My cockatiel is about 13 years old and has never had any problems other than plucking her feathers from time to time - especially during her egg-laying years. Two weeks ago I noticed a bloody growth about the size of a small grape on her right upper leg. It appears that she was picking at it as her beak is stained and her perch has blood stains. I live in a small town and called our local vet who does not treat birds. He said to get listerine and put it in a spray bottle and spray the leg every couple of hours. She has perked up and the leg looks a little better but not really.
Can anyone suggest what may be wrong with my cockatiel? I'd really like to make sure she's being taken care of.
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
I think you're gonna need a taxidermist soon.
I race homing pigeons and there is a Bird vet in Oklahoma we use when we have problems. His name is David Marx he is a real good pigeon vet and I'm sure he is good on all birds. He charges $12.00 for the first 5 minutes then $3.00 a minute after that must have a visa or mastercard. maybe he can help. I also have a cockatiel but havn't had any problems so far.His no. is 1-405-321-1659. hope this helps you.
Joe
I agree.
It sounds like your bird has a feather cyst or a skin tumor.
If it's a feather cyst, give the bird a cockatiel dose of Ivomec: .003 cc PO of the 1% cattle injectable.
If it's a tumor, don't worry about it "so much, so soon". Take her to a teaching hospital where they can diagnose it, biopsy it, and remove it.
If you spray the bird with Listerine, you WILL need a taxidermist. It's toxic, it's like if he said "spray it with Lysol". Dab the area with one drop of Betadine, 2 times per day.
You can get it as Vetadine from Cal Vet Supply (rip off artists).
Good luck with your middle-aged 'tiel.
It sounds like a tumor, possibly starting as an ingrown feather or an injury resulting in granuloma.
They can be removed, but the bird would have to be anesthetized for the surgery and that can be risky, aspecially for an elderly one.
If the tumor seems to originate from a small area and has a sort of "stem" to it, you can tie it off tightly with monofilament and thereby strangle it until it dies, dries up, and falls off (which will take a while.)
Otherwise, if you don't have access to a bird vet, I would just keep up with the Listerine and be happy that your bird has enjoyed such a long life.
By the way, we normally only deal with birds AFTER THEY DIE!
I gave my cockatiel away two years ago with the deal his body be returned to me when he died. Kitty-Kitty was 23 years old at that time. He'd never seen a vet in all his years until at the age of 21 I took him in for a check up to make sure in his elderliness he was doing ok and also to find out what life expectancy was. The vet was nearly knocked over to find the bird was as such good health. He told me that cockatiels typically die by the age of 21 and mine was the oldest he had seen in his office. As I said he was 23 when we gave him away and that was 2 years ago. He's still going strong. By the way, we had to "relocate" him because he took to screaming his name out over and over at all times of the day and night and if you don't know it, cockatiels have a great set of vocal cords!
medicine at 706-542-4085. The University of Georgia has great bird doctors.(I work there)! Call and if you can ask for Dr.Bran Richie he is an exotic bird doc. or ask to speak with any of them.
Good Luck,
Kim C.
Bubba's Taxidermy
The growth is looking a bit better. She's not picking at it as much and seems to really be flapping her wings and acting more like her usual self. It maybe an ingrown feather as suggested. I'll try the Betadine/Vetadine to see if that helps. Again, thanks to all.