Please help with Chance (Pajarita, Wolf)

[GreenWing]

So, the last time I posted, I was concerned about a bump on Chance's breast. I took her to the Avian Vet just last week. Turns out she is finishing up a molt and she is very healthy - I was so happy to be told by the Avian Vet that Chance is significantly healthier since I took her in. Her vitals were great. No signs of mites or lice (as she's been preening a lot - but turns out she's finishing up a molt). The Avian Vet explained that mites can be seen in bird dung as birds will eat mites while they preen. So, at that time, Chance was in the clear. She got a manicure, too.

The problem is that NOW I am seeing red dots around her eyes with a little crustiness. How can this be, when I JUST took her to the vet and she was checked out?

I'm attaching a pic, can someone explain what's going on with my baby? I'm so worried about her. Please, respond ASAP in case I need to take her back to the vet immediately.



Notice the marks near her eyes. There are slight marks around her other eye, but this eye, her left, is more noticeable.

(It was SO hard to get this pic, as my smartphone is Chance's enemy.)

Please help.

[GreenWing]

Here's another photo, albeit a bit blurry, but she kept bobbing her head and moving and trying to bite the phone.

This pic gets the sores a bit more.

Please help, I'm so worried about my baby!

[Wolf]

I really don't know the answer for this, partly because the marks are so hard to see. But these could be the result of her nails being trimmed. If the vet used a clipper or scissors to trim them there is probably little sharp corners that were not sanded off. Please bear in mind that this is just a guess, but you should examine the nails. You may see the sharp corners or you should be able to feel them if you rub from back to front on the bottom side of the nails, if there are any.

[GreenWing]

Wolf, thank you! I didn't think of that! Yes, she had her nails clipped and they were sanded but it was done quickly so this is a good guess. Another Grey owner told me it could be the toys, she's been attacking them and being really playful with her toys, including a new one.

Thank you again. I'm glad the responses are not so worrisome. I'll keep an eye out and see if it starts healing up or worsens.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I agree. They look like scratches to me. It could be her claws, the toys or something in her cage (they do like to rub their beaks and heads against things) so observe her as closely as you can to see if you can see her either scratching her face with her feet, banging against the toys or rubbing her face on something rough. I would not worry overmuch about them, though, they will go away on their own as long as the cause disappears.

And good news on the good check-up! Always such a relief when everything is ok, isn't it?

[GreenWing]

Yes, I agree. They look like scratches to me. It could be her claws, the toys or something in her cage (they do like to rub their beaks and heads against things) so observe her as closely as you can to see if you can see her either scratching her face with her feet, banging against the toys or rubbing her face on something rough. I would not worry overmuch about them, though, they will go away on their own as long as the cause disappears.

And good news on the good check-up! Always such a relief when everything is ok, isn't it?

I think you're both right, it's the scratching. I didn't have her nails trimmed for a long time. Now she's got these red marks on her face as she scratches. I gave her an aloe bath, I hope that will help. The scratches don't look good. I'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks again so much.

And yes - it's a great feeling when you first take in a re-home, their health isn't the best, and then the vet tells you at the next check up that they are significantly healthier! That made me so happy.