Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 5/16/2008

Question
my keet has swollen feet or foot and seem to be kind of whitish he seems to be ok but i know he's uncomfortable,I've been treating him with mite medicine called scalex and bathing him i have 4 keets he's the only one that has this.  he is separated from the other's but is pretty lonely without them..am i doing everything i can for him, i even put neosporin on his legs at first and it seem to do better than the scalex.

Answer
Hi, Priscilla,

For some reason, the person you sent your original request to could not answer.  I picked your question up in the question pool.

Your action depends on what's wrong with the bird's feet.  I can't determine this over a website with the information you've provided.  You should probably take your bird to a certified avian veterinarian in order to determine what is going on with this bird.  If your bird doesn't have mites, which most parrots don't get unless exposed to the outside, the scalex won't do any good.  Neosporin also isn't good because the bird may peck at its feet and get the neosporin in its mouth.  Neosporin is for bacterial infections and if the bird doesn't have a bacterial infection, it also won't be beneficial.  Keets can get scaly face mites, which look like warts on the skin of the bird....you can look this condition up on the internet.  Your bird may have a leg/foot injury(ies) which may required bird vet intervention.  I recommend you at least call a bird vet.

Chrys