Expert: Harvel Scott - 7/20/2009

Question
My cockatiel has this painful red and itchy (rash?) under his wings and on his back.  I say itchy because he often picks at it.  He squeals in pain when he picks at it.  The vet treated him for an intestinal parasite about the time this started but we don't have the money to take him back to the vet for this.  He has a special sun light and takes vitamins.  His diet is mainly cockatiel seeds but we add in Cheerios as a treat. Please help.  If we can't help him,  we must give him away to someone who can afford to help him.  Please......

Answer
well i think the diet you are feeding the bird on is deficient. seed alone wont provide al the vitamins. try buying a mixture that contains seed, grains. dire fruits and vegetable, peppers, banana chips and pellet like kaytee fortee diet or Higgins parrot vita.
As for the rash, did the vet treat for it and was he ok or is he still on treatment?

i think the diagnosis in correct because the symptoms of this illness is itching, excessive feather plucking and also excessive plucking of the skin as to what you bird are experience. now, the cause of this is due to the fact that the bird is consuming contaminated food and water. to prevent this YOU Must clean the food and water dish daily with soap and water and see to it that the bird food and water is always clean. As far as the treatment go, i hope a blood test was done to find out the type of parasite because he must get treatment for it . But if you bird was treated for it before and due poor bird hygiene the parasite has return may be another blood test must be done because it can be another parasite e as each parasite require an specific anti-parasite medicine


Prevention


Intestinal parasite is often prevented by storing the bird food carefully and hygienically. Also, take your bird into the veterinarian regularly for parasite testing and health checkups.