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Article On Foot Care In Parrots

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« on: February 14, 2015, 12:12:51 am »

Here's a really good article about some of the reasons birds chew on their own feet. Worth reading and keeping as a reference should anyone encounter this in their feathered flock kids.


QUESTION: Why is my parrot chewing its feet until they bleed?

Posted by Diane Burroughs on February 11, 2015

 Answer:  This is a great question.  We've had a couple of inquires about this very issue this week when customers called to purchase a bird collar. You’re right to be concerned!  There are a couple of reasons why birds may chew or bite their feet.  Generally, when it comes to a bird self-mutilation, we look to a couple of causes, either medical or behavioral. If your foot were bothering you so badly that you simply couldn’t leave it alone, you’d make an appointment with your doctor.  You’ll want to do the same for your bird.  Rule out any medical causes before treating the problem as though it were behavioral. Your Avian Vet will tell you that foot problems in parrots can cause serious trouble.



A LITTLE ABOUT PARROT FOOT ANATOMY

Parrots have very unique feet.  As a matter of fact, you can recognize a parrot due to its zygodactyl feet. That’s not some goofy prehistoric term!  It just means that parrots have two toes facing forward and two facing backwards.  What is even more interesting about a parrots foot, is the way that their foot can literally clamp down and lock into place when perching, sort of like a ratchet. That’s right.  There a little tiny projections under some of the tendons that, literally, interlock when a bird is perching, preventing a nasty fall.  You may have experienced clamped interlocking toes if you’ve tried to trim your birds’ nails or unlock its foot to get it to step up.

What’s the point of knowing this? Well, because of the interlocking nature of parrot toes makes your pet prone to getting pressure sores on its feet. Especially if the bird has only one diameter and texture of bird perches.  Unrecognized pressure sores can cause a variety of problems, one being that parrots may bite their feet.

First Things First: Stop Parrot Biting Feet.

    Take your bird to an avian vet to treat the cause of the problem.
    Disinfect all of your bird’s perches and commit to keeping them clean. We like AviClean but if you have an open sore, use Pet Focus.
    Consider a bird collar, like our Safe N Soft Bird Collar, to keep your bird from causing further injury. Keep in mind that bird collars only prevent your bird from causing further injury.  They don’t treat the underlying cause.

What Causes Parrot Foot Problems?

INFECTIONS:


Whether fungal or bacterial infections, you’ll want to treat the cause of the foot infection. Foot infections are painful causing the skin to become raw and the feet to become inflamed. Untreated, the foot can crack or become ulcerated. If your bird is perching on a soiled perch, things can get complicated. Whether the cause is avian herpesvirus, which causes papillomatous foot lesions or Bumblefoot, foot problems are painful and can cause other health problems to get out of control. Fungal infections are contagious so check the rest of your flock, too.  While bacterial infections are not contagious, they are equally painful. Bumblefoot is one such condition. This isn't a contagious condition and is usually caused by improperly-sized perches, poor nutrition, unsanitary cage conditions and obesity in birds.

Any foot lesion can cause nasty bacteria to enter your pets bloodstream.  In some cases, the infection gets so bad that it penetrates the bone causing a condition called osteomyelitis.  Imagine what happens if the bacteria gets into your birds blood stream. Your vet can do some blood work or take a biopsy or culture to determine the cause of the foot lesion and offer the correct treatment.

CLEANLINESS



Dirty perches cause parrot foot problems

At home, though, you’re going to need to make a few changes.  First off, you’ll need to make sure that your pet has a variety of perches to not only exercise foot joints, but to prevent pressure sores from forming.  And, while you’re at it, commit to thoroughly washing the perches routinely.  Birds eat with their feet, often soaking pellets in water to soften them up.  Then, they run over to their perch and stand on it.  They also wipe debris off of their beak, where? On their perch!  Wash perches in soapy, hot water and scrub off the gunk.

[color]PROPER NUTRITION[/color]

While you’re at the vet, inquire about your bird’s diet.  You’ll want to know if your bird is overweight, which, would of course, add to the pressure sores, but more importantly, is your bird getting the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy skin.  Malnutrition can cause the skin and scales on the feet to become dry and thin.  It affects the health of all your bird’s epidermis, inside and out. Inquire about bird vitamins especially if Polly is a picky eater.  Your bird needs appropriate amounts of vitamin A and beta-carotene for proper skin care.  If you see ulcers, lesions, cracking or bleeding skin, get your bird to the vet ASAP.

Another reason that a bird may chew its feet could be that it is overweight or just getting old.  Overweight and aging birds are prone to developing arthritis in their feet.  This degenerative disease causes swelling in the toe joints and hock.  You might be able to observe the swelling, but also look for redness and feel the foot to see if it is warm to the touch.  While you’re taking a peek at the foot, make sure that your bird’s claws aren’t poking at it.  A foot that isn’t used much.  Your bird may be trying to perch on just one foot while holding the painful one up close to the body in a curled up fashion

MITES

If your pet is a Passerine, such as a canary or finch or a smaller parrot, be aware the it is prone to nasty little mites called Knemidokoptes.  These little parasites take over the skin around the beak, cere, legs, eyes and even cloaca.  Your bird may be chewing at itself out of shear desperation. This isn’t something to be treated over the counter.  Take your bird to an avian veterinarian for prescription strength oral or injectable medication.

BOREDOM

Sadly, a bored bird that isn’t enriched is more prone to developing self-mutilation problems.  A bored bird perches on the same boring perch, making it prone to foot sores, obesity and emotional problems.  Make sure to provide your little companion with enriching toys that require it to climb about the cage, exercising those feet properly.

Soft Parrot Collar



Top Five Tips for Bird Foot Health

    Keep a variety of CLEAN perches in the cage at all times.
    Make sure to learn how to properly groom your birds nails. Too long or too short are bad
    Insure that your bird has a well-balanced proper diet by offering it premium pellets, supplemented with nutrient rich fruits and vegetables.
    Support your bird in maintaining a proper body weight
    Make sure that your bird has plenty of enriching toys for proper exercise and boredom prevention.

CONCLUSION:

Birds pick or bite their feet for a variety of reasons.  If your bird is chewing on its feet, please seek medical attention to prevent a bigger problem from developing.


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