Exotic Dermatology

Question 1

Causes of Feather loss in Parrots

Answer 1

Primary causes are rare
* Stress induced grooming - MOST COMMON
* Inappropriate diet
○ Hypervitaminosis A
* Allergies
* Pain
○ Joint disease
* Moulting season
* Psittacine beak and feather disease
○ Circavirus
* Hyperthyroidism
* Ringworm is rare
* Parasites rare in indoor birds
○ Primary
○ Immunosuppressed

Question 2

Causes of feather loss in chickens

Answer 2

Location is important
* Bullying/pecking order
○ Peck around vents
* Broodiness
○ Direct contact with eggs
* Cockrel’s damaging feathers on female when mating
* Mites
○ Red mite
○ Northern fowl mite
* Normal moulting in autumn
○ Around 18 months
* Lice
* Cutaneous Marek’s disease less common in backyard chickens
* Pain
* Stress

Question 3

Reasons for hair loss in guinea pigs

Answer 3

• Dermatophytosis
  
  • Ectoparasites
    ○ Fleas
    ○ Mites
  • Cutaneous lymphoma
    ○ Leathery dry skin
  • Ovarian cysts
    ○ Symmetrical over flanks
  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Hypovitaminosis C
  • Hyperadrenocorticism
  • Barbering
  • Pregnancy associated alopecia