Hi spooky1,
It's a helpless feeling when a pet has something wrong. I am not a
veterinarian and it's always best to follow the advice of your vet.
Are you taking Tiki to an avian vet?
Hopefully the bloodwork will explain the recent weakness and she'll be
soon back to her normal self. In the meantime, I have posted some
things for you to consider and information regarding perches. It
might be something as simple as not having the proper "play/home
environment" for your bird.
Just like any other bird, Moluccan Cockatoo (Cacatua Moluccensis) get
nails (sharp ones) and you'll want to clip nails. For clipping nails
you just cut it far enough that it doesn't bleed when you cut (just
cut a little and then use a nail filer).
Calcium deficiency can cause foot/leg problems.
Any smoke and/or fumes can be dangerous to birds. Nicotine on hands
can cause contact dermatitis, especially foot problems.
Cockatoos need a low fat, high protein diet and nuts should be given
as a special treat only. Eating adequate portions of vegetable and
pellets also help keep a cockatoo trim and in good health. Generally,
cockatoos given fresh vegetables and fruit plus high grade pellets and
seed mixes will keep them nice and trim.
Musculoskeletal and foot problems: Obese parrots are more prone to
bone and joint problems. Pressure sores may develop on their feet due
to the excess weight they are carrying.
Dowel stock is often used for perches. It is inexpensive and easy to
clean, but they do not exercise the feet because of their uniform
shape. Birds who only have dowel rod for perches may develop medical
problems with their feet such as loss of grasping strength, arthritis,
and atrophy. Use dowel stock perches in conjunction with other types
of perches and vary their diameters. Sandpaper perch covers are not
recommended. They are too rough and can cause wear on pads and open
sores on the bottom of your bird's feet.
Cement perches help keep nails rounded. They come in a variety of
sizes and colors. They are a little pricey but last forever. My birds
loved them.
Placing one cement perch near a food or water dish ensures that your
bird will use it frequently.
Stability is another important factor because your parrot needs to
feel secure and a perch that wobbles, or is slippery, may contribute
to slip and fall accidents.
Secure perches to cage bars with lag studs, washers, and wingnuts. Or
cut perches 2 inches longer than the cage measurements and cut slits
on the both ends to fit over the cage bar.
Make sure the birds cage has several perches that vary in texture and
diameter. Choose your birds perches carefully, considering all aspects
of your birds behavior, size, and health.
==============================================================================
Basic Bird Care
Avian Health Care Tips by Barton C. Huber, D.V.M. (Dr. Bart)
http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/health1.htm
"Playground areas are nice for your bird, they allow exercise and
"fresh air" and a time to socialize with other birds in the house (if
they get along!). There are many types of playgrounds, wood and PVC
are the most popular, make sure the perches are the right size for
your birds feet. If using PVC, make sure that it is either roughened
or has a grippable material on it so that the bird will not slip. More
about perches will be covered under the toy and perch section.
Perches and Toys: The best perches are the natural hard woods such as
manzanita, ribbon wood and eucalyptus (very hard when it dries). Other
woods may or may not be safe but it is best to stick to one of the
three mentioned above. PVC, as mentioned earlier, is also a popular
perch playground material that is easy to clean. If you cover it for
better grip, use a material that can be easily changed for easy
cleaning. Terra-cotta is a recently introduced perch material that
seems to work well, is sage, and does seem to help keep the nails a
bit shorter.
Another new perch material is rope. These perches are fine except they
are easily destroyed by larger birds and need to replaced often as the
frayed and loose strand may entangle your birds feet. With any of the
perching materials, varying diameter perches need to be offered to
prevent fatigue to the birds feet and simulate more natural perching
behaviors. Sandpaper covers should be avoided as they may irritate the
skin on the bottom of the feet and lead to bumble foot, a seriously
debilitating foot disease."
I hope some of this information helps. Best of luck to you and Tikki!
tlspiegel |
