Disintegrating beak

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:46 am

Hi

I have just noticed that one of my Zebras has half of his upper mandible missing, mostly on one side and the front. It looks frayed/disintegrated/severely eaten away! When I got him, he had a small patch of light coloured roughness on his beak, but I didn't think much of it because I've seen similar things go away of their own accord.

What could it be? How should I treat it?? (He gets quarterly Moxidectin already.) Pretty soon he'll be physically unable to eat.

Sorry, no photo yet.

Thanks,

S.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:24 pm

Well I see you've gotten a lot of view's but no reply's yet.

So I'll stretch out my neck on the chopping block...

Without a pic. it's nearly impossible to know for sure...

I've been doing some google research and the only thing that seems to remotely come close is: Psittacine beak and featherdisease (or psittacinecircovirus, PCV)...

However, PCV has (as far as I can tell) ONLY been observed in parrot species. Basically it's a virus that weakens the birds immune system, and then secondary bacterial infections take over. It's these 2ndary infections that "eat" the beak away.

Again, to my knowlage this does not / should not exist in finches. So I have no idea what your bird really has.

My first thought is a bacterial infection of the beak, or possibly something fungal.

If you have an avian vet in your area, I would take your bird in as soon as humanly possible for diagnosis and treatment. I'm sure they'll need to do some tests to find out if it's bactieral or fungal in nature ( different drugs attack bacteria than fungi).

If you don't have any vet care avalible, I'd probably try some kind of broad spectrum antibiotic, (some are avalible at pet stores and some you can get via the internet). It'd personally try to find 2 treatments if possible, something topical (meaning you smear it on the beak, make sure it's NON TOXIC since the bird WILL ingest some if it's on the beak). I'd also look for something that can be given directly to the bird either via eyedropper of put into the water or something.

Obviously the beak is going to be weak, so I'd try to provide as much soft food as possible (enriched egg foods, fresh foods etc.) Anything that's soft and packed full of vitimans and minerals to help the bird recover and re-grow it's beak. I'd also move that bird to a hospital cage and provide a source of warmth (heat lamp or such, but something the bird can get away from if it becomes too hot).

Good luck, I hope that helps and I hope you can post a pic.

In the mean time I'll continue looking around the internet.

Anneka · Post by **Anneka** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:10 am

Stephanie, how is your Zebra doing?
I wish I could help.

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:59 pm

I haven't caught him out of his cage yet... I was hoping first to better understand what I should do with him when I get him out. I guess I just have to experiment

S.