title: Feather loss and feather destructive behavior in pet birds.
abstract: Feather loss in psittacine birds is a common and frustrating clinical presentation. Causes include medical and nonmedical causes of feather loss with and without overt feather destructive behavior. Underlying causes include inappropriate husbandry and housing; parasitic, viral and bacterial infections; metabolic and allergic diseases; and behavioral disorders. Prior to a diagnosis of a behavioral disorder, medical causes of feather loss must be excluded through a complete medical work-up including history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing. This article focuses on common medical and nonmedical causes of feather loss and feather destructive behavior and approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Florida Veterinary Specialists, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: jon.rubinstein.dvm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001717:Birds; D005241:Feathers / Q000473:pathology*; D057805:Pets
keywords: Avian behavior; Behavioral disorder; Feather destructive behavior; Feather-picking; Psittacine