Common Feather and Skin Disorders in Birds

Pet birds and parrots are great animals to keep as companions. Birds can be just as communicative, if not more, than even dogs. But while there are many advantages to having winged pets, one of the major disadvantages is that they are different anatomically from other more common pet animals like dogs and cats. When a bird or parrot becomes ill, it is often difficult to first spot the signs that they are not well and secondly, to find a way to treat them.

Part of what makes birds difficult to treat is their unique skin and the fact that they have feathers rather than fur. Many disorders in birds can be found in the way their feathers look and in what the pet does to its feathers. If your parrot or bird is picking incessantly at its feathers or is losing feathers, find out more about what it may be suffering from, contact your Austin vet clinic today.

Types of Disorders Related to Feather Loss or Picking

If your parrot is incessantly picking at its feathers and its overall appearance is that of a quickly balding animal, it likely is suffering from a nervous disorder or a serious disease. Some of these diseases and disorders include:

• Feather cysts
• Baldness
• Behavioral feather picking
• Brown hypertrophy
• Polyfollicles
• Mites

Some feather and skin conditions are severe and can be dangerous to your pet. Do not leave your bird untreated if you spot feather picking.

Contact Us

To find out more about parrot and bird feather disorders, contact your Austin vet clinic today.