Feather Cyst UPDATED

[samwiseg]

Latest Health issue update in Budgieopolis - whilst Wiggy is fine after his treatment of eye medication but Alfie has unfortunately got a feather cyst.

I just wanted to share this information with pictures as it may prove useful to others members should they unfortunately experience the same thing in their birds.

Upon noticing it the other day whilst he was preening and have been researching and finding out our options. See here from Barrie Shutt's Budgies site for further info on feather cysts.

This feather cyst however is not in the usual place i.e. on the wing feathers but on his rump/preen gland.

See here:





I have been advised to tie a piece of cotton very tightly round it so it will drop off.  I have also purchased some Propolis essence should there be any open wound to treat him with.



Any further developments I shall update you

[budgiefriend]

Poor Alfie. Hope all goes well. Is it sore? Let us know when it drops off.

[jellybean]

Poor little Alfie, you seem to be on the ball as to how to help him samwiseg. Please let us know how he is.

[Shirls]

Well done samwiseg for all the research and managing to sort things yourself. Excellent pictures of the problem I must say!! And so helpful to all us novices on the site who haven't come across such a thing before. I hope it gets better soon and that Alfie is not too put out by it all. Keep us updated do.

[stace]

Oh, poor Alfie. That's quite a lump.

It looks like it is next to the preening gland, not the gland itself, is that right?

[samwiseg]

I really am unsure as to its position stace I thought it was on his preening gland but was advised that I should tie the knot around the base of the cyst (not that little bit on the base assuming that is his preen gland)

Thank you all for your well wishes, I cant tell you what I said when I discovered this lump after what Wiggy went through!

Will keep you all posted

[OP]

Best wishes to Alfie and yourself in the delicate operation that you have to perform. I imagine it will be a two person job.

[skysmum]

Crumbs that's quite a lump bless him, how on earth did you manage to do it, i assume OH helped. I do hope it works sam, your a brave lady, i would be getting vet man to remove i think . Can you have these things cauterized i wonder .

It will be interesting to see how it goes, thanks for sharing.

[samwiseg]

Well Alfie seems no worse for wear having the tie positioned. He didn't even squeak (phew)!

But once it has dropped off I will be checking the wound and also having a look at the cyst by dissecting it so be prepared for gross pics!

I have heard of them using a laser to open the cyst to remove the matter inside and then quarterising it to stop any bleeding

[jellybean]

Got to agree with skysmum, you are a brave lady, it would have been a trip to the vet for me too.
Lots of love to Alfie, hope he has a speedy recovery.

[Hezz]

If it drops off by itself there will be no bleeding, or open wound. I hope you are right about it being a feather cyst.

[samwiseg]

That's what I thought Hezz but have taken precautions just in case!

And yes fingers crossed it is a feather cyst

[samwiseg]

Well dare I say this is looking good.

Checked Alfie today to make sure the tie was still attached (in other words he hadn't chewed it off) and to see if there had been any change.

This is what I saw:



Looking good huh?!

Upon researching feather cysts this is what they look like round the edges once the have been expressed and cauterised AND I can see his preen gland is separate from it.

[stace]

That's brilliant. And very much a relief, too!

Do you think it will drop off soon?.

[OP]

That is looking promising. I just hope he doesn't chew it off. I had a friend who once had something like that on his tongue. It was tied off in the same manner. The thing is he nearly swallowed it. I think it would get rejected if he did chew it off.