Is this plucking?

[~Drini~]

Just noticed that my gold-capped boy has an unusual number of new feathers growing in on his legs. It seems to he both legs. Before I harass his vet about this, does this seem to be a plucking situation?

(yes, he is a little chunky, always has been despite proper diet + exercise)

 

[T. gillii]

Yes, unfortunately. Very cute little guy too.

 

[~Drini~]

Gosh darn. Off to the vet I guess.

 

[T. gillii]

One last thing to check before that would be if you can find the dropped feathers - plucked feathers may still have a blood supply and often look more ragged than naturally molted feathers

 

[~Drini~]

He has an appointment for tonight at 8pm.

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

He has an appointment for tonight at 8pm.

Good luck at the vet's. Please let us know how it goes

 

[~Drini~]

Silliest guy.

 

[T. gillii]

View attachment 465540
Silliest guy.

Oh he's gorgeous. Classic "male" conure headshape, too. I love goldcaps.

 

[CrazyKozmo]

Such a cutie

 

[~Drini~]

Vet said the damage is pretty limited and not overly concerning and could be due to pretty much anything (could be pathological, hormonal, or behavioral) and he looks good otherwise.

The plan right now is to do standard bloodwork and see if we can identify anything, and then potentially move on to trying an anti-inflammatory or doing imaging. I’ll have to bring him back in the New Year to do the anti-ganglioside assay (he is ABV+).

 

[T. gillii]

Vet said the damage is pretty limited and not overly concerning and could be due to pretty much anything (could be pathological, hormonal, behavioral) and he looks good otherwise.

The plan right now is to do standard bloodwork and see if we can identify anything, and then potentially move on to trying an anti-inflammatory or doing imaging. I’ll have to bring him back in the New Year to do the anti-ganglioside assay (he is ABV+).

I will say, this is plucking that coincides with avian ganglioneuritis - Cosmo was recently diagnosed (mainly gastrointestinal symptoms) and he has nerve issues with his legs. He has started plucking in the exact same spot. Didn't want to worry you though. More than bloodwork, I'd be interested in a skin culture... but not sure the pricing on that. To be fair, you are unlikely to find anything indicating AGN on bloodwork, Cosmo's was almost entirely normal, save for some signs of malabsorption. (PS: he is doing great with meds and is back up to a good weight)

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

Vet said the damage is pretty limited and not overly concerning and could be due to pretty much anything (could be pathological, hormonal, or behavioral) and he looks good otherwise.

The plan right now is to do standard bloodwork and see if we can identify anything, and then potentially move on to trying an anti-inflammatory or doing imaging. I’ll have to bring him back in the New Year to do the anti-ganglioside assay (he is ABV+).

Sounds like your vet is being thorough. I hope it's something simple to treat

 

[~Drini~]

I will say, this is plucking that coincides with avian ganglioneuritis - Cosmo was recently diagnosed (mainly gastrointestinal symptoms) and he has nerve issues with his legs. He has started plucking in the exact same spot. Didn't want to worry you though. More than bloodwork, I'd be interested in a skin culture... but not sure the pricing on that. To be fair, you are unlikely to find anything indicating AGN on bloodwork, Cosmo's was almost entirely normal, save for some signs of malabsorption. (PS: he is doing great with meds and is back up to a good weight)

Yes, this thought has crossed my mind. Perhaps we will gather a biopsy when he's under for imaging.

 

[~Drini~]

His plucking has not only continued, but worsened. He has now plucked his right upper leg/knee/back in addition to his lower legs. CBC and chemistry didn't reveal any abnormalities. He's going in today for radiographs and ganglioneuritis antibody testing.

(he had just bathed)

 

[~Drini~]

Interestingly, there was a toy that he was somewhat obsessively preening. I removed it a few days ago because the plastic fibers had started becoming fairly frayed. The repeat of feather plucking after I removed it might just be coincidence but..

 

[Mizzely]

Aww poor bub

 

[Macawnutz]

Oh my... they can stress us so much with things.

 

[TikiMyn]

Oh no that does not look great. Hope you figure out what is wrong with the upcoming diagnostics. Sorry for both of you that you're going through this. Maybe putting his preening toy back will help a bit?

 

[Emma&pico]

I hope you can find an answer plucking is so stressful my pico did it

 

[T. gillii]

His plucking has not only continued, but worsened. He has now plucked his right upper leg/knee/back in addition to his lower legs. CBC and chemistry didn't reveal any abnormalities. He's going in today for radiographs and ganglioneuritis antibody testing.

(he had just bathed)
View attachment 465872
View attachment 465873

How did his radiographs go? I would ask to put him on oral Celebrex and Gabapentin, just until you get AGAA results. If they are low, it shouldn't hurt him, and if they are high, it was the right call