what should i ask the vet?

[bookworm0550]

so i'm taking evie in on monday to the vet's office. she's been picking at the same spot on her back. i applied some aloe on her, but that made it look worse cuz aloe's kinda gooey and brown in color.

what should i ask the vet when i go in? i don't want to go in and she hands me some cream and sends me on home. is it a cream they would send home w/ me or what do they normally do? will they test her to make sure she's ok?

i just feel so bad for evie. it's worrisome. fortunately, it's not too bad and she doesn't look like a chicken, but it's still so sad to see her irritated like this and feel so helpless cuz i don't know what to do for her except aloe and the vet visit. i took out the humidifier hoping that will help her feel better.

[Pips mom]

Awww, poor Evie! I sure hope that it's nothing and that the spot stops bothering her soon!

[bookworm0550]

me too. right now, her face is all red cuz she took a bath last night and rubbed her head against her apple mineral block to dry off. so now she's got this bright red hood. LOL. hopefully it'll come off before monday. i don't want the vet thinking, "what in the world is this lady doing to her birds"

[linda040899]

Your vet can do a skin scraping (not painful) to remove just a few cells to look at them under a microscope. That should tell her if there's any bacteria or fungus present. What kind of aloe did you use? The juice/gel from the leaves of my plants is quite clear.

Neem cream has been working very well for my wing picker. The new feathers are uncomfortable and he chewed the area raw. It's taken a while, but the area definitely looks much better now.

[bookworm0550]

my friend said it's aloe vera. she cut me a leaf. it smells like body odor and is kinda like a runny brown.

[linda040899]

Gotta question that. I have several aloe plants and the gel from all of mine is clear. :confused:

[bookworm0550]

i don't know, my friend has a green thumb so i would think she would know. are there different kinds of aloe vera?

[bookworm0550]

i only applied it on her once. it's sitting in my fridge going unused.

[linda040899]

are there different kinds of aloe vera?
Possible. I'm really liking the results I'm getting with neem cream!

[michael]

so i'm taking evie in on monday to the vet's office. she's been picking at the same spot on her back. i applied some aloe on her, but that made it look worse cuz aloe's kinda gooey and brown in color........what should i ask the vet when i go in? i don't want to go in and she hands me some cream and sends me on home. is it a cream they would send home w/ me or what do they normally do? will they test her to make sure she's ok?........

Determining what questions to ask may depend on how familiar your vet already is with feather abusive behavior. Even if he or she is not though, most well trained avian vets should still be able to rule out certain medical issues with hopes of eliminating most all the unnecessary procedures. There are unfortunately, things that simply cannot be ruled without the use of various diagnostic procedures. ... That said. Any parrot suspected of having a medical issue should at least undergo blood work and a gram stain. If your vet assumes treatment to the contrary, I would certainly ask for good cause.

Just as important as any testing procedures, I would further ask your vet to share his or her experience on the subject, and as well, pass thought on to what treatment measures are employed for those parrots diagnosed without a medical illness. If i'm correct, these most basic questions should get you the answers you need.

Note; ... Although somewhat uncommon, i've come across a handful of birds who've experienced a reaction to aloe. As for discoloured aloe? ....Doesn't sound too inviting.

[Flapjack]

Isn't this the same bird with the swollen vent?

I think I'd ask for bloodwork in addition to the gram stain...?

Hope she's feeling better real soon :blush:

[bookworm0550]

Isn't this the same bird with the swollen vent?

I think I'd ask for bloodwork in addition to the gram stain...?

Hope she's feeling better real soon :blush:

yes, this is evie that i'm talking about. she seems better today, but still, i want to know what's going on w/ her. she's really not that bad, but bad enough to cause concern.