Vet Visit 2 for Paco

[Xtreme575]

So… I thought I had solved the problem with Paco chewing the feathers under his crop! I was convinced that it had to be an infection from within the crop that was irritating him, and that a good vet visit, some expensive tests and a miracle.
I called the vet first thing this morning knowing that the avian vet is only in the office closest to me on Thursdays, but I was willing to drive as far as need be in order to get some resolve to this tricky little issue that has been plaguing us.
Off to the vet we went, Paco loves a car ride, so he was quite happy to whistle away at me from the back seat in his carrier. Upon arriving at the vet, I could see that our Dr. was in seeing a young man and his oversized German shepherd pup. We waited.
At the end of their examination the guy comes out of the room with the dog on the end of his lease and allows the dog to get closer and closer to Paco. I noticed Paco puffing up and the red tail feathers fan out while the dog was still about four feet away. The guy was going to let his pup come right up to the cage. I said to him, “Hey, your stressing out my parrot!” and he replied, “Well, I want my dog to see him”. WTF? Pardon my language, but you see a parrot in a cage happily interacting with its owner, you come out with your dog and see the parrot’s feathers all stand on end… Idiot!
Anyway, the vet did another thorough examination of Paco, including his crop, he is fine. I’ve tried all the suggestions that I have gotten from all of you, thank you by the way, and many others that I have seen on the web. I think that he uses his chest like a child uses their thumb. When bored or stressed, chew.
Anyway, I will continue to try to help him overcome this bad habit. First by allowing him to fly again as soon as this feather clip grows out. I see the importance of allowing him to fly, and really want to give him that freedom. Not to mention the vet felt that he had put on too much weight (from 438 grams on October 10th to 477 grams today, Nov 26th) and that he felt a “bit soft in his chest”.
The cutest part of the story was after Paco’s fighting and screaming at the vet during the crop exam, the vet allowed me to go to Paco to “rescue” him and look like the hero. I told the vet that I was confident that Paco would want to “make up” with him and be friends again. Astounded the vet said, “I don’t think so, but I’ll try”. Paco immediately stepped up for the vet, and as usual, leaned forward for kisses. A habit he came to me with. Whenever I make a mistake with him, or stress him out at all, he insists on kisses and won’t settle down until he gets one! The vet had to give him a kiss. Ha ha!
Anyway, I have a healthy 5.5 month old CAG who seems to have a slight feather chewing problem that is in a straight line across his chest. No more talking (had a couple of hello’s early on), now he is just whistling and making all sorts of strange sounds, including the sweetest imitation of my finches!

[JillyBeanz]

Firstly the alsatian owner would have had my boot up their jacksy - and swiftly followed by the dog!
Good to hear that all went well with Paco at the vet's - it's reassuring that there is nothing medically wrong with him - you'll just have to keep him amused to stop this and at 5½ months this is an easy thing to do as they are so pliable.

I wouldn't worry about the talking - he's a very little baby - that will come later on (Harvey is nearly one and only says hello very occasionally).

Making the vet kiss Paco is a classic though!!

[katana600]

It is good to hear that you are working so hard with Paco and that you have had a good health confirmation. It made me laugh to think of the vet having to make up with kisses. I would love to have told the insensitive dog owner... well, the parrot would like to see your ear, how about if you stick it in his cage. LOL. Thanks for the update and good news about Paco.

[judygram]

""""well, the parrot would like to see your ear, how about if you stick it in his cage.""""

Thats a good one Dee and my sentiments exactly.

So glad to hear that Paco is healthy and having the vet give him a kiss is priceless.

He has plenty of time to talk so be patient and it will come, thanks for updating us on Paco.

[Xtreme575]

:blush: Alright, confession... I wasn't nearly as nice to the dog owner as I let on to be, I just didn't want to show my true nasty side to the group yet! I'm very protective of Paco, so I kind of let the dog owner have it a bit, although the pup was very sweet and I would have loved to have played with him myself!

[judygram]

Confessions are good but you did what you did out of love for your pet, any one of us would have done the same, I bet he wouldn't have let his dog come that close if Paco was a cat instead, good job.

[she]

I am so glad Paco got a clean bill of health.Just watch his weight.I would have let rip at the dog owner.I have nbo patiance with people who are insensitive to animals.I had a good laugh at the vet having to kiss Paco,he is a brave vet.

[Xtreme575]

Oh no... Paco jumps from foot to foot with his neck stretched until you make friends with him. I spoke to soon, he just said "Pretty Bird", it was a bit garbled, but definately "Pretty Bird".

Any suggestions with the weight? He is clipped (although I'm on my knees praying for a molt each night) so that he can have flight again. I feed him a "salad" of bok choy, a few grapes, broccoli (sp?), green beans, asparagus, red peppers, jalepeno peppers, carrots, yams, spinach, and a bit of corn as a treat once or twice a week.

He eats Pretty Bird pellets for AG only, I try Harrison's, but they are ignored. He also gets a breakfast of the equivalent one ice cube of Pretty Bird's "Birdy Banquet" per day.

I do leave him with his pellets during the day while I'm at work. I figured he would eat when he wants.

His cage has lots of toys that I rotate, and he is in an Avian Adventures Medianna cage, which is pretty big, playstand on top.

I've ordered a playstand for him and am just waiting for it to arrive. It is a 4.5 foot "tree" from Parrot World...

What else should I do? Should I take the pellets out? Stop the bean mix? Put him on the floor more? He follows me around the house...

Thanks all!