scab on it and he won't leave it alone, any piece of skin that is flakey or sticks out or has a different texture to it, he won't let it be, it's like that is what is driving him crazy..but once is heals, he leaves it alone. And other than that, he is not a plucker at all. The vet thought he had started when I took him in the first time I saw him do it but after it healed..he left it alone. She gave him a pill to stop the itching but I really think that being a Goffin who loves to play with textured toys and the sort that Sophie does...he was just picking at it because it was bugging him...and I wonder if she is doing the same thing.

My Eclectus feather picks and I never once had to say "is she a plucker?" I knew right away when she started this was not normal. It was constant and like a bad habit, like nail biting. But my Goffin's episode was completely different and every time the feathers come in that exact spot on his chest, he goes through a few weeks of picking at it. Once it heals..he never touches it again until next year.

Just thought I would let you know this...Goffins are so detail oriented in their never ending quest to get at something.

[sophiedoph.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm glad you mentioned that. She is texture-oriented (obsessed!)... Different fabrics, different beads, different buttons. It makes sense that the odd texture would be a compulsion to work at it and work at it...

She's so sweet, and is trying so hard not to pick at it. I scold her and put her in her cage when she does, so she tries to do other things, but finally she can't hold back any longer... I just keep trying to distract her.

I think we will be able to get this under control--perhaps it's just a yearly thing, like with your guy. Or it might have been a combo of things. She was a lot better today after no sunflower seeds/daily showers, so that's encouraging.

These little G2s... *sigh* They're so precious though.

[jourdannex.livejournal.com]

I don't know if your vet would consider this, but if it turns out this is what it is...my avian vet put Sooky on atarax (antihistamine) in his water. Maybe there are a lot of drugs like this that would be an option? It was given to make the area less itchy and to relax him so he would not concentrate on it. But it did make him very sleepy. And there was nothing sadder than a sleepy Goffin all day long, I am so used to him being crazy.

But the good part was he was not on it long at all, just a few days until the scab healed over. I stopped it after it sealed over and he left it alone but the days before I took him he would not leave it alone and then it was bleeding and I was a wreck, I know exactly how you are feeling. I just have a suspicion she is not at all plucking but more something like this.

They are precious :) Sophie is just a doll.

[sophiedoph.livejournal.com]

That's a really good idea. Tomorrow when they call me with the zinc test results I'll ask about antihistamines. The vet DID say that Sophie has allergies--she has clear discharge from her nose, but no infection.

You're so right, there's nothing sadder than a sleepy Goffins! Sophia knows I don't like it when she overpreens, and she seems to be trying so, so hard not to. She looks so sad, and then finally gives into the urge to "itch"... It just might be the scabs. That would make sense since all of this started when she got her leg caught and had a little scrape/irritated leg feather.

Thanks so much for your advice! It's nice to know someone else understands--these guys are such wonderful little companions, it's awful when something's not right. Silly little 'toos...