My male White Bellied Caique 'Loki' is 9yo. About 6 months ago he began visciously attacking his own ankle (mostly the right one); unprovoked screaming and biting hard enough to cause lacerations (we intervene quickly - now wears collar; unable to wean). Around the same time I noticed his feathers were looking a bit shabby and he hadn't molted as expected. Now Loki has stark progressive deterioration of his back and wing feathers (see pictures now, and prior). Never had a good molt, and new feather growth is slow (not absent). Diet is Roudybrush + red palm oil with some fresh fruits/veggies; Housing is huge and next to a window; Wooden/woven toys abundant. Appetite is very good (unchanged). Poops are normal consistency and color (unchanged). Eyes, nails and beak appear healthy. No change in mechanical usage of his legs/feet. Energy level is good when he's relatively comfortable. At times, he is so uncomfortable that he sits in one place, shivers, and briefly/intermittently vocalizes.
He has seen two avian vets so far without an explanation for his feathers deterioration. The vet said his feathers condition looks like overhandling/grooming. That's just not the case here. I'm with him all day, every day, handling is no different (maybe even a bit less) than years ago, and grooming is very reduced because he is always in his collar). Liver and kidney enzymes are normal. Fecal showed no parasites (a bit of yeast -> rx apple cider vinegar). Leuprolide was tried for hormonal suppression with no effect. PBFD was low on differential with No beak/nail changes (?) and it wouldn't explain the ankle discomfort. Notably, Bornavirus was positive - however neuropathy antibody was negative. I worry that the borna is a red-herring. Regardless, I understand the antibody could be a 'false negative', so we are treating 'neuropathy' with meloxicam and topicals -> now Onfior and gapabentin. Treatment has had questionable efficacy. I've noticed the gabapentin makes him sedated... but that effect is waning despite dose escalation, and he is still having breakthrough discomfort from 'something'. To my knowledge, even if Borna is causing a treatment-refractory neuropathy, Borna does Not explain his deteriorating feathers. Some feathers literally look as though they've been chiseled into arrow-heads (like the edges have been shaved down - see pictures). Loki can not have done this - he can't reach those feathers with his collar on. The pictures also show a fresh laceration on his ankle from brief supervised time out of the collar (clearly, unable to tolerate it). The problem is getting worse and I am at a loss at how to help my sweet boy. Anxiety is not causing pain and feather deterioration, so I've held off on the suggestion for prozac. There were no significant changes/stressors of any kind at time of onset.
- I'm supplementing with vitamins, and increased fresh fruits/veggies (no improvement so far after a few weeks).
- I've increased shower frequency to a few per week (he bathes in his water dish daily as well).
- I've tried anti-mite sprays with no change x several treatments (and no visible evidence of mites).
Can anyone please help identify what might be at the root of this issue???
He has seen two avian vets so far without an explanation for his feathers deterioration. The vet said his feathers condition looks like overhandling/grooming. That's just not the case here. I'm with him all day, every day, handling is no different (maybe even a bit less) than years ago, and grooming is very reduced because he is always in his collar). Liver and kidney enzymes are normal. Fecal showed no parasites (a bit of yeast -> rx apple cider vinegar). Leuprolide was tried for hormonal suppression with no effect. PBFD was low on differential with No beak/nail changes (?) and it wouldn't explain the ankle discomfort. Notably, Bornavirus was positive - however neuropathy antibody was negative. I worry that the borna is a red-herring. Regardless, I understand the antibody could be a 'false negative', so we are treating 'neuropathy' with meloxicam and topicals -> now Onfior and gapabentin. Treatment has had questionable efficacy. I've noticed the gabapentin makes him sedated... but that effect is waning despite dose escalation, and he is still having breakthrough discomfort from 'something'. To my knowledge, even if Borna is causing a treatment-refractory neuropathy, Borna does Not explain his deteriorating feathers. Some feathers literally look as though they've been chiseled into arrow-heads (like the edges have been shaved down - see pictures). Loki can not have done this - he can't reach those feathers with his collar on. The pictures also show a fresh laceration on his ankle from brief supervised time out of the collar (clearly, unable to tolerate it). The problem is getting worse and I am at a loss at how to help my sweet boy. Anxiety is not causing pain and feather deterioration, so I've held off on the suggestion for prozac. There were no significant changes/stressors of any kind at time of onset.
- I'm supplementing with vitamins, and increased fresh fruits/veggies (no improvement so far after a few weeks).
- I've increased shower frequency to a few per week (he bathes in his water dish daily as well).
- I've tried anti-mite sprays with no change x several treatments (and no visible evidence of mites).
Can anyone please help identify what might be at the root of this issue???
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